Eastern Area Cruise No. 31 - 15-24 November 1967 
Cruise Itinerary : 
15 November 1000 
16 November 0720 
23 November 0930 
24 November 1130 
Depart San Francisco 
Begin Grid Observations 
End Grid Observations 
Arrive Long Beach 
Survey Personnel : 
Richard D. Chandler (Biologist in Charge) 
T. James Lewis 
Methods 
One-man diurnal observations were made from the wings of the bridge 
except for the afternoon of the l3th when observations were made from 
the skiff 5 concurrent with collections. No non-Grid nor nocturnal ob¬ 
servations were taken on this cruise. No BT soundings were taken. 
Other methods and procedures followed those established on previous 
cruises. 
Cruise Track (See Figure l) 
Very dense fog on the non-Grid leg from San Francisco to the Grid 
prohibited observations on the 15th. Due to the work required prior to 
offloading equipment in Long Beach, no observations were made outside 
the Grid on the 23rd and 24th. A number of departures were made from 
the nominal Grid cruise track. The departures made it possible to cover 
all sections of the Grid in the allotted time period which was necessarily 
foreshortened due to ship scheduling. 
Excellent cooperation was received from Captain Kaiser, the deck 
force, weather personnel, quartermasters, and all concerned with the 
operation. 
Conditions 
A complex low-pressure system developed over the Grid area, moved 
eastward over the coast, retrograded back to the Grid area, and moved to 
the south, all during the week of the survey. The weather was extremely 
variable with markedly shifting winds that at times came from the south 
and southeast instead of the much more regular direction of north and 
northwest. A steady rain on the 17th was followed with briefer showers 
almost daily during the rest of the time in the Grid. Water spouts were 
seen on the 22nd. Heavy rainfall over adjacent land may have contributed 
to the fact that no stray landbirds were seen. Slicks and floating kelp 
patches were noted in the eastern third, particularly in Section W. 
Collections 
Nineteen Red Phalaropes, two Leach's Storm Petrels, one Sooty 
