23 



Moderate westerly gales having made up during the night, scouting 

 was impossible on March 22, so the MetuJ of a lay to awaiting more 

 moderate weather. On the morning of March 23 the Mendota com- 

 menced a day's scouting to the north of latitude 45° but at 1400 en- 

 countered fog and set course east true to take advantage of the clear 

 weather to the eastward for the purpose of investigating bergs re- 

 ported just to the north and south of westbound track C, between 

 longitude 44°50' and 47°00' on March 19 and 22. This course was 

 held until dark when the Mendota stopped and drifted for the night 

 in latitude 45°15' N., longitude 46°41' W., ready to resume the search 

 to the eastward at da3^break. At 0835 found a small berg in latitude 

 44 '56' N., longitude 45°31' W. This berg was small, of the drydock 

 type, and greatly eroded by the sea. The search was continued to the 

 east and south until daik, but no more ice was seen so the Mendota 

 headed on westerly courses at reduced speed during the night so as 

 to be near the eastern edge of the Banks on the next day. During the 

 early morning of March 25, the wind picked up quickly from the 

 south, blowing a moderate gale at daylight, so the Mendota headed 

 into the wind and sea at slow speed to await more moderate weather 

 and so thoroughout the day. (See fig. 10.) 



During the night of March 25, the Mendota ran to the westward 

 toAvard the relieving point and met the Pontchartrain at 0700 March 

 26, 1935, in latitude 42°20' N., longitude 52°00' W. Lt. G. Van A. 

 Graves and the ice observation party were transferred to the Pont- 

 chartrain. The Mendota was relieved as Ice Patrol vessel at 0800 by 

 the Pontchartrain and proceeded to the assistance of the Belgian 

 steamer Jean Jadot which was drifting with a broken rudder in lati- 

 tude 43°03' N., longitude 53°13' W. The Jean Jadot was taken in 

 tow at 2000 and towed until 1920 March 28 when, in latitude 42°53' 

 N., longitude 58°05' W., discontinued towing and turned the steamer 

 over to the Canadian salvage tug Foundation Franklin. Later that 

 night the Mendota proceeded to search for a schooner reported on 

 March 27 as being in field ice in latitude 44°47' N., longitude 56°40' 

 W. No trace was found of this vessel on the 29th and, since the fuel 

 supply was running low. the Mendota proceeded to Halifax, Nova 

 Scotia, arriving there at 1012 ]\Iarch 30. 



The following is a summary of the ice and water-temperature 

 reports received during the cruise : 



Number of bergs reported soutb of 48°00' N 46 



Number of bergs reported south of 44°00' N 



Number of ice reports received 70 



Number of water-temperature reports received 1, 029 



Number of vessels furnisliing ice reports 26 



Number of vessels furnishing water-temperature reports 120 



Number of vessels furnished special ice information 9 



