COVINGTON, La. (AP) - The Coast Guard admiral in charge of the

oil spill response says he's moving more staff and resources to the

Gulf Coast as the slick continues to move east toward Florida.

Adm. Thad Allen says a cutter arrived in Mobile Bay, Ala., on

Wednesday. He says boats will add a surge of boom to capture oil

coming in with the tide. Four other patrol boats are positioned in

Alabama waters.

Brown oil patches have been spotted at Dauphin Island, Ala., and

off the Pensacola, Fla., coast.

Four helicopters are to be sent to the Alabama, Mississippi and

Florida coast to help skimmers spot threatening oil.

Allen also says a cutter is patrolling off Pensacola to help

skim oil from the surface.