45 



The temperature of the water near the berg is 41° F. and sound- 

 ings showed a depth of 64 fathoms, gray sand bottom. Small growl- 

 ers are continually breaking from the berg, and the sea breaking 

 against it threw spray to the height of 50 feet or more. A few birds 

 were seen to-day, consisting for the most part of fulmars and petrel 

 (probably Leach's). Gentle to fresh NE. and NNE. breezes pre- 

 vailed, with overcast, rainy, and foggy weather and a moderate sea 

 and NE. swell. The barometer range was from 29.48 at 1 a. m. to 

 29.93 at midnight. 



Special ice information was furnished the Aldersgate and the 

 Coast Guard practice ship Alexander Hamilton. 



On June 10 the wind was from the NE., increasing from a light 

 breeze at beginning to fresh breeze at close, and barometer falling 

 from 29.93 to 29.77. The sky was overcast and cloudy, with fog, mist, 

 and haze throughout the day. There was a moderate NE. sea and 

 swell. The Modoc drifted during the entire day, steaming up to 

 the berg as necessary to keep in close contact with it. Observations 

 and radio compass bearings from Cape Kace showed the position of 

 the berg at noon to be 47° 36' north, 51° 28' west. From noon of 

 the 9th the drift was 201° true, at the rate of 0.5 knot per hour. 

 The water temperature about the berg was 40° F., and the depth 

 obtained with sounding machine 68 fathoms. The berg is gradually 

 breaking up and melting, although the change observed from day 

 to day is not marked. A few Leach's petrel were observed about the 

 berg during the day. A radio message was received from the steamer 

 Kerhonksen to the effect that a French sailing vessel was drifting 

 with a damaged rudder in latitude 44° 54' north, longitude 48° 00' 

 west, and wished to be reported to a French man of war. The Modoc 

 offered her services if they were found necessary, but the French 

 cruiser Regulus was reached and the information furnished her. The 

 Regulus will proceed to the assistance of the vessel and will probably 

 meet her the afternoon of the 11th. The name of the vessel in dis- 

 tress could not be obtained. 



On June 11 a moderate to fresh NNE. gale prevailed, with rough 

 sea and intermittent fog, rain, and mist. At 1 a. m. there was a 

 fresh NE. breeze, which by 5 a. m. had increased to a moderate gale 

 and in the afternoon to a fresh gale. At 1 a. m. the barometer was 

 29.75, at 7 a. m. 29.70, and at midnight 29.89. Throughout the day 

 we drifted near the berg, going ahead as necessary to keep in close 

 touch with it. The berg is now in the track of steamers using the 

 Cape Eace route. Its position at noon was 47° 23' north, 51° 30' 

 west. From noon of the 10th it has drifted 193° true, at the rate of 

 0.6 knot per hour. The temperature of the surrounding water is 43° 

 F., and the depth, by sounding machine, 65 fathoms. Several ves- 



K V 



