The Lazarette Gazette NEWS FROM The University of Texas at Austin MARINE SCIENCE INSTITlITE Port Aransas, Texas 78373-1267 Vol. 1, Issue 13, 20 November 1992 In this issue ofLazarette Gazette --Bob Jones: Neufeld is latest Ph.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . cover Also: Research Programs of Dunton, Montagna, Parker & Scalan . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 2 Virginia Phillips: Marine Science Library update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 5 Regular sections: seminars --p.3, personnel --p.3, trip rep<>rts & travel -p. 7, egabrag woes --p.7, marine education services --p.8, tony's tidings --p.9, letters to the editor --p.10 facilities & equipment --p.11, crui~ rep<>rts & boat operations --p.12, editor's note --p.12 Doug Neufeld has completed all requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Biological Sciences. We are pleased • to report that last week in Austin Doug successfully defended his dissertation research, entitled Changes in Calcium and Water Regulation in the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus. Acclimated to Low Salinities. I wanted to use Doug's recent accomplishment not only to honor him, but also to point out that he represents our other route to academic success at the MSI. Rather than passing via our degree program in Marine Science, Doug was enrolled in Biological Sciences (Zoology) and did his dissertation research, and part of his course work, here under the supervision of Professor James N. Cameron. Jim holds joint appointments in Zoology and Marine Science. Congratulations Dr. Doug Neufeld, we are proud to add your name to the list of UT Austin graduate students who have made use of the facilities of the MSI. Our Report on Organized Research 1991-92 was completed last Friday. This report goes to Executive Vice President and Provost Gerry Fonken and eventually is available to the legislature and others in·state government who are interested in where the money goes and what is done with it. The nice thing about this report is that, besides indicating what is produced in return for the appropriations designated for the Marine Science Institute, it is also an opportunity to indicate how much other money resulted from MSI activities. This year our total MSI funding was $3,484,273, and 66% was obtained through grants/contracts and gifts. Our report also indicated that publications by MSI scientists and students in 1991-92 numbered 47 papers of which 32 were refereed. The new graduate degree program has expanded to 15 faculty and 25 students. Each Senior Researcher at MSI provides information and the report runs to 25 pages. Readers may recall a previous issue of the Lazarette Gazette (#5) in which we provided information from the 1994/1995 Special Item Legislative Appropriations Request. On that report we had to miss a few researchers because they were on travel or vacation and we had a short tur:r;i-around time. On this report, we had plenty of time and missed no-one. And I would like now to provide you with information on those research programs which we could not include back in July. --Robert S. Jones Ken Dunton's work addresses the productivity of marine seagrasses and seaweeds. His activities extend from the High Arctic to the Antarctic and as far west as the former Soviet Union. His Arctic research addresses the productivity of kelp in relation to continuous measurements of underwater light. In 1989 he documented kelp growth under the lowest annual light conditions yet recorded, further evidence for the unique adaptations that polar algae have made to low light conditions. This work has since resulted in grants from the National Science Foundation and British Petroleum to study the unique physiology and photosynthetic performance of these arctic plants. These studies began in July 1991 and included an underice dive program in March and April 1992. His measurements have important implications with respect to our estimates of global carbon budgets. On this basis, he visited a Russian arctic field station on the Barent's Sea in November 1990 to develop a joint program for marine algal research. This trip was supported by the National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Foundation. Dr. Dunton is also coordinating polar marine invertebrate and algal specialists in the United States for joint USSR-USA collaborative, NSF-funded research on the Panarctic Biota. This work will involve the co~struction of a GIS (Geographic Information System) which will be used in addressing questions concerning arctic biodiversity and biogeography. .Dunton's current research on the Texas Gulf coast is directed toward seagrass photosynthesis and production . along estuarine gradients. He has begun·to refine current estimates of macrophyte production along the Texas coast based on in situ measurements of photosynthesis using specially designed equipment. His data continues to show that light rather than