21 



in latitude 44°22' N, longitude 48°38' W., and latitude 44°28' N., 

 longitude 48°43' W. Because of a possible drift of 30 miles or more 

 per daj^ to the southward, which would bring these bergs across the 

 west-bound track C during the night, and because of the continued 

 fog over the entire critical area, a special broadcast was sent out 

 warning all shipping to proceed with extreme caution through that 

 area. Although the probable drift tracks of these bergs were 

 thoroughly scouted, the Mendota never sighted this ice. 



On March 10, the commander. International Ice Patrol force in- 

 formed the District Radio Commissioner, Halifax, Nova Scotia, that 

 the Mendota was making an ice observation cruise and requested 

 the cooperation of the Canadian and Newfoundland radio stations 

 as in former years in collecting all available ice informativni. As a 

 result, on ]\Iarch 11, Cape Race radio sent the Mendota a list of 12 

 bergs and much field ice reported on March 9, 10, and 11. The ice 

 broadcasts were started at 0700, March 12. On March 12 and 13, 

 numerous bergs were reported, many of which were in the cold 

 current on the eastern slope of the Banks in excellent position to 

 drift southward across the steamer tracks, track C being then in use. 

 With the ice thus menacing the steamer tracks, the Ice Patrol was 

 inaugurated at 1200, March 14, 1935. 



On March 15, no ice having been sighted around the tail of the 

 Banks, the Mendota commenced scouting along the eastern edge of 

 the Banks in the cold current. This search was continued on March 

 16, as far north as latitude 45°23', locating ice bergs in the follow- 

 ing positions: Latitude 44°57' N., longitude 48°11'' W. ; latitude 

 45°11' N., longitude 48°19' W. ; and latitude 45°23' N., longitude 

 48°14' W. 



The first berg sighted was particularly interesting. The immediate 

 vicinity of the berg was covered with slush ice and small pieces and 

 one large groAvler as evidence of a very recent major calving. The 

 berg had, as a result, been tipped about 30° on its axis, with the old 

 water line, deeplj^^ cut, showing plainly the berg's former position. 

 It was a large berg of the modified saddle-back variet}^ (undoubtedly 

 unable to complete its journey last year, wintered on the Labrador 

 coast) with a deep emJ3a3'ment on one side and a broad seam of clear, 

 blue-green ice cutting diagonally through its entire visible mass. The 

 water temperature in the vicinity was 33°, and 1,500 fathoms deep. 

 The berg was 300 feet long, 200 feet wide, and 80 feet high. 



The evening of March 16 saw the completion of the search for 

 ice in the cold water from longitude 51 west, along the edge of the 

 Grand Banks between the 100-fathom curve and a line 40 miles 

 outside thereof to latitude 45°23' N. As only three bergs had been 

 sighted during this search, the Mendota steamed eastward during 



