12 



reports from between the forty-eighth and forty-ninth parallels along 

 the "F" or Cape Race tracks, which began to be used on the regular 

 scheduled date, May 16. Fog and rain on the "F" tracks on the 

 17th caused many liners to stop and drift and cut down somewhat 

 the extraordinary number of these ice reports. 



At 12.30 a. m. on May 19 the Modoc was met at 42° 55' N., 52° 25' 

 W. There the ice-observation party and the patrol records were 

 transferred and the relief of the patrol was effected. 



Weather during the third cruise was remarkably fine and moderate 

 on the average. There were no gales until the moderate westerly 

 one of the 14th, which was accompanied by high barometer and clear 

 skies. A depression that passed to the north of the patrol on the 

 16th caused a few hours of southerly gales with fog. Fine visibility 

 with a clear-cut horizon was the rule, fog being experienced during 

 but 22 per cent of the time. 



One thousand and eighty-two surface water temperature reports 

 were received from 180 vessels. These were, as always, of great 

 value for use in planning the patrol's searching, for estimating the 

 probable drift and life of ice, and for keeping track of shipping cross- 

 ing the ice-patrol area. Two hundred and ninety-eight ice reports 

 were received from ships and shore stations. Seventeen vessels were 

 given special ice information. 



THE FOURTH CRUISE, "MODOC," MAY 19-JUNE 2 



Search courses on May 19 revealed two bergs south of the Tail. 

 The one found in 42° 44' N., 51° 13' W., had drifted west-southwest 

 at the rate of 1.3 knots since left by the Tampa on the 18th. On the 

 20th fog prevented continuance of the search for the southern limits 

 of the cold-water area, but on the 21st fine visibility again prevailed, 

 with the result that the ice patrol and cooperating vessels practically 

 cleared up, for the time, the existing ice situation in the waters south 

 of the forty-third parallel. Four bergs and one growler were believed 

 to constitute all the ice south of the Tail, and all of these on the 21st 

 were north of latitude 42° 30' N. On the 21st no less than 76 reports, 

 of ice were received, a new high record for one day, proving that 

 extremely bad ice conditions were persisting north of the forty-sixth 

 parallel. 



Unfortunately, dense fog on the 22d prevented the Modoc from 

 relocating the southwesternmost ice and determining its drift toward 

 the westbound "B" tracks. Word was received during the day from 

 Cape Race that Cabot Straits and the Gulf of St. Lawrence were clear 

 of ice. 



When the fog cleared on the morning of May 23 another search of 

 the southwestern portion of the cold-water area was started. Visi- 

 bility gradually improved as the day went on, but no ice was located 

 north of the *'B" tracks. The 24th and 25th were spent searching 