nutrients may be the most important factor regulating production, which h~major significance with regard to the effects of dredging, algal blooms (e.g., "brown tide") and freshwater inflow. Dr. Paul Montagna's long-term research objective is to elucidate the role of the benthos (biological communities associated with the sediment) in marine ecosystems. The benthic environment is important for natural resources (e.g., seafood, ·hydrocarbon production, and minerals) and is the primary site of regenerated nutrients to the seawater in coastal environments. He focuses on benthic metabolism, trophicdynamic relationships, and population and community ecology. Current programs include studying longterm dynamics of freshwater inflow effects on benthos in Texas estuaries. Work is being performed in the Lavaca-Colorado, Guadalupe, and Nueces Estuaries. Half of the benthic diversity was lost in the Laguna Madre -Baffin Bay Ecosystem as a result of "brown tide". The long-term cycle of floods and droughts, which is characteristic of the Texas coast, is a major driving force regulating diversity, succession, and t productivity in Texas estuaries, and this cycle is probably tied to El Nino events in the Pacific Ocean. He is also working on trophic dynamics in the Laguna Madre. Dr. Montagna continues to coordinate the Laguna Madre STEPS project. This multidisciplinary research program involves seven other Principal Investigators and about 30 UTMSI scientists altogether. The goal of the program is to determine what maintains the productive fishery in this apparently nutrient-poor and harsh environment. Dr. Patrick Parker's and Dr. Richard Scalan's studies of the aspects of stable isotope measurements in marine geochemistry have centered on two main topics this year: (1) a continued study of the isotopic relationship between diet and tissue development of Redhead ducks; and, (2) studies of the influence of a continuing bloom of a "brown tide" organism on the isotopic composition of organic matter in the organism and in the underlying sediments and infauna. The first of these is a cooperative study with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which has essentially been completed, reported and is currently being put into form suitable for publication. The second is a continuing study of the Laguna Madre ecosystem supported by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. While the Redhead duck study is no longer being supported, considerable follow up work as a part of doctoral dissertation research has shown that the simple thesis of a two-diet turnover ofcarbon and sulfur in ducks may be inadequate. Recent studies of ducks from Canada have complicated the picture with yet a third dietary regime for these animals. In the "brown tide" study preliminary nitrogen isotope studies have indicated the chrysophyte organism has an isotopic composition which, as expected, places it near the bottom of the "isotope-trophic" ladder. That is, ~hey are only 1 to 2 per mil "heavier" than atmospheric nitrogen. These are only preliminary results and may change as our experience in handling very small samples improves. Preliminary carbon isotope analyses suggest a diurnal variation of isotopic composition takes place in these organisms. There is also an indicated diurnal change in C/N ratio. These probably reflect changes from photosynthesis to respiration with the photoperiod. A more detailed study with this effect in mind will be necessary to establish the mechanism. Carbon isotope studies on organic matter in the sediments of the Baffin Bay-Laguna Madre system show the "surface" organic matter is 2 to 5 mil "lighter" than corresponding sediments 10 centimeters beneath the surface. This may represent an influence of incorporation of "brown tide" organisms in the surface sediments, or it may reflect an organic diagenesis with isotopic fractionation. More detailed studies are warranted. Dr. George Ward, Center for Research in Water Resources, The University of Texas at Austin. Options for hydrodynamic modeling of an estuarine embayment (Tuesday, October 20). Dr. Doug Neufel,d, Marine Science Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Changes in calcium regulation during the moult of blue crabs acclimated to low salinity (Friday, November 6). · Dr. Irena Kaczmarska, Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, New Brunswick, Diatom indicators of late Pleistocene climate from the Southern Ocean (Friday, November 13). (We had hoped to use the Lazarette Gazette to announce seminars in advance. It did not work out, since seminars are often scheduled on short notice. We are now going to list seminars, after-the-fact, so at least you will know what you missed! --Editor) • Jerry Clanton wears many hats. Perhaps the hardest hat Jerry Clanton wears is that of Supervisor of Maintenance at the Marine Science Institute. Jerry's employment goes all the way back to January of 1970, when he came aboard. as Plant Maintenance