On 17 November 1979 we were among 38 observers aboard a chartered fishing boat in the vicinity of the Davidson Seamount, about 55–60 nautical miles west-southwest of Pt. Sur, Monterey County, California. We had departed from Morro Bay the previous evening in hope of reaching waters where small Pterodroma (“Cookilaria”) petrels had been seen the previous month by Robert L. Pitman and Gary Friedrichsen on a scientific survey cruise. It was raining when we departed, but by dawn the rain had stopped, and it was partly cloudy, with 3- to 4-foot swells, light winds, and virtually no whitecaps. Except for the swells, conditions were good for pelagic observations.