The navy tug Ontario stood by half-way between New Guinea and Howland Island, but was not heard from. The Itasca, waiting to receive Miss Earhart at the island received only the barest reports of her progress until the message came that her fuel was about gone. The next nearest land to Howland is Jarvis Island, a similar mid-Pacific dot forty miles north. Aside form these virtual sandbars there is nothing but water for hundreds of miles. Howland Island is many hours behind Eastern time, and daylight still existed there with a smooth sea and good visibility prevailing.
Sea is smooth, visibility perfect, ceiling unlimited.
Understand she will float for limited time. Coast Guard officers consulted the army commanders in Honolulu concerning the possibility of sending land or sea planes from Honolulu, but officials said this was unlikely. They added, however, that the Itasca officers might have taken into account a reserve fuel supply aboard the plane. Information was sought concerning the sea, whether it was smooth enough to aid the fliers in keeping afloat until the Itasca could locate and rescue them or whether it was rough enough to endanger them immediately. The Itasca radioed Washington the sea was smooth with visibility perfect.