Mechanic (trainee). After a very short time the trainee designation was removed and Jerry became MSI's Plant Maintenance Mechanic, and later the MSI Instrument Mechanic. Most people at MSI cannot remember a time when Jerry was not the supervisor of maintenance, but it wasn't until 1980 that Jerry finally relented and somewhat reluctantly agreed to be supervisor. When the maintenance department was first organized as a separate section of the MSI physical plant and a supervisor sought, Jerry was the first and obvious choice--but Jerry preferred to remain one ofthe workers. Later, after the resignation of the first supervisor, Jerry was again offered the position, and again refused. When that supervisor left, and on the third offer, Jerry finally accepted-because, he was tired of training supervisors. There are few, if any, who will not agree that Jerry does a great job in the position he fought to avoid for such a long time. But he is still one of the workers. One minute you will find him moving furniture and the next he may be doing an electrical installation or repairing air conditioning controls or perhaps digging a ditch. Anyone who caught sight (or smell) ofJerry recently when the overhead sewer lines suddenly became unstopped, knows that Clanton is in on the action --not standing on the side lines. Jerry and wife Beverly have three grown children, Scott, Lee, and Deanna; and they are also proud grandparents. In his spare time, Jerry owns and operates an ice plant and_you can see him around town stocking the stores with ice. Leisure time? How about digging up 20-foot tall cottonwood trees? Scott York, a doctoral student in Reynaldo Patino's laboratory at Texas Tech University, is visiting Peter Thomas' laboratory for a couple of weeks to continue a collaborative project on the role of gap junctions in final oocyte maturation in marine fish. Scott obtained some exciting results with spotted seatrout this summer, implicating gap junctions in oocyte maturation, and has returned to verify his results in another sciaenid species, the Atlantic croaker. --Peter Thomas Missing Graduates--The post office is unable to deliver the Lazarette Gazette to 15 graduates at the last addresses we have for them. Ifyou have a current address for any of these, please give us a phone call or a note. The missing persons, and old addresses, are: James A. Dodson Thomas Kloth 1263-3 Memorial Dr. #366 5198 Eadie Pl. Houston, TX 77024-4836 W. Palm Beach, Fl. 33407 E. David Lane Joseph W. Pardue 818 E. Browning Route #8, 3700 Southerland Pampa, TX 79065 Clarksville, TN" 37040 Juan Aguirre Timothy Bechtel 4713 Ave. F 1214 -15.th Ave., S.E. Austin, TX 78751 Bellevue, WA 98007 Lawrence E. Birke Steven M. Greenwood 555 16th Ave., N.E. #226 110 Cedar Street Bellevue, WA 98004 Wellesley Hills, MA 02181 Peter Jackson Frank J. Little 1800 N. Kent St., Ste. 930 8155 Ridge Road Alexandria, VA 22209 Charleston, NY 14430 • David J. Shultz Carol M. Volkman 1503 Hakoline Nene 92 Highwood Avenue Tallahassee, FL 32301 Tenafly, NJ 76700 Ronald F. Wilson Edward Zyznar Adelphi College UT Health Science Center Adelphi, NY 11530 Dallas, TX 75235 Shayne C. Gad G.D. Serale R & D Skokie, IL 60077 4 Note: The following article by Virginia Phillips appeared in the October 2, 1992, issue of the -General Libraries Library Bulletin. MSI Library Committee Chairman, Terry Whitledge, and MSI Director, Robert S. Jones thought many of the LazGaz readers would find it useful, and we are publishing it here at their request and with Virginia's permission. We have not changed tense to reflect events which were in the future at the time published but are now history, but with Ruth Grundy's help we have inserted definitions for a few acronyms which may not be familiar to LazGaz readers. --Editor The Incorporation of the Marine Science Library (MSL) into General Libraries services, policies and procedures, and collections continued throughout the 1991-92 fiscal year. During the summer, final plans were made to add records for the MSL collection to UTCAT (The Online catalog of The University of Texas at Austin General Libraries). On May 26, 1992, Robin Fradenburgh, head librarian, Automated Cataloging Department, Virginia Phillips, assistant director for branch services, and Robert C. Stewart, head librarian, Bibliographic Systems Office, left Austin to visit the Marine Science Library in Port Aransas. This was the first of two visits to MSL to implement OCLC (Online Computer Library Center, Inc.) automated cataloging and interlibrary loan processes at the Marine Science Library. The first visit focused on planning; the second,-on training staff. During the planning visit, Marine Science Librarian Ruth Grundy gave atour of the facillty and ademonstration of UTCAT and *LLITEM (a program that allows catalogers to edit UTCAT records) at MSL. Fradenburgh and Stewart gathered necessary information for the implementation of automated cataloging. Laura Kimberly, training