62 



50° 44' W., later being carried by the cold current to the northwest- 

 ward and finally ojrounding. Many vessels sought advice from the 

 patrol regarding ice conditions along the shores and in the harbors 

 of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and much useful information was 

 furnished tlieni. Thirty-five oceanographic stations were occupied 

 during the month, at which sea-water temperatures and water sam- 

 ples were taken at various depths, samples to be analyzed in a labora- 

 torv after the end of the patrol for determination of salinity. These 

 stations were located on radials projecting from a central station on 

 the Grand Banks, in 43° 50' N., 50° 25' W., the radial lines extending 

 E., S., SW. and WvSW. from the central station. Temperatures 

 obtained indicated the presence of Arctic water over a large area W. 

 and NW. of the Tail of the Bank. 



During the month of May there was 39 per cent of fog and poor 

 visibility, and the wind reached gale force on but two days, the 12th 

 and 28th , There was a smaller number of bergs south of the Tail of the 

 Bank than usual at this season, and the general trend of the drift was 

 around the Tail and up the SW. slope, but there was one notable 

 exception to this general tendency, as one berg drifted as far south 

 as 39° 08' N., 48° 30' W., where it was left by the patrol in the last 

 stages of disintegration at da3'break of May 25. Twenty-six regular 

 oceanographic stations and some special ones in the vicinity of bergs 

 were occupied. On<» run was made during the month from the central 

 station along the northern radial to the vicinity of Cape Race, to 

 determine the temperatures and characteristics of the water over the 

 Grand Banks. The Labrador Current formed a wedge farther to the 

 southeastward than usual at this season. On the 14th the first vessel 

 of the season came through from St. Lawrence River ports, and shortly 

 thereafter one or more Canadian patrol vessels were stationed in 

 Cabot Straits to furnish ice information to vessels bound to Canadian 

 ports, relieving the patrol of the work of furnishing ice information 

 to vessels bound to the St. Lawrence River, which had been done 

 theretofore. 



During June fog and tow visibility prevailed during 71 per cent of 

 the month and gales were experienced on the 2d and 23d. the wind 

 reaching whole gale force on tlie latter date. The bergs sighted by the 

 patrol were considered not to constitute a real menace to the normal 

 steamer tracks, as the southernmost one, sighted on June 8. in 48° 

 32' N., 49° 37' W., was not sufliciently massive and liard to last more 

 than a few days in warm water. The berg reported by an unidentified 

 Norwegian motor ship in 41° 54' N., 49° 52' W., on the 2r)th, was not 

 found by the patrol, nor was it seen by another vessel that passed near 

 this position about the time of the report. Neither could the on<' 

 reported by the Ef^thonw on the 30th, in 41° 42' N.. 50° 32' W., he 

 found. After due investigation, it was confidently believed that both 



