40 INTERNATIONAL ICE OBSERVATION AND ICE PATROL SERVICE. 



before it was visible from the bridge. We scouted for bergs during 

 the day, until 4 p. m., when it shut m thick, and at G p. m. we headed 

 south, to run out of the fog. At 6.50 p. m., fog lifting somewhat, 

 lat. 42° 02' N., long. 51° 26' W., we picked up a large, crescent- 

 shaped berg (berg "M", chart "G"), with a high ridge terminating 

 in peaks at each end. This was now our southernmost berg. The 

 sea-water temperatm-es in its vicinity were as follows: At sui'face, 

 53° F.; 50 meters depth, 34° F.; 125 meters, 31° F. ; 250 meters, 

 36° F.; 450 meters, 39° F., and 750 meters, 39° F. At 8 p. m. the 

 fog shut in thick again, and shortly thereafter the steamship Camer- 

 onia, westbound, passed within one-half mile of the berg. We drifted 

 for the night, in a thick fog, near the last berg mentioned. Three 

 small whales came up close alongside while we were drifting and were 

 not disturbed in the least by our fo^ whistle 



Special ice information was furnislied the steamships Merry Mount 

 and African Prince. 



June 23. The day began with light ESE. winds, increasing to 

 gentle breezes, then falling to light airs and calms and ending with 

 light SW. airs. The sea was notably smooth. The dense fog which 

 had prevailed during the night lifted in our locality at 6.35 a. m., 

 when we began searching to the westward of the 50th meridian. 

 Visibility was excellent, except for occasional patches of fog of short 

 duration, and, due to the mirage, objects could be seen while still 

 below the horizon. During the morning watch, the inverted image 

 of a steamship below the horizon was seen in the clouds. The last 

 berg sighted this day was picked up from the forecastle deck at a dis- 

 tance of 21 miles and looked like a square-rigged ship under full sail. 

 It could not be seen from either the bridge or the crow's nest at the 

 time. At 6.25 p. m., we arrived alongside the berg (berg "P") that 

 we passed at 1.05 p. m. on the 22d. It was now m lat. 42° 21' N., 

 long. 50° 31' W., and had capsized and bore no resemblance to the 

 berg of the day before, being rather flat-topped and not anything 

 like as lofty. The surface-water temperature in its vicinity was 

 53° F. At 8.15 p. m., we stopped alongside a large, saddleback berg, 

 in lat. 42° 46' N., long. 50° 25' W. ; sm-f ace-water temperature 48° F., 

 air 61° F. Another berg, bearing 81° true, distant 7 miles, could be 

 seen dimly from this position. The near-by berg was giving off a 

 light mist to leeward and appeared to be drifting agamst a Hght 

 siirface current setting to the northward. Two blackfish were ob- 

 served very near the berg as darkness set in. 



Diu"ing the morning watch, while lying to in the fog neai* the berg 

 in lat. 42° 02' N., long. 51° 26' W., the fog signals of a passing 

 steamer were heard. Our whistle gave back distinct echoes. This 

 we believed to be due, not to the presence of the berg, which was 

 probably 2 miles, or more distant, but to fog banks of different 

 densities surrounding the vessel. 



We covered this date the area of probable ice south of the 43d 

 parallel and west of the 50th meridian. 



Special ice information was furnished the steamships President 

 Garfield, Mont Grappa, Ardantza Mendiez, and Rapidan. 



June 24. Light feW. to WSW. airs and winds; dense fog over the 

 cold and partly clear over the warm water. Smooth sea. We were 

 enveloped in a low, dense fog from midnight until noon, when we 

 stood to the southward, During the time we were in the fog, our 