and support manager, AMIGOS Bibliographic Council, conducted the planning sessions on Wednesday, May 27. These sessions reviewed information relating to the OCLC profile for MSL; retrospective conversion options; AMIGOS (South Central consortium of states belonging to OCLC)/OCLC services, products, and documentation; AMIGOS financial information and training schedule; and equipment. After returning to Austin, Stewart prepared plans for Marine Science Library cataloging using OCLC and *LLITEM and for retrospective conversion. Kimberly finalized documentation relating to symbols and profiles. Fradenburgh finalized plans for the initial training to be done on-site for MSL staff. Helen Hughes, library liaison training officer, AMIGOS Bibliographic Council, conducted the training sessions for Ruth Grundy ·and Tommye Adams, library assistant, August 18-20. Fradenburgh represented the Automated Cataloging Department to explain the relationship of General Libraries internal policies and procedures to those outlined for AMIGOS/OCLC. The first OCLC records for MSL were produced the week of August 17, 1992. Records will be added to UTCAT weekly. Of the first sixty-three titles cataloged by MSL, forty-three were tltles new to UTCAT! Only books and theses/dissertations in MSL collections circulate. Serials, maps, rare books, atlases, and collected reprints are for library use only, and records for them will indicate they are non-circulating. Examples of UTCAT message displays are as follows. Circulating books and these/dissertations: Andrews, Jean I Afield guide to shells of the Texas Coast. I Houston, Tex. 1992 (1981) QL 415 T4 A63 1992 Marine Science Library, Port Aransas. Available to users with UT Austin ID from Inter-Library Service, PCL 2.402, UT Austin; to others, directly from MSL. Serials: Diseases of aquatic organisms. SER D56 Marine Science Library, Port Aransas USE IN LIBRARY ONLY Article photocopies available to users with UT Austin ID from Inter-Library Service, PCL 2.402, UT Austin; to others, directly from MSL. 5 Non-circulating maps, rare books, atlases and collected reprints: Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882 I The structure and distribution of coral reefs. I 3rd ed. New York 1889 RARE 0235 Marine Science Library, Port Aransas USE IN LIBRARY ONLY Most users of UTCAT are on the Austin campus; UT Austin users who inquire about MSL materials are to be directed to Inter-Library Service in the Perry-Castaneda Library. Most users outside Austin and Texas will be accessing library holdings through OCLC which will display the OCLC "PAY" holding library symbol directing borrowers to the Marine Science Library in Port Aransas. Another major project closely related to adding the MSL collection to UTCAT also started this summer. The collection of approximately 6,000 monographs is to be reviewed before serials collection (22,676 volumes as of August 31, 1992) is also to be reviewed for retention, transfer, storage, or other disposition before it is added to UTCAT. At the same time, titles received on exchange are to be reviewed and a 1,2,3 priority rank established as has been done for the periodical titles received on paid subscription. This serial review is being spread over a three-year period, to rontinue until rompleted. Some rollection review has already been done. Some Latin American titles have been transferred to the Benson Latin American Collection. Some titles have been transferred to other General Libraries units. Over 100 boxes of material have been given to UT Pan American, Edinburg. Some material has been sent to the gifts bibliographer. One title has been transferred from Austin to Port Aransas. After the book rollection is weeded and shettlist cards removed, the sheHlist for the book collection can be used for retrospective ronversion. There is no sheHlist for serials -only acard file by brief title exists; therefore, rerommendations for cataloging of serials await further discussion. MSL is not currently an automated circulation unit. However, all procedures which will make this possible at a later date are being followed. MSL materials will receive OCR labels as they are cataloged. ICS has been modttied to prevent creation of checkout records for MSL Items even though they are in the Item file. this will prevent creation of activity rerords that cannot be updated or discharged normally. The already defined unit-charge location 294 will continue to be used by General Libraries units in Austin when they check out Items to MSL. Material checked out to MSL from General Libraries units in Austin will be reviewed in October each year. Materials which are no longer needed are to be returned to the owning library. Recall notices for these items can be filled out at any circulation desk and items recalled to Austin whenever necessary. MSL is slated to receive an Ariel document delivery workstation and software to expedite interlibrary loan requests. This equipment is being purchased