63 



but a small deviation in the current might tend to transport this ice 

 offshore, where it was liable to be turned to the eastward and eventu- 

 ally^ appear in a very unsavory position immediately northward of 

 the steamer lanes. The current map, which had been compiled on 

 board April 29 to May 5 (fig. 49, p. 109), about tw^o weeks previ- 

 ously, indicated, however, that the probable tendency for this ice was 

 inshore to ground on the Bank. 



Fog, as we have just remarked left nothing else for us to do but 

 wait patiently near the Tail of the Bank and somewhat to the south- 

 ward, blind to the movement of the 21 bergs, but hoping any day 

 to get an opportunity for clear weather and another search. The 

 fog continued to prevail for five days, but on the expiration of the 

 third, we decided to remain inactive no longer. It was thought 

 that failing to follow this ice by means of actual contact each day, 

 the next best proposition lay in compiling on board, as soon as 

 possible, a map showing the current in this critical region which was 

 now infested with several bergs. The ice patrol ship, therefore, 

 May 18 to 20, w^as occupied in making a current survey of these 

 fog-bound waters south and southwest of the Tail— the so-called 

 critical area. 



The fog cleared on the 20th instant and also the same day the 

 oceanographic work was completed and the course and velocity of 

 the currents were mapped. As a result of this work is discussed 

 under the section of oceanography it will not be mentioned in 

 detail here except tb remark that the Labrador current flowed 

 westward from the Tail to latitude 42° 34', longitude 51°, and 

 from this point one branch swept westward flooding the slope of the 

 Bank, while offshore a branch bent sharply back 113° through lati- 

 tude 41° 55', longitude 50°. A natural inquiry for the reader to 

 make is, "What was the subsequent behavior of the large group of 

 21 bergs which was located just north of the Tail on May 14?" 

 Since none of this ice was sighted in the critical area southwest of 

 the Tail during the oceanographic survey, it is believed several of 

 the bergs were detained around the slopes of the Bank, and that 

 most of them drifted offshore into the northeast set, with practically 

 no ice following tracks southward past the Tail. It is most likely 

 that the inshore edge of the warm counter current which we have 

 just described on the current map, transported the majority of these 

 bergs northeastward finalh' to melt them away from the steamer 

 lanes. It is unfortunate that the patrol ship had no opportunity 

 during the month to search this locality in order to corroborate 

 such a belief. 



During the period May 15 to 20, reports from ships traversing 

 the regions to the northward were not so numerous as earlier in the 

 month yet it ought to be remembered that these waters were en- 



