I 
The following report summarizes the bird and marine mammal ob¬ 
servations conducted aboard the r/V THOMAS WASHINGTON during EASTROPAC 
cruise No. 75 from 15 February to 15 April, 1968. During this period 
367-4 hours of diurnal observation were conducted over a distance of 
3660 nautical miles with 2984 birds observed. 
Cooperation from the crew and scientific party personnel was ex¬ 
cellent and much appreciated, especially when launching and retrieving 
the skiff. Special thanks go to Captain Noel Ferris and Dr. Warren 
Wooster who were most generous with their time and assistance. 
ITINERARY 
15 
February, 1968 
11+00 
Depart 
San Diego 
18 
March 
0600 
Arrive 
Isla San Cristobal 
18 
March 
0900 
Depart 
Isla San Cristobal 
18 
March 
1300 
Arrive 
Isla Baltra 
18 
March 
1900 
Depart 
Isla'Baltra 
27 
March 
2300 
Arrive 
Isla Baltra 
28 
March 
0600 
Depart 
Isla Baltra 
9 
April 
0900 
Arrive 
Acapulco, Mexico 
9 
April 
1900 
Depart 
Acapulco, Mexico 
15 
April 
1530 
Arrive 
San Diego 
•v The cruise departed San Diego and proceeded directly to 20°N119°W; 
then due south to 20°S, east to 112°W, and north to 7°48’S. At that 
point we departed the cruise plan, because of an ill crewman, and pro¬ 
ceeded directly to the Galapagos Islands for an air evacuation. We 
returned to 10 °S 98 °W, on the leg originally planned for the R/V JORDAN, 
and continued north. Just before reaching the equator one of the scientific 
party swallowed a piece of glass which cut his esophagus, and we again 
departed for the Galapagos Islands for an air evacuation. Again the ship 
returned westward to 98 °W and the equator, where scheduled current measure¬ 
ments were conducted for one week. Upon completing this work, the ship turned 
north along 9S°W and then sailed to Acapulco for refueling before returning 
home along the Mexican coast. 
Diurnal observations were conducted from the bridge during nearly all 
of the underway time. The WASHINGTON’S skiff was used for collecting, 
primarily during the current meter studies at the equator, but also at 
other places on the trip. Observations were conducted during a portion 
of the return trip along the Mexican coast, but these data have little 
meaning outside of species present and general abundance. 
The following division of the data into areas is based upon numbers 
and types of birds present, and, to a lesser extent, oceanographic factors. 
AREA A California Current 16 February 1968 
4 
Characterized by the presence of albatross, gulls, and alcids. 