with funds the General Libraries received during FY1992 from PUF reserve funds as part of the University of Texas System Capital Improvements Program. The Marine Science Institute supports ILS in Austin with a 19-hour/week office assistant. MSL will rontinue to participate in the PAISANO Consortium of Libraries in the roming year. The PAISANO ronsortium was formed in 1984 by a group of libraries in South Texas to share resources through interlibrary loan and other forms of interlibrary cooperation. At present, there are twenty-nine members located from the lower Rio Grande Valley to Victoria. MSL was included in routine and special projects done by branch and other library units, such as the serials cancellation project and the automation needs assessment team study, throughout the year. Both buckram and laced-on binding were incorporated into the General Libraries budget and routines. The backlog of buckram binding is being spread over athree-year period, and laced-on binding for serials will be sent to Austin as prepared. At the present time, MSL materials are not included in any in-process control procedures including the recently implemented "at bindery" display. Staff in the Center for American History are preparing apreliminary collection description of the papers of Judge John R. Beasley. The Beasley collection which includes photographs, memoranda, and correspondence relating to marine science and the environment of the Gulf region, was transferred from MSL to the Center in fall 1991. George Cogswell, facillties planning officer, is scheduled to visit MSL later this fall to advise on location of equipment and best use of space. MSL staff will come to Austin for continued training and orientation during week-long visits this fall. Tommye Adams is coming twice: September 21-25 for hands-on training in Inter-Library Service, and November 9-13 for further training in automated cataloging procedures. Ruth Grundy will be here for training in serials cataloging the week of October 19-23. She will also be meeting wtth individual staff members on other matters as well. Both the General Libraries and the Marine Science Institute continue to work for improved communication links between Austin and Port Aransas. The latest technology depends on the best possible communication support. Much was accomplished throughout the year by staff in both Austin and Port Aransas, in spite of surgery, staff turnover, and vacation. Marine Science Library staff Ruth Grundy and Tommye Adams quickly learned about automated cataloging and responded to every query (and there were many every day) with good grace and humor. And Austin-based staff, in particular Robin Fradenburgh, John Kupersmith, Suzanne McAnna, Alison O'Balle, Nancy Paine, and Robert Stewart, were responsible tor the final plans to add MSL collections to UTCAT. The Marine Science Library made signtticant progress on becoming ashowplace for the General Libraries, the Marine Science lnstttute, and The University of Texas at Austin during the 1991-92 fiscal year. --Virginia Phillips November 7--20 +Lestarini Budiantara, November 8-12, Cincinnati, Ohio, present paper The effects ofwatersoluble fractions of diesel oil on reproductive endocrine function in the Atlantic croaker at the annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology and Chemistry. +Peter Thomas, November 9...12, Cincinnati, Ohio, present paper Some possible mechanisms of chemical interference with reproductive endocrine function in Atlantic croaker at the annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology·and Chemistry. +Paul M~ntagna,November 16-17, College Station, to attend a research planning meetingfor project GOOMEX. +ScottHolt, Terry Henley, Cameron Pratt, November 17-18, Port Mansfield, to collectichthyoplankton samples in the Lower Laguna. +Curtis Suttle, November 15-17, University of Rhode Island, to meet with faculty of URI concerning work on marine viruses. On eating green toads --Someone (perhaps an aggie) once said that words of true knowledge could be found written on the walls of public restrooms. I doubt it. However the wall in the second floor hallway of our Laboratory Building, until recently, did have an item of profound wisdom. Someone taped on a picture of a large green toad with advice to eat one raw the first thing each day, because, after that-anything you do the rest of the day will be pleasurable. This principle holds true over much longer time frames, and it could be the best explanation for my own presence in Port Aransas for so many years. Yes, my first experience with Port Aransas was such that, afterwards, just about anything would be a great pleasure. Profiles of two small sailboats, each about 18 feet overall and each named Maritornes, grace my office wall (and it is Maritornes II that sails across the Lazarette Gazette masthead). I built the first Maritornes in 1957, and not long afterwards we (Brother Robert and Uncle Alan) sailed her to