66 



close together in this critical area south of the Tail. While we were 

 lying near the bergs on the 28th instant observing their behavior, 

 a report of a berg in latitude 41° 50', longitude 48° 23' was received 

 and this being only 20 miles north of the westbound track and also 

 the southernmost ice, the patrol immediately headed toward the 

 position at full speed. Twice during the afternoon the same ice was 

 reported by other vessels in about the same position at which we 

 arrived near nightfall. The berg was not very large and was thought 

 to be one of that group originally sighted on May 14 just north of 

 the Tail for its position could under such conditions be attributed to 

 the course and velocity of the current. We followed this berg for 

 three days, the 29th, 30th, and the 31st (see fig. 17, p. 67), and inas- 

 much as it was unusually far south position for ice, during these 

 three days of disintegration it merits more than passing interest. 



-^r 



-*9 



42 



o.fe^f- 



~v^**- 



-^ 



az 



-SL 



49 



Fig. 16. — The behavior of a group of five bergs May 26 to June 3, drifting on the northern edge of the Gulf 



Stream south of the Grand Bank 



At 5.30 a. m. on the 29th we sighted the berg bearing 210°, distance 

 4 miles, and approached nearby. It was approximately 150 feet 

 long and 60 feet high. A light sea was running from the northeast, 

 the sky was overcast the entire day, and the temperature of the water 

 was 46°, with the air 47°. We fired 18 to 20 shots with the 6-pounder 

 after gun which brought down considerable ice. In the afternoon 

 two mines containing about 238 pounds of T. N. T. were exploded 

 beneath the surface while suspended by a rope from the berg. The 

 mines tore off several large growlers, but did not cause any great 

 amount of damage. On May 30 during the 4 to 8 a. m. watch a 

 northeasterly swell began to make up which continued quite "lumpy" 

 all day. We came up close to the berg about 2.45 in the afternoon 

 and it was apparent to everyone on board that it had been reduced 

 to one-half its size of yesterday. Many growlers were calving off 



