34 



to the tail of the Banks. Only one iceberg was found in this large 

 critical area. At 1633, May 14, a very large iceberg of the drydock 

 type was located in latitude 42°28' N., longitude 50° 10' W. This 

 berg was 400 feet long, 300 feet wide and its highest pealv, a massive 

 block of solid ice, reared itself 150 feet above the water. This one 

 berg was the only piece of ice south of latitude 43° N. 



The next day, May 17, was fine and clear and the Memlota, with 

 excellent visibility, scouted northward along the eastern slope of the 

 Grand Banks. The Mendota thoroughly searched this day an area 48 

 miles wide just east of the 50-fathom curve between latitude 43°00' 

 N., and latitude 44° 50' N. At nightfall the Mendota headed for the 

 vicinity of the southernmost berg at slow speed and so throughout the 

 night. Only four small growlers were sighted this day in widely 

 scattered positions in the cold water just east of the Banks. The 

 only known ice, therefore, south of latitude 44° 50' N., on May 17 

 was one berg and four small growlers. The following morning rain 

 and low visibility made scouting for the southernmost berg difficult 

 and as southerly gales were making up rapidly, the Mendota hove-to 

 throughout the day and night of May 18. The following morning, 

 May 19, the Mendota searched for and found the southernmost ice- 

 berg in latitude 42°09' N., longitude 49°00' W. and drifted with this 

 ice throughout the day and night. 



At 1607, May 19, the Mendota met the General Greene in vicinity of 

 the southernmost berg and at 1822, the commanding officer of the 

 General Greene^ Boatswain A. L. Cunningham, and Senior Ocean- 

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

 Soule delivered a current chart of the critical area. At 1925, the 

 General Gi^eene departed for St. John's, Newfoundland. The night 

 of May 19, and the following day the Mendota drifted with the 

 southernmost ice. At 1130, May 21, the Pontchartrain arrived at the 

 contact point in the vicinity of the southernmost ice in latitude 

 42°43' X., longitude 49°59' N. Lt. G. Van A. Graves, observation 

 officer, and the observer's party, were transferred to the Pontchartra'i.n 

 and at 1135, May 21, the Pontchartrain relieved the Mendota as Ice 

 Patrol vessel. The Mendota set course for Halifax, Nova Scotia, ar- 

 riving there at 0730, May 24, 1935. (See figure 14.) 



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

 received during the cruise : 



Number of bergs reported south of latitude 48° N 353 



Number of bergs reporte<l south of latitude 44° N 4 



Number of ice reports received 228 



Number of water-temperature reports received 1, 586 



Number of vessels furnishing ice reports 76 



Number of vessels furnishing water-temperature reports 77 



Number of vessels furnished special ice information 12 



