35 



SIXTH CRUISE. "PONTCHARTRAIN", MAY 21 TO JUNE 3, 1935 



The PontchaxTfrain sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, at 0840, ISIay 

 19, 1935, and proceeded to the relieving point at economical speed, 

 13 knots. The run from Halifax was uneventful and the weather 

 fine and clear with moderate winds and sea. 



The Ponfchartraln met the Mendota in latitude 42°43' N., longitude 

 49°59' W. Lt. G. Van A. Graves, ice-observation officer, and the 

 observer's party reported aboard, and at 1315, May 21, 1935, the 

 Pontch-artrmn relieved the Mendota as Ice Patrol vessel. Course 

 was set for the last sighted position of the southernmost ice. At 

 1947 the Pontchartrain stopped to drift for the night in vicinity of 

 the southernmost berg located in latitude 42°44' N., longitude 48°20' 

 W. The next day. May 22, was spent observing the set and drift of 

 the southernmost berg. On May 23 and 24 the Pontehartrmln 

 scouted westward to longitude 50°50' W. between latitudes 42°30' 

 N. and 43°25' N., and around the tail of the Grand Banks in order 

 to be sure no bergs were drifting southward in the cold water and 

 threatening westbound track B. No ice was sighted in this area. 

 During the afternoon of May 24, dense fog set in and the Pont- 

 chartrain was unable to locate the southernmost berg that day. 

 With the clearing of the fog May 25, the berg was located at 0730 

 in latitude 43° 10' N., longitude 46°51' W., and the Pontchartrain 

 drifted with this ice throughout the day and night. 



At daylight the following day. May 26, the Pontchartrain ran 

 to the westward just north of the search of May 24, and searched 

 to the northward along the entire slope of the Grand Banks to 

 latitude 45°00' N. No ice w^as sighted this day, and at 1950 the 

 Pontchartrain anchored in 25 fathoms of water in latitude 43°52' N., 

 longitude 49°24' W., for the night. At daylight the next day, May 

 27, an attempt was made to continue the previous day's scouting to 

 the northward to search for ice. At 0645 dense fog was begininng to 

 form over the cold water so the attempt was abandoned and course 

 was set for the estimated position of the southernmost berg. This 

 day and all the following day, May 28, was spent in an intensive 

 search over all the possible drift tracks of the berg as determined 

 from the current chart delivered May 19, and the actual drift of 

 fhe berg as determined from observations since May 14, a period 

 of 2 weeks. The berg was not found and was stricken from the 

 Ice Patrol records. It is believed this berg drifted into very warm 

 water of over 60° F., which was found in this vicinity (see fig. 15), 

 and disintegrated rapidly during May 26 and 27. 



The night of May 28, the Pontchd'rtram proceeded westward, and 

 at daylight. May 29, commenced a search of the critical area along 

 the eastern slope of the Grand Banks. One berg was located in this 



