John;

Here's a closer look at the time of distant events.
This is the 125 mag 7+ quakes from 2000-2007

Hourly totals - 24 hours before and after
378 365 335 377 367 395 395 362 398 373 320 348
374 365 414 426 348 338 394 373 372 380 339 358
295 (hour of main events)
331 327 340 352 317 371 355 333 350 364 350 379
389 373 369 388 369 363 387 360 358 350 373 365

Sums before and after
8894 295 8613

12 hour sums before and after
4413 4481 295 4169 4444

The deficit is in the 12 hour period after the
main event so it looks like you are correct.

Roger