9 



the 50-fathom curve, and track "E" was beset with numerous bergs 

 from 48° 30' W. to 46° 00' W. 



The Labrador current south of latitude 45° 30' N. appeared to be 

 particuhirly weak until the last few days in April. The ice-patrol 

 vessel did not experience any noticeable sets caused by this current, 

 and several bergs in excellent positions to drift southward did not 

 do so. However, on April 30 drifts of three bergs near latitude 45° 

 00' N. were ascertained to be 20, 13, and 12 miles to the south, 

 respectively. 



Most of the bergs sighted by the Pontchartrain had deep valleys 

 and gorges cut by the action of the sea, and the water formed by 

 melting had cut paths several feet deep, honeycombing the surface of 

 the bergs. Several of the "dry dock" type of bergs have been 

 sighted. This advanced state of disintegration clearly indicates 

 that the icebergs sighted so far are, to a great extent, those that 

 spent last year on the Labrador coast or elsewhere on an incompleted 

 journey southward. 



The weather was particularly fine for the most part of the patrol. 

 The visibOity was much better than is usual for this time of year 

 near the Grand Banks. The percentage of time with fog was 20.3 

 as compared with 56.5 for the last cruise. 



During the patrol attempts were made to observe the upper air 

 currents by means of pilot balloon ascensions. The work was done 

 under the supervision of Mr. A. R. Stickley, of the United States 

 Weather Bureau. Due to the unsteady platform caused by the 

 rolling, pitching, and yawing of the ship, the flight of the balloons 

 was difiicult to follow through the theodolite in order to observe its 

 altitude and azimuth. 



The following is a summary of the ice and water temperature 

 reports received during the present cruise: 



Number of different bergs south of latitude 48° 260 



Number of ice reports received 304 



Number of ships furnishing ice reports 60 



Number of ships furnishing water temperature reports 154 



Number of water temperature reports received 860 



Number of vessels furnished special ice information 7 



See Figure 2 for ice conditions and surface isotherms during the 

 second cruise. 



THIRD CRUISE, "TAMPA," MAY 3 TO MAY 18, 1932 



The Tampa sailed from Halifax 7 a. m. May 1, The passage to 

 the relieving point was made in a dense fog. At noon on May 3 the 

 Tampa met the Pontchartrain in 42° 54' N., 53° 28' W. The ice 

 observation party reported on board and the Tampa relieved the 

 Pontchartrain as ice-patrol vessel. The Tampa then proceeded 



