8 



To menace the United States-Europe ti-acks it was necessary for 

 the ice to pass down through the narrow straitlike formation of cold 

 water lying just off the eastern edge of the Bank. It is obvious that 

 the narrower the band of cold water remained the easier it would be 

 to watch and the fewer bergs would flow along it, other things being 

 equal. 



From her water temperature reports of April 1 and 2 it was noted 

 that a steamer had passed only about 5 miles south of the southern- 

 most berg. Steaming, as she apparently did from her successive 

 positions, at a speed of 16.5 knots by it on a pitch dark night, it 

 was deemed that her action was most foolhardy, especially so in 

 view of the many factors of error that are possible in determining 

 the position and drift of ice, and the possibility of the existence of 

 ice not sighted or reported. 



April 3 was another day of perfect visibility and light breezes like 

 the two preceeding days. A final station was taken early in the 

 morning on the 100-fathom curve near where the vessel had been 

 drifting for the night. Then a run was made to the northeastward 

 to locate ice before starting west to meet the Modoc. Three bergs 

 and five growlers were sighted during the day. No less than 10 bergs 

 were reported to the east and northeast of the Bank. 



An abnormally high barometer prevailed, with gentle to moderate 

 westerly breezes. On the morning of the 4th the wind had fresh- 

 ened from the west but the search was resumed at 7 a. m., and during 

 the day the Mojave worked first to the westward, and then to the 

 southward down the eastern edge. Only one berg was sighted during 

 the day. None were reported. At 7 p. m. the vessel's head was 

 turned to the southwest across the Bank towards the Modoc, which 

 vessel was now rapidly approaching the patrol area. 



During the first patrol cruise 38 ice reports were received from 

 vessels and shore stations. Special ice information was sent on 

 request to three steamers. There were plotted in all on the base 

 map over 1,050 surface water temperature observations, 100 of which 

 were made by the patrol vessel and the remainder received by radio 

 from 130 different cooperating vessels. 



The remarkable feature of the first cruise was the comparativel}^ 

 smooth seas and fine weather enjoyed most of the time. Except 

 for the crisp air that almost invariably remained in the thirties and 

 lower forties one might well have thought that the season was summer 

 instead of early spring. One period of fog early in the cruise and 

 two blustery but clear days were the only things that hampered the 

 scouting and station work. 



On the evening of April 5 the Modoc was met at a rendezvous in 

 approximately 43° N., 53° W. There the oceanographic party was 

 transferred and the relief of the patrol was effected by 9.30 p. m. As 



