21 



visibility toward the south from aloft crossed the limit of visibility 

 toward the north of the vessels westbound on the B tracks. Until 

 dark the search was carried on to the westward roughly parallel to 

 these tracks. Very few reports of ice were received during the day 

 on account of the fog's presistence farther north. 



Advantage was taken of the fog, which lasted until 2 p. m. on the 

 16th, to take two oceanographic stations, one after the other at the 

 same spot, to see how nearly identical the independent measurements 

 of salinity and temperature would be at the different levels. As the 

 results were very much alike, more confidence was felt for the accuracy 

 of the station work done so far. 



A sudden shift of the wind from northeast to west occurred around 

 noon. Within two hours this change had cleared up the fog suffi- 

 ciently to enable a course of 0°, true, to be laid towards the Tail in 

 search for the southernmost ice. No ice was sighted. Intermittent 

 fog hampered the scouting. 



The morning of the 17th was ideal for searching, although con- 

 ditions were favorable for thick weather — a light wind from the 

 southeast with a low barometer. Thirty miles had been run up to 

 the Tail, and thence a considerable distance to the east across the 

 cold water had been covered by 10 a. m., before the fog shut in. The 

 vessel stopped for an hour until it lifted. It shut in again verj^ soon, 

 whereupon the vessel was again stopped. A station was taken be- 

 tween 11.15 a. m. and noon. 



During the morning a report was received from south of both the 

 eastbound and westbound B tracks of a piece of ice only 1 foot square 

 in 40° 19' N., 47° 51' W. This was believed to be the remains of 

 the great arched berg that on the 10th was 140 miles to the north- 

 northwest. No other report 'was ever received of this berg or of the 

 two small southernmost bergs of the 10th. All of them must have 

 melted unwatched during the fog. It was decided not to search to 

 the southward am^ more for this ice but to work up the eastern edge 

 of the Banks, searching for new bergs. 



Before sunset two large bergs were found in 43° 34' N., 49° 06' W., 

 and 43° 38' N., 48° 56' W. They were reported around noon by the 

 YorcJc, which vessel claimed to have had them 20 and 24 miles off 

 when abeam. This great visibility was doubted, but when the patrol 

 vessel approached them from the south they proved easily visible at 

 those distances. 



A short run to the Bank was made from the southwesternmost 

 berg of the pair, but no more ice was sighted. A station was taken 

 at dark, just inside the oO-fathom curve, where no water below 0° 

 C. was found at any level. 



On the morning of the ISth the search up the eastern edge was 

 renewed. A berg was located at 9 a. m. in 44° 05' N., 49° 13' W. 



