Journals 2007/2008

Mark Harris
Layton High School, Layton, UT

"Antarctic Crabeater Seal Tagging and Icefish Adaptation Studies Research Vessel Laurence M. Gould" May 9, 2007 - June 6, 2007

Journal Index: May 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16        17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24        25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 Research Experience Video Additional Resources

May 28, 2007
Packing It Up

Today was a slow day, I just stayed out of everyone's way. The ice fish scientists led by chief scientist Dr. Bruce Sidell, from the University of Maine, were very busy getting their tissue samples organized and ready to be shipped back. The seal team led by Dr. Dan Crocker, chief scientist from Sonoma State University, was getting the dart gun, nets, and blood and tissue samples ready to go back to the lab in Santa Cruz, California. This actually gave me time to catch up on my journal and return some emails while I was out to sea.

We had a delicious seafood dinner tonight. Mahi mahi was the main dish. Everyone does eat well on the Palmer Station. One of the residents was celebrating a birthday. I can see how living in such a remote area for so long can almost seem like family living. Each person has a role in the station, and they also have a role within the family.

After dinner the ice fish scientists held a fish printing party in the carpenter shop. This is unique, they saved some ice fish, and they are painted then printed on paper or T-shirts. This is called fish printing. Almost all 40 people here on the station were fish printing along with some Jimmy Buffet music. Pretty ironic since the weather outside is 25 degrees with 35mph wind, making the wind chill minus 10 degrees, and we are singing along with Jimmy Buffet.

Dr. Bruce Sidell (Chief Scientist - Ice Fish Adaptation and Cruise Leader)		Dr. Dan Crocker (Chief Scientist - Crabeater Seal Tagging)