PORTLAND, VIC PELAGIC TRIP REPORT 3rd May 1998
Compiled by Mike Carter
ACTIVITY: Departed 0700; from off Cape Grant headed SW reaching
the shelfbreak at 0945, started burleying. Flocks of albatross
indicated trawler activity as expected. Moved gradually to 250
fathoms; at 1200, 26 nm from Lawrence Rocks at 38o42?S 141o15?E.
Headed SE to 390 fathoms at 38o45?S 141o18?E at 1300. Headed
for port at 1330, crossed shelf break at 1400. At 1515 diverted
to intercept trawler with 150 albatrosses following between Cape
Nelson and Cape Grant. Passed east side of Lawrence Rocks,
docked at 1620.
SEA: Swell: slight-moderate seas with 2-3 m swell.
WEATHER: Cool-cold SE wind increasing from 7-10 knots to 12 mid
morning but then moderating. 50% cloud in morning and dull light
clearing to 35% cloud by 1200; mostly sunny afternoon.
THOSE ON BOARD: Mike Carter, Peter Lansley, George Appleby, Murray
Grant, Sandy McBean, Bob Hughes, Mike Sturmfels, Rob Drummond,
Peter Crabtree, Harry Clarke, Peter & Val Fowler
VESSEL: Michael J IV (skipper: John Bolitho, crew: Robert Carr).
MAMMALS: No cetaceans and only 2 seals, one beyond shelf.
BIRDS:
Wandering Albatross 7 (2x stage 1, 1x stage 2, 3x stage 4, 1x stage 7)
Black-browed Albatross 175 (100); 30% impavida
Yellow-nosed Albatross 6 (2)
Shy Albatross 110 (60)
Giant Petrel 1 (probably Southern)
Great-winged Petrel 16 (6)
ANTARCTIC PRION 3
SLENDER-BILLED PRION 1
Fairy Prion 4 (3)
Prion sp. 10
Sooty Shearwater 1
Short-tailed Shearwater 80 (20)
Fluttering Shearwater 10 (5)
?Flutton?s? Shearwater 50 (20)
Wilson?s Storm-petrel 4 (2)
GREY-BACKED STORM-PETREL 3 (2)
White-faced Storm-petrel 1
Australasian Gannet 8081
Black-faced Cormorant 20
Great (Southern) Skua 2 (1)
SOUTH POLAR SKUA 1 (pale type intermediate morph)
Silver Gull 30
Crested Tern 28
White-fronted Tern 2
NEXT TRIP 7 June; Contact Mike Carter on (03)9787 7136 for details.
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George Appleby
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