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Hawksbill sightings follow second behind those of loggerheads in this region (Carr, 1986; W. Teas, NMFS, pers. comm.). Sightings of "lost year" stage hawksbills between 1981 and 1994 include pelagic encounters in Massachusetts, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia and strandings in southern Florida and Mustang Island, Texas (Figure 1). There are prominent nesting colonies throughout the Caribbean basin (Carr, 1986; Meylan, 1984; Richardson, 1993; Witzel, 1983), but nesting in the continental U. S. is rare. Continental U. S. nesting is confined to southeastern Florida (NMFS/FWS, 1993). The hawksbill is a predominately tropical species whose foraging habitat has been determined to be coral reefs, where it preys on specific species of sponges (e.g., Meylan, 1985, 1988).

In this paper I describe an encounter by the crew of the research vessel R/V Georgia Bulldog with a pelagic stage hawksbill turtle floating in a sargassum weed raft off the Georgia coast, as well as the climatic and oceanic conditions prevailing prior to and during the encounter. The turtle was encountered on 31 May 1994, 37 nm east of Sapelo Island, Georgia

(31°23.12'N, 80°32.70'W as determined using a Furuno LP-1000 Loran System) at 1545 EDT and captured using a dip net tied to a 15-foot pole. Curved carapace length was 23 cm (width: 19 cm). Five imbricated central scutes were counted, as well as four pairs of costal scutes. There were four pairs of inframarginal scutes. The turtle was kept on board for about five minutes and then released from the rear of the vessel in approximately the same location where it was captured. The turtle dove just beneath the surface and swam away from the vessel.

All aspects of the encounter (measurements, time of day, sea conditions, observations) were video-recorded and documented in the ship's log. Copies of the video tape were sent to sea turtle biologists for positive identification. Certified buoy data from the Savannah Light Station and Gulf Stream Analysis data were obtained from NOAA for the month of May 1994 and descriptive analyses were conducted. A May 1994 Coast Pilot Chart prepared by the National Ocean Survey was also examined to determine the flow direction of the near shore currents in the area. Information regarding the possibility of seasonal cycles of sargasso weed raft occurrences in Georgia waters was obtained from observations recorded by Captain Judy Helmey of Ms. Judy Charters.

The May 1994 Coast Pilot Chart indicated a current flowing north just east of the 100 fathom line from the Gulf of Mexico to approximately 32°40'N, 80°W, where the current appeared to diverge, creating a south current that flowed near shore from South Carolina to Florida. According to Captain Helmey, who has well over 20 years experience fishing off the Georgia coast, thick rafts of sargassum weed are located 30-42 nm off the Georgia coast during the months of May, June and in some years through July. These large rafts appear to flow slowly southward. Captain Helmey's records indicate that this is an annual occurrence and that rafts observed during these months are so dense that they form thick driftlines from Savannah, Georgia southward.

The capture site had experienced moderately strong northeast winds during the 64 hours prior to the encounter. Mean wind direction was as follows: May 29, 80°; May 30, 76°; May 31 (first 16 hr), ~68° and mean wind speed was: May 29, 17.36 kts; May 30, 20.04 kts; May 31 (first 16 hr),~ 16.68 kts. During this same period, significant wave height ranged from 1.1-1.7 m. Gulf Stream Analysis data indicated that the approximate location of the western edge of the stream just south of the encounter on May 24 was 30°50'N, 80°80'W. On May 26, the location of the western edge was approximately directly south of the encounter at 31°00'N, 80°32'W. On May 31, the western edge of the Gulf Stream (31°23.12'N, 80°00'W) was about 60 nm east of the turtle's location. In summary, climatic and sea conditions present 64 hours prior to the encounter with the hawksbill turtle by the R/V Georgia Bulldog suggest that the raft carrying the turtle broke away from the Gulf Stream and drifted southward propelled by a south flowing current in the area as well as by moderately strong northeast winds.

Since Georgia offshore waters experience seasonal (May-July) sargassum driftlines, it appears that an opportunity to gather more information in regards to "lost year" stage hawksbills (and other sea turtle species) may exist. Detailed information should be gathered regarding the cycle of such driftlines. Based on these findings, commercial fisheries active in these waters could be encouraged to participate in the monitoring of these rafts for the presence of post- hatchling and "lost year" turtles. A detailed species identification leaflet denoting diagnostic characteristics would need to be produced and distributed. Instruction in standardized data collection with participating vessel captains should be offered by competent authorities. The hawksbill turtle is classified by the U. S. Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, as Endangered. Any information regarding elusive early life stages would be very useful in recovering this depleted species.

Acknowledgements: Dave Harrington (UGA Marine Extension Service); A. R. Kontos (Longwater & Company); Captain Judy Helmey (Ms. Judy's Charters); Skidaway Marine Aquarium staff: Pete Schlein, Heather Sarg, Bob Williams and Sonia Mullenix; R/V Georgia Bulldog crew: James Higgins Jr. and Paul Daniels; Wendy Teas (NMFS); J. A. Keinath (VIMS); Paruij Doari and Longwater & Company.

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Collard, S. B. 1990. The influence of oceanographic features on post-hatchling sea turtle distribution and dispersion in the pelagic environment, p.111-113. In: T. H. Richardson, J. I. Richardson and M. Donnelly (Compilers), Proc. Tenth Annual Workshop on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-SEFC-278. U. S. Dept. Commerce.

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Meylan, A. 1985. The role of sponge collagens in the diet of the hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, p.191-196. In: A. Bairati and R. Garrone (Editors), Biology of the Invertebrate and Lower Vertebrate Collagens. Plenum Publ. Corp.

Meylan, A. 1988. Spongivory in hawksbill turtles: a diet of glass. Science 239:393-395.

NMFS/FWS. 1993. Recovery Plan for Hawksbill Turtles in the U. S. Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and Gulf of Mexico. Natl. Marine Fish. Service, St. Petersburg, Florida. 52 pp.

Richardson, J. I. 1993. Reproductive biology of hawksbills nesting in Antigua. Marine Turtle Newsletter 63:6-7.

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Witzell, W. N. 1983. Synopsis of Biological Data on the Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata (Linnaeus, 1766). FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 137. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 78 pp.

LINDSEY G. PARKER, Captain, R/V Georgia Bulldog, University of Georgia Marine Extension Service, Bay Street, Brunswick, Georgia 31520 USA.