IS 



It was marred only by summer-time fog caused by southwest winds 

 flowing from the ''high" over the ocean around to the north and 

 northeast over the cold waters about the Banks. During the foggy 

 times the sky was nearly always clear and blue overhead. 



Besides the routine broadcasts and reports to Washington special 

 ice information was sent on request to 17 vessels. On the 2d of May 

 her water temperature reports showed a large liner to be running in 

 a fog at 223^ knots toward an area where the southernmost berg 

 might be. She was warned and two extra broadcasts were sent out 

 during the day that advised vessels westbound on B tracks to 

 proceed with caution between the fiftieth and fifty-second meridians. 

 These special warnings were sent out at noon and at 4 p. m. as long 

 as the fog lasted. No derelicts were sighted or reported during the 

 cruise. Three spars and five drifting buoys w^ere reported as in or 

 near the patrol area. One hundred and eighty-four vessels cooperated 

 with the patrol by sending in 1,077 reports of sea surface temperatures. 



On May 4 the weather was drizzling with visibility of about 4 

 miles. Search was resumed for the southernmost berg to the north- 

 west along the 100 fathom curve of the Banks. Forty miles had 

 been covered in this direction when a large berg was reported in 

 approximately 43° 02' N., 50° 40' W. This point was headed for 

 and reached but no berg was found, although a rectangular search 

 was kept up until dark. The vessel that reported the berg (the 

 Artigas) stated that she had not had observations for three days, 

 and that her reckoning might be far out. 



On the morning of the 5th the search was resumed around the 

 Tail. Visibility was but little better than on the preceding day with 

 the added handicaps of strong breezes to gales and a rough sea from 

 the west, so at a little after 8 a. m. it was decided to run on a westerly 

 course for the Modoc, then 180 miles away in 43° 00' N., 54° 00' W. 

 At 6.40 p. m. visual contact was effected and preparations were 

 made to transfer the observing party and records. The relief of 

 patrol was effected successfulh^ early in the morning on May 6 in 

 approximately 42° 25' N., 52° 00' W., the conditions of wind and 

 sea having been deemed too severe on the preceding evening to 

 warrant the use of small boats except in an emergency. 



THE FOURTH CRUISE, " MODOC," MAY 6 TO MAY 21, 1928 



As soon as the Modoc took up the ice patrol duty on May 6, the 

 search for the southernmost ice was resumed. Visibility was good, 

 but the day was blustery and on some of the courses the ship rolled 

 deeph^ to the westerly sea and swell. The Bank just west of the Tail 

 was reached shortly after noon. A rectangular search revealed no 

 trace of the berg reported there on the 4th. At about 6 p. m. there 



