29 



draft, to take advaiitage of the unusually good weather conditions. 

 The search was continued until dark, when we stopped in 48° 33' 

 north, 50° 50' west, and occupied oceanographic station No. 463. 

 Many murres, fulmars, and jaegers were passed this day; also one 

 large whale asleep on the surface of the water. No ice was seen nor 

 was am* reported b}- the 15 or more steamers which crossed the usual 

 ice zone. The weather this day was well adapted to search. Wliile 

 the sky was for the most part overcast, the visibility was excellent, 

 the sea smooth. There were calms and light variable airs until 6 

 p. m., when the wind came out from SSW. and increased in force 

 until there was a moderate breeze at midnight. The barometer was 

 30.32 at 1 a. m., 30.38 at noon, and 30.24 at midnight and falling 

 steadily. 



May 14 was a poor da}' for continuing the search for ice, on 

 account of prevailing weather conditions, and not much area was 

 covered. At 1 a. m. there was a gentle SSW. breeze, the sky was 

 overcast, and the barometer stood at 30.18 and was steadily falling. 

 During the day there was intermittent hail, rain, and fog, and at 

 times the horizon was clear. We went ahead at 4 a. m. and cruised 

 at varying speeds throughout the day, depending on weather con- 

 ditions. At 7 p. m. the conditions had changed and gave promise of 

 good weather on the following day. The wind had shifted to a 

 gentle SW. breeze, the atmosphere was much clearer and drier, and 

 the stars and moon were shining brightly. At midnight the barom- 

 eter was 29.78 and steady. While cruising we passed a number of 

 murres, fulmars, and jaegers. No ice was seen or reported. The 

 steamer Salina reported passing a red gas and whistling buoy on 

 May 14 at 16.30, Greenwich mean time, in 50° 12' north, 42° 28' west. 

 The buoy was marked " FPUA." It is probably the same one re- 

 ported on May 12 by the steamer Tortugos. 



On May 15 the weather and visibility were good and we continued 

 our search for ice. At 4 a. m. the patrol started ahead and cruised 

 during daylight hours off the east coast of Newfoundland. At 9.50 

 a. m. we sighted land and then, after cruising parallel to the coast 

 for a time, stood to the eastward. Stations Nos. 464, 465, and 466 

 were occupied during the day, the last at 7.35 p. m., after which 

 we remained drifting. While occupying station No. 465 several 

 jaegers hovered over the after part of the vessel. One of them 

 became very bold and with beak extended flew at Yeoman Lewis, 

 striking at his watch cap. He did this several times until fright- 

 ened away by Lewis hitting at him with his fists. There were light 

 airs and gentle breezes on the 15th, varying from SW. to NW., 

 the sky was mostly clear, the sea smooth. The barometer was 29.78 



10761—24 3 



