Subject: Portuguese Princess Whale Watch data May 1996
ShelS919@aol.com
Tue, 8 Oct 1996 22:59:57 -0400
Area: Stellwagen Bank from Provincetown, Ma (Cape Cod)
May 9, 1996
Vessel: Prince of Whales
sea state: choppy; air temp: 58 F; Visibility: 2-3 nm; wave ht.:2-3
ft.;
water temp: 45 F; wind: SE 20 knots: cloud cover: 50%; Recorder:
Nicole
Time: 1530; Lat/Long: 42 15 33 N/ 70 22 08 W; Depth: 200 ft.; Number:2;
Species: Bp; Grouping: c/c; Behavior: 3 breaths, 5 min. downtime
May 11, 1996
Vessel: Prince of Whales
sea state: slightly choppy; air temp: 57 F; visibility: 100-500 yds.; wave
ht.: swell;
water temp: 44 F; wind: SE 5 knots; Cloud cover: foggy; Recorder:John
1415 42 10 20 N 70 02 60 W 425 Ft. Bp 1 Feeding at surface
May 13, 1996
Prince of Whales
sea state: 0; visibility: 10 nm.; water temp: 48 F; wind: SW 5-10 knots
cloud cover: 5%; Recorder: Nicole
1445 42 13 39 N 69 53 89 W 550 ft. Bp 2 2 12-16 min downtime
May 14, 1996
Prince of Whales
air temp: 50 F; visibility: 10-15 nm; water temp: 47 F; Recorder: Nicole
** lat/long not available for all sata so LORAN C has been substituted
1010 **13724/44117 330 ft. Ba 1 1 appx. 25 ft long, feeding, lots of
bait
1115 42 15 N 70 07 W 445 ft. Bp 1 1 travelling north
1130 42 13 N 7007 W 300 ft. Bp 1 1 long dives
1445 42 09 N 70 02 W 325 ft. La 75-100 Travelling fast to south
1500 42 11 N 70 02 W 550 ft. Bp 2 1+1 7-8 breaths, 5-10 downtime
May 16, 1996
Prince of Whales
sea state: 4; air temp: 58 F; visibility: 3nm; wave ht. 2-3 ft; water
temp: 51 F;
wind: SW 15 knots; cloud cover: 85%; Recorder: Nicole
1430 42 12 71 N 70 05 59 W 220 ft Ba 1 1 3 breaths, 4 min downtime
1510 42 18 N 70 09 W 350 ft Mn 1 1 surface travel to NW
May 17, 1996
Prince of Whales
sea state: choppy; air temp: 56 F; visibility: 1/2 - 3 nm; wave ht: 3-4
ft;
water temp: 52 F; cloud cover 95%; Recorder: Nicole
1420 42 10 82 N 70 22 59 W 105 ft Bp 1 1 3 breaths- 6min downtime, 1
breath
3-4 min downtime (repeated pattern)
May 18, 1996
Prince of Whales
air temp: 55-60 F; visibility: 2-3 nm; wave ht: 0-1 ft; water temp: 52 F;
wind: NE 5-10 knots; cloud cover: 90% Recorder: Nicole
1030 42 14 N 70 21 W 150-200 ft. Bp 1 1 feeding on stellwagen
1420 42 14 N 70 02 W 350-400 ft Bp 1 1 travelled to 42 16 N 70 02 W
1500 42 08 N 70 22 W 180-200 ft Ba 4-5 2+1+1+1 scattered around
feeding, one
close approach by large Ba @ 25-30 ft long
May 20, 1996
Prince of whales
1110 42 12 12 N 70 04 53 W 300 ft Bp 4/6 1+2+1+1+1+1
1110 42 12 12 N 70 04 53 W Ba 2 1+1
1500 42 13 41 N 70 11 18 W 450 ft. Mn 3 c/c+1
42 03 65 N 60 50 90 W Bp 4 2+1+1
42 03 65 N 60 50 90 W La
May 21, 1996
Prince of whales
sea state: 1; visibility: 6-8 nm; Recorder: Nicole
1415 42 06 06 N 69 55 03 W 330 ft Ba 1
1420 42 06 88 N 69 51 74 W Bp 2 1+1
1420 40 02 88 N 69 51 74 W La 250-500 spread out in groups
of 10-50
1435 42 06 91 N 69 49 73 Bp 4 2+1+1 feeding
May 22, 1996
Prince of whales
air temp: 75; visibility: 5-7 nm; wave ht; 1 ft; water temp: 54; high
tide: 1531
wind: E 5 knots; cloud cover: 5 %; Recorder: Nicole
1430 42 04 17 N 70 17 73 W 200 ft Bp 1 surface travel, feeding
May 23, 1996
Prince of Whales
sea state:calm; visibility: 6-7 nm; wave ht:0; water temp: 56; high tide:
1627;
Recorder: Shelley
1520 42 17 35 N 70 22 W 300 ft Bp 3 1+1+1 feeding
May 26, 1996
Prince of Whales
sea state: 3; air temp: 61; visibility: 15+ nm; wave ht: 1-2 ft; water
temp: 54;
high tide: 1756; wind SW 5 knots; cloud cover: 5-10%; Recorder: Nicole
1345 42 16 N 70 06 W 200 ft Bp 1 feeding same whale sighted on 5/18
and
5/25- noticable scar on back
1835 42 14 N 70 27 W 279 ft Bp 3 1+1+1 travelling fast
May 27, 1996
Prince of Whales
sea state: 1-2; air temp: 58; visibility: 10 nm; wave ht: 1-2 ft; water
temp: 52;
high tide 1915; wind: SE <5 knots; cloud cover: 50 %; Recorder: Nicole
1100 42 18 N 70 14 W 152 ft. Bp 2 1+1 Lune- 3 breaths, 6 min downtime
1145 42 10 N 70 03 W 349 ft Bp 1 3 breaths, 12 min downtime
May 28, 1996
Prince of Whales
sea state:5; ait temp: 60; visibility: 10-15 nm; wave ht: 3-5 ft.; wind:
SE 25;
cloud cover: 30%; Recorder: Nicole
afternoon 42 17 N 70 20 W Bp 1 3 breaths, 10 min downtime
May 31, 1996
Prince of Whales
sea state:2; air temp: 65; visibility: 10-15 nm; wave ht: swell; water
temp: 53;
high tide: 1041; wind NW 5-10; cloud cover: 25%; Recorder: Shelley
1030 42 14 N 70 19 W 225 ft Bp 1 Lune 4 breaths, 7-9 downtime
1500 42 19 N 70 10 W 250 ft Bp 1 Lune