Partly because of the small quantity and disposition of the ice and 

 partly because of a boiler casualty on the Evergreen, only three dynamic 

 topographic surveys were made during the 1955 season and of these 

 only one covered the usual area between Flemish Cap and the Tail 

 of the Grand Banks. As the Evergreen left Argentia on 30 March 

 to begin the survey work no bergs had yet been reported except in 

 the northern part of the Grand Banks area and as a result even the 

 major features of the current pattern were unknown. The first 

 survey was planned to explore the probable areas of hazard should 

 bergs enter the area along the northeastern slope of the Grand Banks. 

 Sm'face temperature reports prior to the beginning of the survey 

 work had been atypically warm and in the neigbborhood of the Tail 

 of the Banks lacked the contrast usually present there in the early 

 part of the season. Hence it appeared that Labrador Current water 

 did not extend much to the west of the 50th meridian in that vicinity. 

 The first survey was planned to extend from just west of the Tail of 

 the Banks northward along the eastern slope to about the latitude of 

 Flemish Cap. The work of collection of data began at the southern 

 end of the area at station 5741 on 1 April and progressed northward. 

 On 6 April, shortly after leav^ing station 5770, it was necessary to 

 heave to to await better weather for continuing the oceanographic 

 work. Work was resumed about 8 hours later. Again on the evening 

 of 7 April after completion of station 5775 it was necessary to heave 

 to on account of weather, this time for 21% hours. It was necessary 

 to heave to on account of weather a third time, after completion of 

 station 5818, on the evening of 13 April. Work was resumed on the 

 evening of 14 April and no further interruptions occurred. The 

 collection of data was completed on the afternoon of 15 April, 87 

 stations having been coccupied. The Evergreen then proceeded to 

 Argentia, arriving there on 16 April. 



The Evergreen departed Argentia on the morning of 25 April to begin 

 a second survey. This survey was planned to cover the area seaward 

 of the northeastern slope of the Grand Banks from the northern end 

 of the area covered by the first survey northwestward as far as sea ice 

 conditions permitted. The Bonavista triangle was encumbered by 

 ice. For about a week previous to the beginning of the second survey a 

 stationary barometric pressure low had been centered near the eastern 

 edge of the Bonavista triangle and it was surmised that, with the 

 movement of the low northward out of the area, the ice might spread 

 southeastward. Accordingly the survey was begun at the south- 

 eastern edge of the Bonavista triangle and progressed southeastward. 

 The work of collection of data began on the morning of 26 April at 

 station 5828. On the afternoon of 28 April a fire which disabled the 

 heating boiler and evaporator left the ship without heat, and the 

 ensuing cold and condensation posed problems of maintaining health 

 and reasonable comfort which dictated the curtailment of the survey. 



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