2. Narrative

The vessels itinerary was as follows:

Departure San Jose, Guatemala	30 November.
Arrival Salina Cruz Mexico	8 December

During 3 days of work in Guatemalan waters the vessel steamed abt. 550 nm and 26 fishing stations were worked. In the Gulf of Tehuantepec the total distance steamed during 4.5 days of work was abt. 770 nm with 49 trawl stations. Hydrographic profiles were worked off Champerico, San Marcos and Salina Cruz.

Figure 1 shows the course tracks followed and the positions of the hydrographic profiles and the fishing stations.

Early in the full coverage Colombia to Mexico it was found necessary to adjust the time allocated to the different countries and the survey in Guatemala and Mexico was adjusted to start 2 days before the initial plan. This information was however not given to the scientists from Mexico and Guatemala and consequently the start of the survey was delayed by 1l days. With the reduced time available for the survey, it was decided to concentrate the effort in the nearshore waters were the main part of the fish had been found in the previous surveys. The hydrographic profiles were also shortened to avoid spending daylight hours, useful for bottom trawling, for steaming.

The weather conditions were favourable and did not limit the work.