Port Aransas. The Maritornes was a flat-bottomed sharpie sloop and carried a 6 horsepower Wizard Outboard Motor for power. She could sail, and sail very well, in extremely shallow water--but it was that shallow aspect that got us in deep you know what. When we left Ingleside Point the wind was the wrong direction for us to sail up the ship channel so we began tacking toward Port Aransas in the area between the spoil banks and Shamrock Island. Ofcourse this was well before Castor's Cut, now known as the Island Moorings channel. The breeze was very light and it was a hot summer day, with the sun glimmering off the water, causing water and sky to merge together. We had a chart, which indicated more than a foot of water in the East Flats area and good water between several of the spoil banks. I naively believed that if the government printed a chart which said there was 18 inches of water--then there was 18 inches of water. Now I know that whereas our government gets nervous and concerned, and sends out a notice to mariners, ifthere is supposed to be 45 and a half feet of water in the ship channel and a boat drawing only 45 feet touches bottom; those same people do not care that you can sail your boat in 18 inches of water but cannot in 3 inches. And with the haze, it looked like there was open water between many ofthe spoil banks. So after a couple of hours tacking in the light breeze in thinner and thinner water, fmally we hit bottom. In the shimmering haze it looked like all we had to do was go just a little farther and we would get to the promised deep water and through the spoil banks. Consequently we got out ofthe boat and began dragging her--full sail still set to assist--across the shallows. But minutes and finally hours passed and still we didn't find the promised deeper water. I had gone bare footed, and there were oyster shell banks in the flats. The good thing about the thin water was that at least it was too shallow for sharks to follow my blood trail.. Finally we left the Maritornes--still with full sail set but hard aground--and hiked across the shallows to fmd--guess what: no way through to the ship channel! By then we had hours invested in· dragging the Maritornes across the shallows. Now we got to do it again, in the other direction. We still found it worked best to leave full sail up, but consequently the slight angle of heel meant we rubbed one chine going and the other chine returning to the extent that a full ply of her plywood bottom was worn off each side amidships. When we fmally got to the channel, we took down all sail and opened up the Wizard full blast and motored to Port Aransas. By then we were very hungry. We went to the old Wilson Grill--in those days Port Aransas had real (i.e. illegal) gambling and there were also some great eating places, one being Wilson's. We were met by a distinguished looking and well dressed waiter who inquired what the gentlemen (who were badly sunburned, could hardly stand up, and happened to be bleeding on his clean carpet) wanted. Uncle Alan told him we wanted a beer and their best steak. At that point, we had finished eating the green toad; life in Port Aransas has been better ever since. --John Thompson Tora, Tora, Tora T-Shirt Sale --This is your chance to own an item soon to become as rare and valuable as a can of Billy Beer. Ocean. Emporium is selling out, at cost, the infamous Tora, Tora, Tora T-Shirts. This beautiful T-Shirt design depicts the RIV LONGHORN sailing a bright and sunlit (the rising sun-hence the"tora, tora, tora" nickname). These are 100% all cotton shirts, blue color, and are available in sizes small, medium, large, XL ($7.00) and XXL ($8.00). These make great Christmas gifts (you wouldn't want to wear one yourself, of course)! After this, no more from this design will be printed (we promise). 8 Tide Predictions --November 23--December 6 (For tidal heights at the tide tower, South Jetty, the Aransas Pass. Heights are in feet above or below mean sea level. The shaded area is nighttime. Remember, this is tidal height, not tidal current. Slack water is when the wiggly line crosses the MSL line, not at peaks and valleys, where the tidal current will be a full flood or ebb.) ~ O'I x I ;--:=---iii:=~~-=:'."'~~~ ~. 2 I m Ill H H G'> G'> I I -I 0 0 -I -1' -1 -1 ~ ..... ..... 2 I m 1 ~ I 0 -I -1' -1 -1 "'1\ ..... ..... Beach Report --Tony Amos is still in the Antarctic. .Meanwhile Tony has supplied the following reports from ten years ago. --editor Wednesday November 101982: ·Dead barn owl. Can of NEWTRO Liferaft Provisions, then another. Small glass sphere. (this was the last glass fishing float I found on the ·beach. The days ofglass floats are long over). Metal floats (2) & kept aonce had a garage full of metal, plastic, and a few glassfloats, but have· since given most away). Several styrofoam floats. Bottles covered in barnacles and algae. Tide has been up to the dunes in places~ Garbage, .Sargassum.