OCEANOGRAPHY 



On March 19 the General Greene departed from Boston and pro- 

 ceeded to St. John's, where she arrived on March 24. After taking on 

 supplies and fuel, departure was taken from St. John's for the purpose 

 of making a current survey of the Grand Banks region beUeved to be 

 critical with respect to the drift of menacing ice. Because of the 

 unusually easterly spread of the reported ice it was proposed to extend 

 the current chart over a greater longitude range than usual. It was 

 necessary, therefore, on account of considerations of fuel capacity 

 and speed of the General Greene, to eliminate any oceanographic sta- 

 tions north of about latitude 47° N. Oceanographic work north of 

 this latitude would have been impossible anyway because of the 

 presence of pack ice. As it was, the southern edge of the pack was 

 skirted in running a line of stations from the eastern edge of the 

 Grand Banks to Flemish Cap. Another line of stations from Flemish 

 Cap southeastward into deep water was made, and then the failure of 

 the oceanographic winch motor necessitated a return to St. John's 

 for repairs. Fifteen oceanographic stations had been occupied, but 

 because of their disposition in the form of a section it was not possible 

 to construct from them a current map. 



St. John's was reached on April 3, and after the winch motor had 

 been repaired the General Greene again left St. John's on April 9 to 

 make a dynamic topographic chart of the Grand Banks area. Be- 

 cause of the presence of pack ice in the northern part of the area to be 

 investigated, and in order to take advantage of the increasing moon- 

 light in the more hazardous northerly part of the area, the survey 

 was begun at the tail of the Grand Banks and carried northward. 

 The work of collection of data begun on April 10, at station 1786, and 

 was completed in the vicinity of Flemish Cap on April 20, after 50 

 stations had been occupied. The resulting current chart, figure 19, 

 was then constructed and was delivered aboard the Mendota 36 hours 

 after the last station had been taken. The General Greene then pro- 

 ceeded to St. John's, arriving there on April 22. 



On May 7 the General Greene departed from St. John's for the 

 purpose of making a second current chart. This time the work of 

 collection of data progressed from north towards south, beginning at 

 station 1836 on May 8 and ending at station 1895 on May 18. The 

 boisterous weather so prevalent in these waters characterized this 

 cruise. Of the 60 stations occupied, 17 were taken with winds of 



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