31 



FOURTH CRUISE, "PONTCHARTRAIN", APRIL 22 TO MAY 6, 1935 



The Pontchartrain sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, at. 0G30, April 

 21, 1935, and proceeded to the relieving point at standard speed, 13.5 

 knots. The run from Halifax was uneventful and the weather gen- 

 erally fair, overcast, and cold with moderately westerly and north- 

 westerly winds. 



The Pontchartrain contacted the Mendota in latitude 42°00' N., 

 longitude 53°00' W. At 2227, April 22, 1935, Lt. G. Van A. Graves, 

 ice observation officer, and the observer's party reported aboard, and 

 at 2300 the Pontchartrain relieved the Mendota as Ice Patrol vessel. 

 Course was set for latitude 42°35' N., longitude 50°30' W., and at day- 

 break, April 23, the Pontchartrain commenced a search to the east- 

 ward and north from this position in order to locate the ice last sighted 

 in the cold current on April 20. Eight small bergs and one growler 

 were sighted on this day. The southernmost berg in latitude 42°38' 

 N., longitude 49°58' W., and the growler just south of it in latitude 

 42° 34' N., longitude 49° 56' W., mark the farthest southward advance 

 of the ice thus far this season. 



The following day, April 24, the Pontchartrain drifted with this 

 southernmost ice throughout the day and night. The next day, April 

 25, being fine and clear, the Pontchartrain scouted to the eastward and 

 northeastward of this ice in order to determine whether any other 

 bergs were threatening track B to the eastward, and returned to the 

 southernmost ice in latitude 42°12' N., longitude 49°18' W., that night. 

 Three bergs were sighted this day. The Pontchartrain drifted with 

 this ice throughout that night and the following day and night, and on 

 the morning of April 27 conmienced a search for ice to the west and 

 north across the cold current just south of the tail of the Grand Banks. 

 Nine bergs were sighted this day. Upon return to the southernmost 

 ice the Pontchartrain found two other small bergs had joined the 

 southernmost berg and all three were now in latitude 42° 10' N., longi- 

 tude 49°22' W. The Pontchartrain drifted with these bergs through- 

 out the night. 



The next day, April 28, the Pontchartram drifted with these three 

 bergs in order to determine their set and drift. They were found 

 to be drifting slowly in a general southeasterly direction, though 

 their drift was somewhat erratic. At 2150 dense fog, which had been 

 threatening throughout the day, had set in. Contact with the bergs 

 was lost during the night due to dense fog. The following day, 

 April 29, witli visibility about 1 to 2 miles, the Pontchartrain found 

 one of the bergs in latitude 42°04' N., longitude 48°52' W., and 

 stopped and drifted with this berg throughout the rest of the day. 

 The next day, April 30, visibility remained too poor for scouting. 



