9 



soon as relieved the 2Iojave stood to the westward for Boston in 

 accordance with authority received from headciiiarters on March 28. 

 Permission to proceed to Boston instead of Hahfax had been obtained 

 because of the need of the fathometer for adjustment. The gyro- 

 compass had broken down early in the cruise and was in need of over- 

 haul also. The Modoc on taking the patrol duty over stood to the 

 eastward toward the ice area. 



THE SECOND CRUISE, " MODOC," APRIL 6 TO 21, 1928 



When the Modoc sent a boat over to the Mojave to receive the 

 oceanographic party at 9 p. m. on April 5, 1928, the commanding 

 officer of the latter vessel took advantage of the opportunity to call 

 on the commander, international ice patrol, on the Modoc for a con- 

 ference. There was a light southeast breeze with a moderate north- 

 west swell. Searchlights lit up the white patrol ships and helped 

 the moon to illuminate the transfer activities. Mail, baggage. Navy 

 moving picture programs, and several enlisted men were transferred 

 from one vessel to the other. 



The Modoc rounded the Tail about noon of April 6 and then started 

 a search for bergs up the eastern edge. On the afternoon of the 

 6th and on the 7th and 8th perfect weather for scouting prevailed. 

 The winds ranged from gentle breezes down to a flat calm, and the 

 visibihty was excellent. The heavenh^ bodies were practically always 

 available for sights to locate the ship's position. Coupled with the 

 radio bearings received at 6 a. m. and 6 p. m. from Cape Race and 

 with the depths from the fathometer the sights made the position of 

 the ship as certain as it could well be in an area of conflicting 

 currents. 



A large rectangle 50 miles wide and 80 miles long up the eastern 

 edge was combed over for ice. That none was seen can be taken as 

 conclusive evidence that there was none there. The southernmost 

 bergs sighted by the Mojave had either been curved off to the north- 

 east by the press of Gulf Stream water that w^as eddying in toward 

 the bank around 44° 30' N., 48° 30' W., or forced inshore onto the 

 Bank lower down by the same influence. Twihght and dawn fixes 

 showed on the 6th and 7th the tendencies for night drifts to set to 

 the westward when over the Banks and to the northeast when farther 

 offshore. 



On the afternoon of the 8th, about an hour before sunset, three 

 French fishing vessels were intercepted on their slow way to the 

 fishing grounds north of the Tail. The easternmost of them proved 

 to be the barkentine Bengali of St. Servan. This vessel was given 

 its position. It was circled and photographed while it put oft' a dory 

 with mail to be posted. The Bengali was already 30 days out from 

 France. She was reported to the French radio station at St. Pierre^ 



