About this Item
On offer is a manuscript logbook of extensive notes plus two typed reports from the Director of Investigations of an environmental commission responsible for the conservation and management of marine resources in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This collection feels particularly important when one considers the 21st century focus on environmental protection and climate change. This collection was compiled as part of a large project commissioned by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). The IATTC was initially established as a treaty between the United States and Costa Rica in 1949 with a mission to conduct research on marine resources in the ocean. According to its website, its reason for being is, "responsibility for the conservation and management of tuna and other marine resources in the eastern Pacific Ocean from Canada in the north to Chile in the south". Additionally, the IATTC has significant responsibilities for the implementation of the International Dolphin Conservation Program. Between 1965 and 1966, the IATTC carried out four Augmented Colombian EI Nino Oceanography (ACENTO) research cruises. The ACENTO project was intended to study the area of the Panama Bright to determine correlation between tuna availability and environmental conditions. All four research cruises took place on the ship Bocas de Cenzia, which was owned and operated by Empresa Puertos de Colombia, and had previously been used by the United States Army during World War II. The 1965 cruises took place in May, August and November of 1965. The fourth and final cruise was scheduled for February of 1966. The collection on offer contains the printed report on the itinerary and findings of the November, 1965 cruise as well as all the field notes and final typed report of the February, 1966 cruise. The IATTC researchers on the 1966 cruise were lead by Director of Investigations, Eric D. Forsbergh. His scientific team included Witold L. Klawe, Enrique L. Diaz and Cuthbert M. Love. The expedition also included a large naval team to run ship operations. Finally, the research cruise was attended by Tuna Commission guests, including two professors from the University of Valle (Universidad de Valle del Cauca) in Cali, Columbia. The Scientific Logbook contains detailed, near constant handwritten notes from all four scientists. The notes take the reader through the minute to minute work of the research team. Through their notes we know exactly when they arrived at each research station and what they accomplished in each location. We get a sense of their ongoing challenges, such as nets that are not properly tied, mandated government labels that don t stick to samples, challenges with the supplied specimen bottles that have leaks causing the oxygen to aerate, wire getting caught in their nets and compromising their abilities to catch fish, a broken down gas-powered alternator, inclement weather, and injuries to crew members. An excerpt that gives the flavor of how these issues are described in the logbook follows: "Dr. Patino and Regalado plan to get off…Dr. Regalado has been quite seasick…a Coke bottle fell on a crew member and broke his nose. He will also be let off at Tumaco for treatment at Hospital" [Feb 21, 1966]. Through the notes the reader not only gets a deep sense of the research being accomplished, but also of the personalities of the research team. For example, head investigator Eric D. Forsbergh becomes increasingly frustrated by technical issues on the ship, noting ongoing issues in all-caps and eventually using a red pencil crayon to write "THERE MUST BE A CURSE ON US ON THIS WRETCHED SHIP" [Feb 23, 1966]. Forsbergh also notes non-research related events at the research station. For example, at Station #18 on Gorgona Island, he writes "Yesterday the prisoners revolted…killed some guards and took over a boat" [Feb 23, 1966]. An example of the scientific research notes follow: "Apparently there is a very strong under current at bearing 00 wh. Seller Inventory # 0010314
Contact seller
Report this item
Bibliographic Details
Title: 1966 Fascinating Marine Biology Scientific ...
Publisher: 1965-1966, Bocas DE Cenzia, Panama Bright
Publication Date: 1965
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good
Dust Jacket Condition: No Dust Jacket
Signed: Signed by Author(s)
