29 



47°36' W., and again on April 11, in latitude 45°32' N., longitude 

 47°17' W, The identifying points were: (a) its size, (h) the dis- 

 tribution of the peaks and depressions, and (c) the most conserva- 

 tive point, three strongly marked old-water lines cut high on one 

 side just below the loftiest peak. This berg had, with one exception, 

 changed not at all in appearance. Its length when first seen was esti- 

 mated at 500 feet. Apparently it had had one major calving, or had 

 sloughed off considerable ice from one end for its length was only 

 slighth' over 400 feet at this time. The latter hypothesis seemed the 

 better as the sea in all directions around the berg was strewn with 

 small pieces of berg ice. This berg had an even more remarkable 

 drift than the other one sighted on April 13. From the 10th to 

 lllh of April t]i6 berg drifted 42 miles, and from the lltli to the 

 14(h, A\-hen sighted, it averaged over 30 miles per day. This berg 

 was fuujid in 62 fathoms of water and was undoubtedly aground. 

 Open field ice, probably the remnants of the large ice field sighted on 

 April 10, was strewn in all directions from this berg. Although this 

 ice offered little hindrance to navigation in daylight hours, it Avould 

 prove a hazard at night, for many large pieces were present, de- 

 manding low speed and caution during periods of darkness or low 

 visilnlity. A boat was lowered here to obtain samples of berg ice and 

 pictures. The Mendofa proceeded to scout to the eastward to deter- 

 mine the width of the cold current and to see if ice had drifted 

 southwartl to the east of the previous day's search. At 1230 a large 

 growler was sighted in latitude 43°54' N., longitude 48°59' W. The 

 cold current was found to be unexpectedly wide at this point, water 

 as low as 37° F. extending out to longitude 48° 17' W. No further 

 ice being sighted, the Meivdota returned to the southernmost berg 

 and drifted in the vicinity throughout the night. Since this berg 

 was located on April 13 it had drifted only 10 miles along the 

 100-fathom curve to the southwest, and was now in latitude 43°44' 

 N., longitude 49° 31' W. 



The next day, April 15, the Mendota kept track of the two south- 

 ernmost bergs. The large berg proved to be aground as it moved 

 not at all since first sighted on April 14. The more southern of the 

 two bergs drifted slowly southwest, just outside the 100-fathom 

 curve, and on April 16, apparently grounded in 28 fathoms of water 

 in latitude 43°41' N., longitude 49°29' W. On April 15, a small 

 berg was sighted in latitude 43°37' N., longitude 49°32' W. The 

 morning of April 16 found the whole ice-patrol area covered with 

 fog, making scouting impossible, so the Mendota ran southward at 

 slow speed during the morning. The fog lifted in the aftemoon^ 

 and the Mendota scouted northeast, 12 miles outside the 100-fathom 