& water hyacinth all over beach -bottles, glass and· · plastic abound. Small Portuguese Man O'War, some cabbageheads. 916 birds of 21 species. Air · temperature 72.0, Sea temperature 71.2, Salinity 29.95. Overcast, drizzle. Friday, November 12 1982: Took more than 15 minutes to·manhandle huge length of polypro hawser into trunk of car. 20-ft long boat hook found and kept. Had to return via beach because of all the gearsticking out of car (This was when I was still destroying our Peugeot 504 diesel by driving it on the beach and stuffing full of "treasures" which I later had to figure out how to dispose of.) 1,025 birds of 24. species. Air temperature 71.6, Sea temperature 69.1, Salinity 29.93. Overcast, big clouds (what did that mean?) Sunday November 14 1982: A Merlin flies in off the Gulf. New walkway and steps going in at MustangTowers. Bulldozer and two Skidocans at SeaGull (this was the time when Condos were still being built along Park Road 53). 727 birds of 25 species. Air temperature 62.2, Sea temperature 66.0, Salinity 30.08. Overcast. Tuesday 16 November 1982: Using UT Dodge Station Wagon (the Peugeot was on its terminal decline).Forgot all equipment except psychrometer and salinity bottle. Measured wind by finger and distance byfeet. Dead Black-legged Kittiwake (I photographed this bird and the "Bird Police" accepted it as a Texas record)." 678 birds of 19 species. Air temperature 57.2, Sea temperature 64.8, Salinity unknown, Overcast,rain. Thursday November 18 1982: Using UT Suburban. Several big clumps of water hyacinth, roots and stems. Surf Scoter heading N along shoreline. Unmistakable shape, color, and blotches on head. Beach washed clean. Air temperature 65.5, Sea temperature 64.8, Salinity 30.22. Overcast. Saturday November 1982: Beach swept clean by high tides and rain-pocked from storm last night. A beautiful warm morning! Dog races down beach, flushing all (birds). Twin-seat ultra-light aircraft zooms along shoreline flushing all. Dead opossum at shoreline. Strandlines of green sea-grasses, Callianassa (ghost shrimp) burrows exposed. Huge mercury vapor lamp found and kept (it's in my "museum" ofbeach treasures). Many one-gallon plastic milk jugs. Beautiful pale blue moth with blue veins and orange eyes. Camping-Man's camp site with sign saying 'Be Rit Back' (This man was a semi-permanent beach dweller. He had no car, just an old tent and a few belongings. He never came back.) Air temperature 70.3, Sea temperature 67.8, Salinity 30.16. Clear. Weather Report --November 2-15 Many thanks for your Lazarette Gazette. I've spent nearly three hours in reading it over again and again. I wish I could return to my second native land ofPort Aransas in the future. --Byung D. Lee (Byung Don Lee, Ph.D., Professor and President Dongeui University, Korea, MA from UT in 1960. Dr. Lee also sent us a beautiful color booklet describing Dongeui University--a major Korean University with programs in most areas including a law school, medical school, and affiliations with 12 research institutes. Dr. Lee took office as the second president of Dongeui University in 1988. Dongeui College was founded in 1979. As of February, 1990, 7,789 students and a total of 98 students with master's degrees have graduated--Editor.) It was quite a pleasant surprise to get the newsletter from the Institute. First I must congratulate you on putting out such an entertaining publication. Deliberately or not, it captures the fiavor ofPort Aransas in a way that is hard to define, but still unmistakable. I wouldn't say my life has changed dramatically since you obtained my address, but let me give you this update anyway: Address--Medical Research Division, American Cyanamid Company, Bldg. 112 Rm 637, Pearl River, NY 10965, Phone (914) 732-3128. My position here is Biochemistry Group Leader; I have held this for one year now. It represents a move to a different part ofthe company that I've been with ever since I finished my postdoctoral and other occupations in the academic world. We are a big drug company interested in all kinds of things. In my area, we are working on therapeutic proteins derived from microbial sources. It might not suprise you to hear that I don't often get to show offmy background in marine science and botany, but nevertheless, my graduate training at UT has always served me well. I really found the comments from the students fascinating. Many ofthem expressed a sort oflukewarm endprsement ofliving in Port Aransas, weighing its many benefits against the various forms of isolation that it involves. My own feelings about it when I was there were quite similar. The references to Wilson's Cottages prompt me to stake my claim as the very first student to occupy one of the cottages, shortly after the property was designated for student housing in 1979. I hope there a!'e still a few people around the Institute who remember me--my best regards to all of you. I'm happy to see the Institute prospering. --John Gotto (John Gotto, Ph.D., 1980) I just received your most recent edition of the Lazarette Gazette, including the information on UTMSI graduates from 1954 -1992. I would appreciate your changing my current address to: Steven M. Anderson, Ph.D., Manager -Environment, Healtha_nd Safety, Amoco Chemical Company, P. 0. Box 568, Texas City, Tx 77592-0568, Telephone: (409) 942-4760. --S. M. Anderson (Steven M. Anderson, Ph.D., 1980) Just a note to say hello and to thank you for the newsletter. I enjoyed reading about the Institute. P.S: Please note the new address--P. 0. Box 2293, Ridgecrest, CA 93556. P.S.S: This was the only post card I could · Jfind here in the desert with a "sea" thenie. ..