52 INTERNATIONAL ICE OBSERVATION AND ICE PATROL SERVICE. 



the stations were located along lines radiating outward from a point 

 in lat. 4.3° 50' N., long. 50° 25' W., near the 30-fathoin bank fre- 

 quented by fishing vessels, in general accordance with the program 

 for 1920 and 1921 of the Inter-Departmental Board on Ice Patrol. 

 (See Chart "A.") Sixtv-three stations were occupied during the 

 continuance of the patrol, in addition to 17 during the February and 

 March ice observation cruises. Half -hourly surface sea-water 

 temperatures were taken and recorded by the patrol vessels during 

 the entire period of duty, and, in addition, approximately 3,000 

 reports were received by radio from passing ships. (See temperature 

 charts "H" to "P.") The cooperation of shipping was much 

 appreciated and enabled the oceanographer to keep a fairly accurate 

 record of surface temperature conditions over a wide area. 



Bird and marine life and natural phenomena, such as mirages, etc., 

 were carefully observed, but nothing was seen to differentiate the 

 season of 1922 from past seasons, as described in annual reports. 

 Whales were seen feedmg close to bergs and flocks of birds of different 

 Species, mostly shear\\^aters, dovekies, petrels, and terns, were seen 

 in the vicinity and at times perched on the bergs. On the other 

 hand, in many cases there was an entire absence of bird and visible 

 marine life near the bergs for long periods of time. Echoes of the 

 steam whistle were obtained from the walls of lofty bergs, and at 

 other times, in thick weather, echoes were heard when it was posi- 

 tively known that there were no bergs in the vicinity. From these 

 observations, it is believed that the mariner navigating the ice area 

 in thick weather, or at night, can depend upon no forewarning of a 

 berg beyond the limit of his visibility. The drop in surface sea- 

 water temperature would not be noticed appreciably until his vessel 

 was in contact with the ice, or too close to avoid contact. 



At the beginning of the patrol season, an agreement was made 

 with the Canadian Naval Intelligence, Plalif ax. Nova Scotia, whereby 

 the ice-patrol ship was designated as sole disseminator of informa- 

 tion relating to ice and to obstructions to navigation in the vicinity 

 of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. In previous years the Cana- 

 dian Government had been operating an ice information service 

 of its own, independent of the international ice patrol. This duplica- 

 tion and obvious confusion of information was removed by the 

 agreement that the vessel on patrol should gather aU information 

 for broadcasting during the existence of the patrol, the Canadian 

 Intelligence to receive a daily report of ice conditions and to resmne 

 its service when the patrol was discontinued. Through courtesy of 

 the Canadian authorities, the patrol was furnished daily ice and 

 weather reports from the Government stations at Battle Harbor, Fogo, 

 and Bonavista. In connection with the above agreement. Cape 

 Race Radio Station forwarded all ice reports received there from 

 trans-Atlantic traffic to the patrol vessel. This information was 

 confined largely to ice reported in the vicinity of Cape Race. Cape 

 Race Station was also of great assistance to the patrol in broadcasting 

 ice warnings to steamers on the St. Lawrence River tracks, out of 

 range of the patrol vessel's radio. 



The patrol, as now organized, is believed to be conducted as 

 efliciently as possible under the severe handicaps of gales and fog 

 that ordmarily are so prevalent in this region. Ihe plan of detailing 

 an officer as oceanographic aide, to shift from vessel to vessel and 



