Forgot to mention the best birding of the trip: A Merlin appeared out of the
fog in Queen Charlotte Sound. It circled the ship and attempted to land on
an appropriate chunk of exposed railing. After being scared off by
approaching passengers it circled once more, looking for a landing strip. I
scurried about Sun Deck and found it perched about 50 feet away; it appeared
to be dining. I have no way of knowing if it was consuming one of the five
Rufous Hummingbirds which had been spotted earlier. Evidence was looked for,
but none was found. The Merlin was once again bothered by passers-by and
disappeared astern into the fog-shrouded bay.

Paul Cozens
West Seattle
How much deeper would the oceans be if there were no sponges?