41 



SUMMARY 



This cruise has been characterized by continued extraordinary 

 absence of ice from vicinity of steamer lanes, and by better weather 

 than is usually experienced in this season. Some 22 per cent of fog 

 has been experienced, in contrast with the 30 to 40 per cent given on 

 pilot chart, and only some 3 per cent of actual gales, this in con- 

 trast with the pilot chart's 8 to 10 per cent. 



Information gleaned in St. Johns and on the cruise to Belle Isle 

 would indicate that not only have fewer bergs than usual come down 

 from the arctic regions this year, but field-ice conditions have per- 

 mitted a greater percentage of these than usual to drift inshore 

 and ground, especially in the bight between Cape Bauld and Funk 

 Island. 



The conclusion of our cruise finds only two bergs within probable 

 reach of even the Cape Eace tracks, the smaller one being close in- 

 shore 85 miles north of this track and the other being 60 miles north 

 of it. Our experience in locating the latter berg illustrates the ease 

 with which a berg may be missed in searching, even close aboard, 

 with poor visibility conditions; also the uncertainty of ocean cur- 

 rents even in localities where they appear to be well established. 



After systematic rectangular search of three days with good 

 visibility we failed to locate the schooner reported bottom up, lati- 

 tude 44° 39', longitude 55° 08', on May 11. It is possible that this 

 obstruction is identical with that reported from Cape Race May 

 27 — two masts 20 feet above water, attached to wreckage, latitude 

 45° 28', longitude 55° 49'. It would not appear probable that tliis 

 obstruction wlould long ^remain afloat. Tliis obstruction would 

 doubtless have been sighted by Tampa but for its small size. Of 

 other obstruction reports probably the most important was the one 

 made by the Waukegan on June 2, and even this would not appear 

 to be dangerous. 



Broadcasts and reports to Hydrographic Office and "Weather 

 Bureau were carried out as required by instructions. The patrol re- 

 ceived 618 surface-water temperature reports, 3 ice reports, and 8 

 wreck and obstruction reports. 



The Canadian ice patrol of the Gulf of St. Lawrence was discon- 

 tinued on or about May 29 ; this being earlier than usual. 



Four oceanographic stations were occupied, all on northeast coast 

 of I\^ewfoundland. 



COAST GUARD CUTTER "MODOC," LIEUT. COMMANDER L. T. 

 CHALKER, ICE PATROL, THIRD CRUISE, JUNE 4 TO JUNE 19,. 

 1924 



At 12.45 p. m., June 2, 1924, the Modoc left Halifax, Nova Scotia, 

 to relieve the Tampa and make her third cruise of the current ice- 



