39 



I at. 42^ 15' at the present time and the drift tendency is around the 

 Tail of the Bank and thence to the northward and westward. An 

 unusual number of bergs are grounded. 



A hne of oceanographic stations from tlie central station to Cape 

 Race was occupied. Ice warnings were broadcast twice daily on 

 600-meter and once daily on 2,300-meter wave lengths. A daily 

 ice report was sent to the Hydrographic Office, Washington, and 

 after the 9th two daily weather reports were sent to the Observer, 

 Washington. 



We were furnished Avith 1,017 water temperature reports by 185 

 vessels, 33 vessels reported ice, and 66 vessels were given special 

 ice infomiation, several of them being warned. Montreal-bound 

 steamers regularly asked for and received routing advice. 



COAST GUARD CUTTER " TAMPA," LIEUT. COMMANDER W. J. WHEELER, 

 ICE PATROL, THIRD CRUISE, MAY 17 TO JUNE 1, 192-3. 



The Tampa sailed from Halifax at 1 p. m.. May 15, and relieved the 

 3Iodoc on ice patrol at 3.10 p. m., May 17, in lat. 43° 08', long. 53° 

 05', the oceanographic observer being transferred to the Tampa. 

 Fine weather with sHght southerly airs and breezes was experienced. 

 On the morning of the 17th a drifting bell buoy was destroyed by 

 gunfire. 



The following summary of the ice situation was made by the 

 oceanographic observer: There are to-day only five bergs south of 

 the 44th parallel. Their positions are as follows: One berg is 

 grounded on the east slope of the Grand Banks in lat. 43° 58', long. 

 49° 20'; another berg was last seen May 14, west of the Tail, in lat. 

 42° 57', long. 50° 50'; two bergs He well to the northwestward on the 

 southwest slope of the Grand Banks in lat. 43° 45', long. 51° 50', are 

 disintegrating rapidly, and will entirely melt in tliis locaHty; the only 

 other berg in the area was observed by the Modoc tliis morning, in 

 lat. 42° 28', long. 51° 35', and may be expected to assume what has 

 been found to be the normal drift of bergs south of the Tail of the 

 Bank. In the early season the Arctic Current was found to be drift- 

 ing the bergs abnormally to the eastward belJween the 44th and 46th 

 parallels. About the middle of April this movement ceased and the 

 Labrador Current was found running around the Tail of the Bank 

 and drifting the ice to the northwestward onto the southwest slope 

 of the Grand Banks. Within the last week it has been found that 

 this northwesterly current extension has ceased and we now may ex- 

 pect a southwesterly current past the Tail of the Bank. Since the 

 'berg in lat. 42° 28', long. 51° 35', is the southernmost berg and the 

 situation is so clearly defined, it would seem advisable to relocate 

 this berg and lie near by, observing its drift southward and eastward. 



