Eye level of observers: 16 feet above water
Average ship speed: 8.0 knots during continuous watch
Continuous watch information (refer to[ Fig. B1]):
| Leg | Date | Start time | End time | Start position | End position | Weather—Visibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | 2/28 | 1200 | 1730 | U. Miami Dock Va. Key | 25-42N 80-02W | Beaufort II Visibility 3 miles |
| 3-4 | 2/29 | 0800 | 1500 | 24-26N 80-04E | 25-00N 81-04W | Beaufort I Visibility 3.5 miles |
| 5-6 | 2/30 | 0700 | 1680 | 25-12N 80-46W | 25-12N 81-10W | 3.5 miles |
| 7-8 | 2/31 | 0700 | 0900 | 25-00 80-45W | Flamingo | 3.5 miles |
Cetacean observations (refer to [Fig. B1]):
| A‑2/28 1048 | 16 bottlenosed dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. 6 miles outside our course, headed west—rode bow briefly. Large concentrations of sea birds in area. One porpoise freeze branded N-1 on dorsal fin. |
| B‑2/29 1100 | 2 right whales directly ahead of vessel headed NE—40-foot female? with calf. 2 bottlenosed dolphins accompanying the whales were riding pressure wave off whale's head. |
| C‑2/29 1400 | 25-30 spotted porpoises, Stenella plagiodon, 1.25 miles outside our course, heading 240° mag. Did not ride bow wave. |
| D‑2/30 1300 | 8 bottlenosed dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, 200-300 yards inshore of our course, milling in area of concentrations of mullet and other small schooling fishes, dolphins (porpoises) and birds feeding on fish. |
[SIGHTING INFORMATION]
| DATE AND LOCAL TIME [Handwriting: 27 January 1977 0845] | LOCATION[13] [Handwriting: Ca. 25°00'N, 80°30'W] |
| WEATHER CONDITIONS [Handwriting: Scattered rain squalls, visibility 1-1.5 mi, Temp 42°F] | |
| OCEANOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS[14] [Handwriting: Swells 1-2 feet, scattered white capsWinds from S.E. @ 3-8 knots, gusting in squalls to 15 knots.] | |
| SPECIES[15] [Handwriting: Right Whales, Eubalaena glacialis (45 ft/15 ft)] | NUMBER OF ANIMAL(S) [Handwriting: 2] |
| HEADING OF ANIMAL(S) [Handwriting: 015°] | SPEED OF ANIMAL(S) [Handwriting: 1-2] |
| (MAGNETIC) | (KNOTS) |
| ASSOCIATED ORGANISMS[16] [Handwriting: Bottlenosed dolphins, Tursiops truncatus (3)and unidentified gulls (10-20)] | |
| TAGS OR UNUSUAL MARKINGS [Handwriting: One whale had deep slash across back about3 ft. behind blowholes-area of slash was white.] | |
| CHARACTERISTICS OBSERVED WHICH RESULTED IN SPECIES IDENTIFICATION [Handwriting: 45 ft, Nodorsal fin, smooth black back, high arching jaws, yellowish-orangegrowths on head, coastal habitat] | |
| BEHAVIOR OF ANIMAL(S) [Handwriting: Adult whale swam steadily north, calf closebeside, Bottlenosed dolphins riding in front of adults head.] | |
| SKETCHES [Hand-drawn illustration of whales, dolphins and distinguishing features.] | |
| PHOTOS AVAILABLE YES [tick] NO | |
| [Handwriting: Photos (GEL, Roll 16, frames 8-30)] | |
| ADDITIONAL REMARKS [Handwriting: Dolphins remained with whales entire 1/2 hour ofobservation, appently riding on pressure wave.] | |
| NAME AND ADDRESS OF OBSERVER (SHIP OR A/C) [Handwriting: G. E. Lingle,Naval Undersea Center, San Diego, California 92132 andG. A. Antonelis, NMFS, Seattle, Washington 98105 aboard the RVCape] | |