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cruise the regular Weather Bureau forms were filled in for the patrol 

 period and mailed upon arrival in port. The coded dispatches to 

 Washington always included, when available, the weather at one or 

 more ship stations well separated from the patrol. These composite 

 messages were transmitted direct to Washington at scheduled times 

 which were sufficiently early to insure that the data would be available 

 for use in making up the Weather Bureau's ocean forecasts. The 

 same weather information sent to Washington was transmitted via 

 Canadian coastal radio stations to the Canadian meterological 

 officials at Ottawa, Ontario, for their use. This was a new departure,, 

 beginning with the 1929 patrol season. 



An average of 60 water-temperature reports were received each day 

 from vessels within the ice-patrol area, which may be defined as the 

 area bounded by latitudes 39° and 48° N. and longitudes 43° and 

 56° W. Shipping was frequently reminded of the need of the patrol 

 for reports by broadcasts worded about as follows: "AU vessels while 

 within the ice-patrol area are requested to transmit to the ice-patrol 

 vessel, call NIDK, the following every four hours: Ship's name, 

 G. M. C. T., latitude, longitude, course, speed, temperature of water, 

 weather conditions, and any ice or other obstructions sighted." In 

 response many of the ships included in their water-temperature 

 reports all the necessary meterological elements, for the most part^ 

 no doubt, very carefully and regularly observed. When a number 

 of the best-cooperating ships were well scattered along the tracks, 

 there was a w^ealth of material to choose from, and most of the remain- 

 ing time there were at least a few vessel reports to consider when 

 making up the Weather Bureau dispatches. Only the latest, most 

 reliable, and best situated reports were marked for coding and 

 transmission to shore. 



On the patrol vessels, especially during foggy periods, the weather 

 obtaining at the positions of reporting vessels would be frequently 

 plotted on suitable ocean charts. The limits of fog sheets, rain areas, 

 good weather, gales, and other conditions could then be seen with 

 considerable accuracy and ease. Detailed weather information 

 obtained from reports so plotted was several times furnished the 

 United States Weather Bureau officials on request during the anxious 

 times just prior to projected trans-Atlantic airplane flights. 



Following the customs of previous years, two weather maps were 

 made up each day from data contained in the general synoptic 

 broadcasts transmitted by NAA, at Arlington, Va, Supplemented 

 by the weather reports received from shipping, these maps were used 

 for forecasting the local weather. They proved most useful for use 

 in connection with planning the patrol's cruising as well as interesting. 

 With their aid it was always possible to know what weather conditions 

 were prevailing in a large area to the westward. These conditions, it 

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