a2 



Grand Banks to latitude 44° N. The boundary to the eastward of 

 the Banks was more 'sharply defined and hugged the Banks more 

 closely than is usually the case. In close accord \Nath these findings 

 and in marked contrast to the experience of previous years is the 

 fact that not a single report of ice south of the forty-seventh parallel 

 was received during this period. 



ICE 



(See Chart No. 3) 



On the first cruise of the Modoc, April 9 to 24, much ice was seen 

 but its early disintegration seemed evident except in the case of two 

 large bergs which, later, moved well to the southward. Seven re- 

 jDorts containing the position of 12 bergs were received during the 

 cruise from Cape Race and from steamers. The ice situation assumed 

 a peculiar aspect. The dangerous ice usually arrived on the Banks 

 early in March, The vanguard diu-ing this year was quite late and 

 well to the northward. The advance of the warm water and the 

 lateness of the arrival of the bergs worked toward an early disin- 

 tegration. The ice observed indicated that the bergs were drifting 

 toward a pool of Ai'ctic water between Flemish Cap and the Banks. 

 It was further noted that the ice was not concentrated in one mass 

 but was widely spread out, particularly to the eastward. The ice 

 that was reported early in the season had disintegrated rapidly. 



The bergs observed by the Modoc on April 13 and 14 were as 

 follows : 



These bergs were again seen by the Modoc on April 21 and 22 as 

 follows : 



The berg located on April 14, in latitude 48° 15' N., longitude 

 49° 38' W., drifted during a period of seven days in the direction 

 127° true, at the rate of 0.35 knots per hour. The berg observed on 



