SUMMARY REPORT OF ICE PATROL COMMANDER 



Commander H. G. Fisher, Commander International Ice Patrol 



Ice patrol was inaugurated March 25, when the Tampa sailed from 

 Boston for the Grand Banks. The Modoc departed from New York 

 in sufficient time to relieve the Tampa on April 11, and thereafter 

 these two ships took alternate 15-day tours of duty throughout the 

 ice season. The patrol was discontinued at midnight June 30, 

 having been on guard a total of 97 days. 



The ice patrol which is now 13 years of age, has during this period 

 had opportunity to study its problems, and plan its general adminis- 

 tration so that now many of the features of the work have become 

 systematized, especially those events which have gradually grown to 

 assume a more or less routine character. The work, as has often 

 been remarked, possesses two main aspects — (a) the practical and 

 (&) the theoretical. The first (a) embraces the primary function of 

 locating by actual scouting and radio communication, the icebergs 

 and field ice nearest to and menacing the North Atlantic lane routes, 

 and the duty of placing that information at the disposal of all ap- 

 proaching trans-Atlantic ships. The second (6) centers on carrying 

 out an intelligent scientific program the results of which throw light 

 of practical importance on the economic humanitarian service which 

 the patrol endeavors to render to shipping. 



In speaking of the practical work it is customary to include in the 

 summary report of each year a brief review of the distribution of ice 

 in time and place, its drift, numbers of bergs, and a survey of the 

 weather which has been experienced during the season. It ma}^ be 

 quite confidently stated that less field ice drifted south of Newfound- 

 land in 1926 than usual. In fact there were very few reports of field 

 ice before the month of March with the flat ice attaining a maximum 

 early in April, and with the last report dated May 11. Even at the 

 date of its most southern extension, April 4 and 5, it did not reach as 

 far as the Tail of the Bank, nor did it spread to any great extent over 

 the Grand Banks south of Newfoundland as it often does. It held, 

 however, more or less closely to the eastern and northern portions of 

 the Grand Bank as usual. 



Ice conditions in the Gulf of St. Lawrence this year were very open, 

 the patrol receiving a message from the Canadian ice patrol ship 

 Mikula that the gulf and river were navigable to Quebec on April 18, 

 or about one month earlier than usual. 



(17) 



