REPORTS OF COMMANDING OFFICERS. 



ICE OBSERVATION. 



Coast Guard Clttter "Seneca," Lieut. Commander A. L. Gamble, 

 Ice Observation, First Cruise, February 8 to 26, 1922. 



The Seneca sailed from New York February 8, 1922, in accordance 

 with Head(juarters' orders of January 6, 1922, to take up the ice obser- 

 vation duties in the vicinity of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. 

 En route to the Great Bank a succession of gales from NW. to SSW., 

 with very rough sea, and rain, hail, and fog at intervals, was experi- 

 enced. ^"^ ^**' " '■T**^ ^y*^ ?^^ 



On the 14th the steamship Pioneer reported extensive ice fields on 

 the east edge of the Great Bank. The Seneca was unable to locate 

 these ice fields, but continued her search for ice. 



At 4 p. m., February 19, took sea-water tests at station 172, in lat. 

 45° 32' N., long. 48° 36' W., and then steamed on a 150° true course 

 across the Labrador Current for the purpose of making other ocean- 

 ographical tests. 



On February 20, stopped at station 173, in lat. 45° 34' N., long. 

 47° 32' W., and took sea-water temperatures every 50 meters to a 

 depth of 250 meters, and made vertical and surface drags with nets 

 for biological specimens. The temperature of the sea at a depth of 

 250 meters was 50° F., whUe on the preceding day, at station 172, it 

 was 32° F. This showed that the Seneca had crossed the Labrador 

 Current and was well into the Gulf Stream. The sea, which had been 

 rough since the 16th, calmed down this day. The barometer fell 

 rapidly during the night and the wind increased in force until it was 

 blowing a moderate SW. gale, which shifted to W. during the morn- 

 ing of the 21st, with a rough sea, which caused us to heave to. 

 This blow was of short duration, and the Seneca proceeded on her 

 course, heading across the Labrador Current and taking the usual 

 oceanographical observations at stations 174 and 175. (See chart 

 "A.") The wind increased to a fresh gale by night and veered from 

 SW. to NW., causing the Seneca to heave to. On the 22d the bar- 

 ometer continued falling, and the wind increased in force to a whole 

 gale from the NW., the vessel being heavily coated with ice from the 

 spray and falling snow. After fallmg to 29.79 inches, the barometer 

 started up slowly at midnight and continued to rise during the 23d, 

 on which date the wind moderated to a strong breeze. After reaching 

 30.06 at midnight on the 23d, the barometer began dropping at the 

 rate of 0.10 inch per hour, and by 3 a. m. of the 24th the wind backed 

 to S. and increased from a gentle breeze to a moderate southerly gale 

 at 8 a. m. The southerly gale continued to blow throughout the day 

 and by 6 p. m. had veered to NW. without abating in force. At noon 

 on this date the barometer, which stood at 29.49, started to rise and 

 continued risuig until it reached 30.00, at midnight, when the wind 

 moderated to a fresh N. breeze. On the 24th the Seneca passed clear 

 of the Great Bank and set a course to pass south of Sable Island, en 

 route to Halifax. 



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