the best use possible of the remaining time of this cruise to locate ice 

 in the vicinity of Cape Race, The patrol work during the cruise 

 consisted of receiving 1,100 water-temperature reports, 82 ice reports, 

 18 vessels were asked to acknowledge for evening broadcasts, 14 

 special ice-information reports were given, and a total of about 40 

 bergs sighted. 



THE SIXTH CRUISE, "MODOC," JUNE 8 TO 23, 1927 



Our first task was to search eastward along the northern slope of 

 the Bank about 15 miles north of the track made by the Tampa on 

 her course to the westward a few days ago. The search was handi- 

 capped to a great extent by patches of fog and low visibility, but, 

 nevertheless, we sighted about 10 bergs and several growlers while on 

 this work, which was concluded on the 10th instant. Advantage 

 was also taken of several steamers on courses more or less paralleling 

 ours to the north and south, to estimate that tliere was a total of 68 

 bergs this date south of the forty-eighth parallel. 



The final oceanographic survey for 1927 was begun on June 10 

 and carried out, but for a single interruption, the remainder of the 

 time which the Modoc had the patrol duty. During the course of 

 nine days we covered the largest area which had ever been accom- 

 plished on patrol, namely, from the forty-eighth parallel south to 

 the Tail, and from the Grand Bank eastward to Flemish Cap. This 

 survey was timely and proved to be of inestimable value toward 

 forming an accurate opinion, and resulting recommendation, for the 

 discontinuance of ice patrol. This is an example of the value attached 

 to scientific investigations of the currents around the Grand Banks. 

 Never before have patrol officials been so well informed and been 

 able to express such an intelligent prediction as to the status of the 

 ice menace as they were at the close of the season of 1927. 



On the 13th instant the Modoc's current survey was interrupted 

 for two days by an urgent call for medical assistance' from the steamer 

 Conness Pealc, then well out in mid-Atlantic. The Modoc on this mis- 

 sion, without doubt, was able to save the life of the second officer 

 who had received serious injuries as the result of a fall. 



June 24 we met the Tampa about 150 miles west of the Tail of 

 the Bank, and, after a conference between the two ships, the com- 

 mander, international ice patrol, forwarded a dispatch to head- 

 quarters which contained a resume of the principle features of the 

 ice season, the survey of the present situation, and his recommenda- 

 tion for the discontinuance of the patrol. 



The following is a summary of the work performed during the 

 sixth cruise: 848 water-temperature reports received, 77 ice reports 

 received, 13 vessels were asked to acknowledge for the evening broad- 

 casts, 10 ships were given special ice information, and 36 icebergs 

 sighted. 



