no 



soutlioni uulial. OccupRnl stations 32S and 329. A few Leach 

 potrcl, lulniars. niurrcs, and P()rtu<j:uose men-of-war were noted, also 

 mucli i^uU" weed. Special ice information was furnished the steam- 

 sliips Koranua and Levnpool. 



June 14: Moderate to o^entle winds, he<i;inning at SSW. and veering 

 to WNW., with dense fog throughout the day. Occupied oceano- 

 graphic stations 330, 331, 332, 333, and 334. Temperatures indicated 

 an extension of Aivtic water to the southward since this radial was last 

 occupied. At 8.10 p. m. anchored in lat. 43° 13', long. 50° 27'. 

 Special ice information was furnished the steamship Saxilhy and the 

 steamship Idr fjord was warned. 



June 15: Gentle to moderate SSE. and S. winds, w4th dense fog. 

 The barometer fell from 29.93 at 1 a. m. to 29.74 at midnight. At 

 5 a. m. began search for bergs last seen on the 9th, but dense fog 

 closing in. Returned to the Banks and at 9.40 a. m. anchored in lat. 

 43° 05', long. 50° 04'. 



June 16: Gentle to fresh winds from SW., veering to NW. and then 

 backing to SW. Dense fog over the Banks in the morning, clearing 

 as we passed into the warmer water at about 11 a. m. At 5 a. m., 

 left anchorage and set course to intercept the Tampa. At 7.20 a. m., 

 lat. 42° 56', long. 50° 30', passed close to a small growler, indicating 

 a berg to windward which could not be seen in the dense fog. At 

 6.50 p. m., contact was made with the Tampa in lat. 42° 49', long. 

 53° 09'. After transferring the oceanographic observer to the 

 Tampa, that vessel took over the patrol duty and the Modoc pro- 

 ceeded to Halifax. 



SUMMARY. 



The oceanographic observer states that during the first week in 

 April the southern extension of the Labrador Current around the 

 Tail of the Grand Banks attained a maximum velocity of 1.2 loiots 

 per hour. May 31 a vortical plane section taken off the Tail at right 

 angles to tiie current indicated a very small amount of Arctic water 

 running around the Tail. June 4 to 8, with the bergs as indicators, 

 the strength of the Labrador (-urrent was determined at 0.4 knot per 

 hour. This indicates a considerable dwintUing and recession in the 

 Labrador Current around the Tail at the present as compared with 

 April 10. This is the keynote of the situation and, unless another 

 flood wave occurs in the Labrador stream, forecasts the termination 

 of the ice season this year. Such a phenomenon, however, even as 

 late in the season as the present time, is possible. Last year, for 

 example, during tiie fii*st part of May the Labrador Current had a 

 velocity of 0.3 knot per hour, but as late as the latter part of June the 

 current swellcnl to 0.7 knot per hour past the Tail, bringing with it 

 sevcMal bergs. It is i)elieved the causes of these variations are funda 



