Quartermaster Joel S. Wiiigate, ice observers, came on board. Tlie 

 Tampa proceeded to port, the Ponfchartrain havini; relieved her. 

 Proceeded on course 82° at 92 revolutions for the tail of tlie Grand 

 Banks to begin a search for ice. 



On April 10, the Pontchartrain searched, with good visibility, to 

 the northward along the eastern slope of the Banks, between the 100 

 and 1,000 fathom curve to latitude 44° 47' N. During the night, 

 while drifting, a slight set to the northward was experienced instead 

 of a strong set to the south-southwest, as would normally be expected. 

 On April 20, the scouting for ice was continued to the northward. 

 Four bergs were sighted grounded just inside the 50-fathom curve 

 between latitudes 45° 39' N. and 46° 01' N. A low, flat berg, very 

 hard to see, and a very much weather-beaten berg were sighted a few 

 miles from the grounded bergs. At 4 p. m. thick fog enveloped the 

 ship, which put a stop to the scouting for the rest of the day. 



On the morning of April 21, two bergs sighted the day before were 

 visited and their set and drift determined. The low, flat berg was 

 drifthig 327° true at 0.5 of a mile per hour, while the other was drift- 

 ing 317° true at one-third of a mile per hour. The average wind was 

 southeast with force four. 



The Fontchartrain located a large berg grounded in latitude 45° 51' 

 N., longitude 48° 10' W., the same morning. Scouting for ice was 

 continued to the southeastward to the 1,000-fathom curve and thence 

 southwestward until dark. On the 22d the ice-patrol vessel searched 

 for ice in the outer fringe of cold water east of the Banks as far south 

 as 43° 45' N. The Pontchartrain searched along the edge of the 

 Banks on the 23d to the northward. April 24 was spent drifting in 

 a fog. When the weather cleared in the afternoon a berg was located 

 aground in 45° 38' N., 48° 50' W. 



The Pontchartrain steamed at reduced speed into a moderate 

 southerly gale during the morning of April 25. As the gale moderated 

 the visibility decreased to 2 miles, so little scouting could be done. 



On the afternoon of April 26, the berg sighted April 24 was again 

 visited. It was found to be still aground and its position unchanged. 

 Its size was noticeably reduced by the action of the seas in the last 

 two days. The Pontchartrain then headed for the position of a berg 

 reported the same day, in latitude 45° 35' N., longitude 47° 30' W. 

 This position was reached just at sunset, and the berg could not be 

 located on account of darkness. 



Dense fog prevented all scouting operations on April 27 and 28. 

 For the same reason few ice reports were received on the 27th and 

 none on the 28th. \\Tien the fog cleared on the morning of April 29 

 a small berg was sighted in latitude 45° 30' N., longitude 48° 07' W. 

 The positions of the four grounded bergs sighted by the ice patrol on 

 the 20th were sighted. Three of these bergs had disappeared. Also 



