Mcndota then proceeded to Argentia, where she arrived at 1010 

 (I. c. t. on 10 July. 



The weather encountered on this cruise was characterized by the 

 usual seasonal prevalence of fog in the Grand Banks region. From 

 26 June until 4 July, the Meridota experienced dense fog 95 percent 

 of the time. In carrying out the meteorological program, the upper- 

 air observations included 30 rawins, 8 pibals, and 32 raobs. Maxi- 

 mum rawin slant range was 94,800 yards. Maximum rawin altitude 

 attained was 62,795 feet. 



A summary of w'ater-temperature, ice, and obstruction reports 

 received during this cruise follows : 



Number of ice reports received 33 



Number of vessels furnishing ice reports 26 



Number of water-temperature reports received 585 



Number of vessels furnishing water-temperature reports 166 



Number of obstruction reports received 



Number of vessels furnished special information 35 



The four aerial ice observation flights made during the period of 

 this cruise are discussed in the description of ice conditions during 

 June and July. 



Fourth Ice Observation Cruise, "Spencer," 8 July to 26 July 7947 



The Spencer departed from Argentia on the morning of 8 July 

 and proceeded to relieve the Mendota on the morning of 9 July in 

 the vicinity of the remnants of a berg located at 42°24' N., 54°48' W. 

 During the day the last of these growlers had disintegrated to a 

 point where it was no longer a menace to navigation and that night 

 the Spencer proceeded to the northeastern shoulder of the Grand 

 Banks by way of the southwestern and eastern slopes of those banks. 

 A berg was located at 48°15' N., 49°51' W. on the 13th. The Silencer 

 drifted with this berg from the 14th to the 18th, during which the 

 berg moved easterly at about 1 knot. It became apparent that this 

 berg would not drift into a position to jeopardize traffic on track C 

 and the search of the area was resumed. 



This search was interrupted on the 19th to investigate a report 

 from the 5. S. Fort Charlotte of a berg at 44°10' N., 44°13' W. Dur- 

 ing the next 2 days the area in this vicinity (see track chart, fig. 12) 

 was searched and no ice found. The Spencer then returned to the 

 northeastern slope of the Grand Banks and relocated a berg pre- 

 viously sighted on the 18th at 48°33' N., 50°05' W. When relocated 

 on the 23d at 47°42' N., 48°57' W., it had deteriorated to growler size 

 nd evidently would melt completely before reaching a position of 

 azard to the steamer lanes. The International Ice Patrol was dis- 

 continued for the season on the 23d, but the Spencer's return to 

 Argentia was not direct. On the morning of the 23d, the Spencer 

 set a northeasterly course to intercept U. S. C. G. C. Bibb and re- 



31 



