30 



curve, and returned to the southernmost ice and drifted for the night. 

 The morning of April 17, dense fog covered the whole ice area so 

 the Mendota drifted in the vicinity of the berg aground in latitude 

 43°41' N., longitude 49°29' W., throughout the day and night. The 

 next 2 days, April 18 and 19, dense fog persisted and no scouting 

 could be done. 



On April 20, at about 0930, the fog cleared sufficiently for scouting. 

 This day the Mendota searched on a line to the southwestward, 10 

 miles outside the 100-fathom curve from latitude 44°30' N., to lati- 

 tude 42°30 N., and sighted nine small bergs and one growler. All 

 these bergs were in advanced stages of disintegration and would 

 hardly be a menace for more than a week. At 1939, the Mendota 

 slowed to one-third speed and maintained position in latitude 42°4G' 

 N., longitude 49°48' W., throughout the night. The next day, with 

 only fair visibility, the horizon being very hazy, the Mendota scouted 

 northeastward 20 miles outside the previous day's search. Only 

 one berg was sighted. This was an average size berg, in latitude 

 43°47' N., longitude 48°44' W. At 1621, the General Greene was 

 contacted in latitude 44°10' N., longitude 48°26' W., and the com- 

 manding officer, Boatswain A. L. Cunningham and Senior Ocean- 

 ographer Floyd M. Soule, reported aboard for a conference. Mr. 

 Soule delivered a current map of the critical area. At 1815, the 

 General Greene departed for St. John's, New^foundland. The visi- 

 bility was too poor to warrant further scouting that day so the 

 Mendota ran at slow speeds or drifted throughout the night. 



At daylight, April 22, the Mendota scouted to the southwestward 

 just outside the 1,000-fathom curve and sighted three growlers in lati- 

 tude 42°58' N., longitude 48°53' W. At 0720 the Mendota headed 

 west for tlie relieving point. The Pontchartrain was contacted at 

 2210, April 22, in latitude 43°10' N., longitude 52°50' W. A boat was 

 lowered and Lt. G. Van A. Graves, ice-observation officer, and the 

 observer's party were transferred to the Pontcliartrain, At 2253, 

 April 22, the Mendota was relieved by the Pontcliartrain as ice patrol 

 vessel, and set course for Halifax, Nova Scotia, arriving there at 053 !-, 

 April 24, 1935. (See fig. 12.) 



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

 received during the cruise : 



Number of bergs reported south of 48° N ^ 148 



Number of bergs reported south of 44° N 10 



Number of ice reports received 80 



Number of water-temperature reports received 1144 



Number of vessels furnishing ice reports 35 



Number of vessels furnishing water-temperature reports 75 



Number of vessels furnished special ice information 11 



