INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL, 1949 



For the season of 1949, Capt. Julius F. Jacot, United States Coast 

 Guard, was Commander, International Ice Patrol. Forces assigned 

 were two PBIG (flying fortress) aircraft; one oceanographic vessel, 

 the USCGC Evergreen; and two Coast Guard Cutters, the Mocoma 

 and Acushnet. The two latter were maintained in a 72-hour standby 

 status at their respective liome ports of Miami, Fla., and Portland, 

 Me., ready to proceed to station should the need for a continuous 

 vessel patrol arise. Fortunately, the ice conditions were such in 1949 

 that such a patrol was not necessary and weather conditions were 

 such that the service of ice observation could be carried out by air- 

 craft alone. An Ice Patrol Office with a staff of ice observers and 

 communication personnel was maintained at the U. S. Naval Operat- 

 ing Base, Argentia, Newfoundland. 



As in previous years, eft'orts were directed towards improving the 

 techniques for detection of ice by using long-range aircraft. Aircraft 

 patrols are now a primary source of ice information. Using both 

 visual and radar search methods, these aircraft carried out searches 

 of the ice-infested areas. At times it was impossible to observe the 

 Grand Banks area due to heavy fog. During these periods merchant 

 vessels traversing the area supplied the ice patrol with invaluable 

 information l)y reporting radar targets which were possible bergs. 

 AVhen such leports were received, it was presumed that the j)ar- 

 ticular merchant vessel had made a plot of the target to see that it 

 was stationary. Although no requests were made of merchant ves- 

 sels to furnish the International Ice Patrol with water-temperature 

 and weather reports due to the absence of the ice patrol vessel, quite 

 a few ships did furnish same to the Ice Patrol Office at Argentia. 

 Such information is gratefully acknowledged. 



As in 1948 the USCGC Evergreen was the oceanographic vessel of 

 the ice patrol. This year there was less material trouble, mainly be- 

 cause two new oceanographic winches were installed prior to the 

 Evergreen's departure from Boston. 



The season of 1949 was marked by a scarcity of icebergs. Prior to 

 the beginning of the season, the values derived from the use of the 

 Smith formulae, described in U. S. Coast Guard Bulletin 19, part 3, 

 pointed to a heavier than average ice year for 1949. Actually, only 

 47 bergs came south of 48° N. for the entire season. Of those that 

 did come south of 48° N., only five reached the vicinity of latitude 

 47°40' N., 49°00' W., on the east slope of the Grand Banks. Approx- 

 imately three reached the latitude 46°35' N., but these Avere just south 

 of Cape liace and grounded on Pig and Ballard Banks until they 

 disintegrated. No icebergs threatened tracks C or B. Traffic was 

 shifted from track C to track B on schedule. Two current maps 



1 



