THE FIFTH CRUISE, "TAMPA," MAY 24 TO JUNE 8, 1927 



After relieving the Modoc, about 200 miles east of Cape Kace, we 

 ;tood to the northward and began searching at daylight along the 

 eastern slope of the Bank. Visibility became poor at noontime on 

 account of snow squalls, but before it shut in thick a large berg was 

 seen not far away beside which we stopped for the night. It was 

 estimated to-day that there was a total of 40 bergs and 60 growlers 

 scattered along both sides of the Cape Race track from latitude 

 i8° 00', longitude 48° 30', and all the way to Cape Race. The ice 

 was especially concentrated in the vicinity of latitude 47° 30', and 

 longitude 50° 20'. 



The next day. May 25, we experienced one of the most severe gales 

 of the season and there was little else to be done but drift near the 

 berg of yesterday. When the gale abated we searched in the vicinity 

 and located a total of six bergs all strung along out the northeastern 

 slope of the Bank and drifting southward at the rate of 1.2 knots 

 per hour. 



At this time we began an oceanographic survey which extended 

 outhward along the Bank and had for its purpose the mapping of 

 the position of the two currents because it was being quite important 

 at this time to have on board the patrol ship information regarding 

 the probable path which the group of icebergs mentioned above 

 would take. We were successful in this plan and the behavior of the 

 ice followed closely to the position of the current as calculated. 

 (See fig. 46, p. 86.) One iceberg of this group which succeeded in 

 hugging close to the edge of the Bank, and thereby drifting south 

 the farthest, was sighted on the 1st of June in latitude 44° 55', longi- 

 tude 48° 25'. 



June 2 was foggy but it cleared the 3d, and remained good visi- 

 bility the 4th and 5th, permitting the patrol vessel to make a fairly 

 thorough search of the eastern and northern slopes of the Grand 

 Bank. Many bergs were found in the locality which the Tampa, a 

 month prior to this date, sighted 70 bergs at one time from the bridge, 

 but now the number had been very much reduced due to melting 

 and disintegration. 



One of the most interesting events of the cruise occurred early the 

 morning of the 6th when we intercepted a message from Cape Race 

 radio station stating that a French fishing vessel had stranded about 3 

 miles west of the station. The Tampa headed toward Cape Race, 

 129 miles away, and full speed was ordered in the hopes that there 

 would be an opportunity to save this vessel. An untimely arrival of 

 a low-pressure area north of Newfoundland brought a southerly gale 

 this same day, and at the same time a choppy sea made up, which 

 soon made short work of this unfortunate vessel stranded on a rocky, 

 lee shore. We were forced to give up the attempt of rescue and made 