-Dick Leo (Richard F. Leo, M.A., 1965) New pierjob underway --A preconstruction meeting was held Tuesday, November 10, on the pier project. Edgar Campbell, Professional Engineer, and Richard Petty, Construction Inspector, representing UT Physical Plant's Architectural and Engineering Services department met with representatives of the contractor, I. H. Salazar, Inc. and Bill Ogletree and Pat Veteto, of Russell-Veteto, Inc. MSI was represented by John Thompson and Jerry Clanton. The first load of pilings was delivered to the site on Wednesday, November 18. Reroofing for the Administration Building --Representatives from UT's A & E Services and John Thompson and Jerry Clanton met with the representative of the contractor, Easley, Inc. for final arrangements on reroofing of the Administration Building. The work is expectedto get underway in a few weeks. During the period when the old roof is being removed, large dumpsters will be located in the small parking area directly to the East of the East-side double overhead doors, closing this area to parking · tern porarily. Paving work to be awarded soon --Final contract documents should be completed soon so that work can begin on paving repairs and overlay for the primary paved areas at MSI. The work is to include correction of the drainage problem between the Administration and Laboratory buildings. ISiand Construction, Inc. was low bidder on the project. Bid sale --Sealed bids are now being taken on 103 items; bid forms are available in the Administrative Office. Bids will be opened at 2:00 p.m. on December 1. A bid deposit is required. Items include: typewriters, marine radiotelephones, computer equipment, kitchen equipment, furniture, outboard motors, an inboard/outboard motor, copier machines, a small boat, a station wagon, a truck, boat trailers, and many other items. ''New" maintenance pickup --The new pickup you may have seen maintenance personnel driving isn't. Our 1979 truck got a new (used one the Water District let us have cheap) bed, a door from a wrecking lot, the brakes repaired and a new paint job (after our maintenance personnel did the prep work). For $600 the MSI maintenance crew has a truck which should be good for another ten years. RIV Longhorn is in home port of Port Aransas this month. RIVKaty is continuing her busy schedule for visiting classes. A new radar is on order to replace the old one which was inherited from her predecessor, the RIV Lorene. The old radar can no longer be economically repaired. The RIVKaty will be out of service for a few days while undergoing engine repairs. Small boat use November 7-20 -JET -AIR BOAT --Ken Dunton, 2 days. KLEBERG --Scott Holt, 3 days. JEFFERSON --David Jorissen, 1.day. BIG WHALER --Ken Dunton, 4 days. SONNY MAC --Terry Whitledge, 1 day. It was great to hear from Byung Don Lee, John Gotto, Steve Anderson, and Dick Leo (see letters to the editor pg.10-11). And we are sending them copies of the Lazarette Gazette, #1 through 10, in appreciation. A few changes may eventually show up in the LazGaz layout; some minor ones are in this issue. I attended a training session, along with 23 others, and was instructed by a very competent and serious young lady on newsletter layout. As I understand it, newsletter layout is like (my analogies; humour was not part ofthe session) light beer iless is more] or the government's farm program [there is value in not planting]. In other words they would like to see more white space. The LazGaz has too much grey area. Grey is the disparaging buzz word for text! Actually, it was a good and useful session, and probably I should improve the layout. However, I still think content is more important (not equally important as stressed in the training) and the LazGaz readers would rather read than look at white (nothing) space. I also learned that what I have been calling the masthead should be called the nameplate; but since ours does have a mast in it, I will just continue to inappropriately call it the masthead. If we had a true masthead it would include a statement that the Lazarette Gazette is not printed or mailed with ~ppropriated funds (John Sharp please note). Thanks for help with this issue to Robert S. Jones, Patty Baker, Kathy Quade, Peter Thomas, JoAnn Page, Andi Wickham, Chuck Rowe, Lynn Amos, and Linda Yates. --John Thompson