35 



been held inshore by easterly winds throughout spring this year on 

 the east coast of Newfoundland. There has also been a remark- 

 able scarcity of Arctic field ice. The Strait of Belle Isle was open 

 along the eastern shore for breadth of some 2 miles on April 26. 

 The sealing season has been ver^^ good, especially by stations along 

 the coast, this being due to ice fields with seals being held inshore 

 by the winds, as previously described. The mildness of last winter 

 was remarked upon by all, the first sealing steamer breaking out 

 of the harbor on March 6, a much earlier date than usual. The seal- 

 ing fleet reported many bergs aground around Belle Isle, but few to 

 the southward, and it was predicted that all bergs would be found 

 inshore between Belle Isle and Cape Bonavista. This led to prelimi- 

 nary plans for ice patrol to visit this region as soon as intervening 

 area could be scouted to verify above predictions, this as a matter of 

 scientific interest associated with ice patrol. 



Official call was made on the Governor of Newfoundland, which 

 he returned in the afternoon. Salute was fired to the governor and 

 to the American vice consul, and at 3.20 p. m. the Tannpa proceeded 

 to sea and resumed patrol. Course was laid 110° true from harbor 

 entrance for distance of 30 miles, then 60° true for rectangular 

 search to northward. At 8.30 stopped and drifted for the night. 



Weather this day partly cloudy, with good visibility. Moderate 

 to westerly fresh breezes ; moderate sea outside. 



May 25 : Moderate to strong WXW. to XW. breezes, falling to 

 light NW. breezes at close. Moderate to rather rough sea. Partly 

 cloudy; good visibility. 



At 4.45 under way, course 60° true, taking up rectangular search 

 for two bergs to northward of Cape Race steamer track. At 10.23 

 course 330° true for 30 miles, then 240° true parallel with first line 

 for 43 nnles, then 305° true for 27 miles, by which time darkness 

 had set in. Stood north true for 5 miles to counteract drift for 

 night and stopped and lay to at 10.05 p. m. 



Current of some 0.5 mile per hour experienced for the day. Ful- 

 mar, petrel, and jaeger observed this day. 



Special ice information given to steamers Maryland and Marhnry. 



May 26: Begins light NNE, breezes and clear, shifting to S., 

 increasing to moderate breeze and becoming foggy. Gentle NW. 

 breeze at close, with clear weather. At 4.40 under way, course 60° 

 true for 40 miles, continuing rectangular search to northward. At 

 6 sighted berg slightly on starboard bow 22 miles distant. At 8.15 

 berg abeam, some 2 miles distant, in latitude 48° 42', longitude 51° 

 31', some 85 miles north of steamer track. This was a pyramidal 

 medium-sized berg 125 feet in height with square base dimensions 

 probably 150 feet. 



