28 



The finding of water of 60° F. in temperature about the berg on 

 June 2 from 2 miles away right up to within from 100 to 50 feet of 

 it in all directions shows what little dependence can be placed upon 

 a fall of temperature to give warning of proximity to bergs. 



The smoothness of the sea during the fifth cruise prevented any 

 very rapid disintegration of the ice seen. A steady slow dissolving 

 was the rule. This was speeded up somewhat by calving and the 

 consequent listing about in the warm water. 



No field ice was reported during the fifth cruise. Sixty different 

 bergs were reported by vessels from the Cape Race tracks. Only 

 one of these was located east of the forty-ninth meridian. A tend- 

 ency for the ice to drift through the Gulley and to the west past 

 Cape Race was noted. Only a very few of the easternmost of the 

 northern bergs were located so they could possibly get south of the 

 Tail. It was not believed that any of them would get so far south. 



The disintegration of the northern ice could not be observed as 

 the patrol vessel was kept in the lower patrol latitudes by the few 

 bergs south of 43° N. The continuance of solar warming in the 

 north was noted from the reporting vessels' water temperature 

 reports; 34° surface water had disappeared from the map. All the 

 bergs south of 48° were undoubtedly being eaten into about the water 

 line and calving and disintegrating at an increasing rate. 



Ten oceanographic stations were taken and computed. A little 

 more would have been accomplished except for the loss of the equip- 

 ment on May 31 described above. The salinometer on board was in 

 need of a thorough overhaul. In addition to having to be heated by 

 makeshift methods after the burning out of the heating coils its 

 water bath sprang a leak during the cruise and had to be taken down 

 and resoldered. 



In all 119 ice reports were received from ships and shore stations. 

 Special ice information was furnished to 18 vessels. No derelicts 

 were reported, but no less than 15 reports of minor items, such as 

 logs and buoys, were received from passing ships. 



Good visibility attended the final run to the westward past the Tail 

 on the night of June 4. On the following morning at 9 o'clock the 

 Modoc was met in 43° N., 53° W., and there the oceanographic party 

 was transferred and the relief of patrol was eft'ected. 



THE SIXTH CRUISE, " MODOC," JUNE 5 TO 20, 1928 



Good visibility with moderate weather conditions prevailed when 

 the Modoc took over the ice-patrol duties from the Mojave on June 5. 

 The day was spent running to the eastward toward the Tail. Water 

 warmed to over 45° F. was noted aU the way from 43° N., 53° W., to 

 43° N., 50° 15' W. To the east of that 40° surface water from the 

 north was encountered. 



