Eastern Area Cruise No. 2 
and 
•astern Arid Survey No. I 
-January 196? 
This report is a summary of observations and collections made 
by PC BSP personnel in the eastern Pacific Ocean from January 18 
through January 28, 1967- (See map #1.) Participating Smithsonian 
personnel included Brian Harrington (Biologist-in-Charge), Robert 
Delong, and David Burckhalter. Superior cooperation was received 
from the officers and crew of the U.S.N.S. SHEARWATER (T-AG 177), and 
especially from Captain Gibson, Mr. Webber, and Mr. Wyatt. The grid 
cruise track is considered to have been as closely followed as 
conditions permitted, and all positions are considered accurate within 
five miles. Hourly IORAN fixes demonstrated that an accurate cruise 
track was followed. As no equipment for taking bathothermographs was 
available, this phase of the survey was not possible. 
"his report is divided into two sections: the first deals with 
the .astern Grid, a nd the second summarizes the non-grid observations. 
Eastern Grid Survey No. 1 
The Eastern Grid Survey was conducted from 0100 January 19 until 
O7i4.fi January 27; 72.9 hours of diurnal observations were conducted over 
690 linear miles. Diurnal observations are summarized in Table #1. 
In addition 3U*6 hours of nocturnal observations w T ere conducted. 
Nocturnal observations are of little significance and should be regarded 
lightly as weather and moonlight conditions seemed to cause great 
variations in bird activity around the ship. These observations are 
briefly summarized in Table 3, and occasional reference is also made 
in the species accounts. 
Weather during this cruise was variable throughout the survey. 
A relatively stationary high pressure system in the southern part of 
the grid greatly influenced weather during the last four days, while 
a passing low center during the first three days also brought weather 
changes. What influence these pressure centers have on pelagic birds 
is not known at present; thusly remarks on distribution of birds in 
the species accounts were made without consideration of weather centers. 
In reference to flocking, groups of five or more birds seen in 
one sighting (fiting the P0.BSP definition of a flock) were noted. But 
flocking in the sense of birds travelling and/or feeding together did 
not seem to occur along the grid at this time of the year. The closest 
simulation to flocking occurred on the 21st of January when a large 
number of fulmars were observed feeding in a small area. Other 
sightings of five or more oirds together w T ere almost entirely of resting 
birds, particularly gulls, storm petrels, and albatross, or of the 
birds following the ship. The latter group, of course, are not in 
association with each other, but with the ship. Thus at this season 
flocking activity appears insignificant, and hence is not included 
in the tables. 
For purposes of discussion, the grid has been divided into three 
sections. As will be seen in Table 2, significant differences in 
