ticular cruise, were warmer than is usual. There was a total dis- 

 appearance of below freezing surface water south of latitude 48° N., 

 during this cruise. This observed fact may in part explain the early- 

 disappearance of field ice and the evidences of rapid disintegration of 

 all icebergs sighted. This higher than average surface temperature, 

 together with the slow rate of flow, averaging about H knot, reduced 

 the chances of icebergs reaching the Tail of the Banks to a minimum. 



During the fourth and fifth criuses, or to the end of May, the number 

 of bergs in the area reached its highest peak and declined rapidly to 

 zero. In all this time no berg drifted south of latitude 45° N., and no 

 berg was reported south of latitude 49° N. after May 22. The move- 

 ment of all the ice during this period was slow and uncertain. The 

 bergs showed no tendency to drift south but moved to the east and 

 northeast well north of Flemish Cap, disintegrating rapidly. (See 

 figs. 22 and 23.) 



A short cruise of 9 days, the sixth, from June 1 to June 9 during 

 which the cold current was searched from latitude 46° N., to the 

 Straits of Belle Isle, showed no ice south of latitude 49°25' N., and the 

 ice season, as far as the transatlantic lane routes were concerned, was 

 over. No ice menace to the United States-European steamer lanes 

 existed this season and all routes were passable (except Belle Isle 

 route) during the whole ice season. Because of the light ice conditions 

 the regular Ice Patrol was not inaugurated this year wliich left the 

 observation vessel free to leave the critical area to ascertain ice con- 

 ditions farther north and along the Newfoundland coast. Ice obser- 

 vation was discontinued on June 9, 1936, for the season. All shipping 

 was informed of the termination of the ice observation service by a 

 broadcast at the regular ice broadcast times as long as the observa- 

 tion vessel remained in the area. 



Immediately following this section is a discussion of the general 

 features of the ice season by months with a summary. A detailed 

 account of the individual cruises will be found under Cruise Reports 

 (p. 16) and there are also sections on Weather (p. 7) and Com- 

 munications (p. 6). 



The scientific program for this year, as in the last 6 years, consisted 

 of periodic dynamic surveys of the region of principal activity. (See 

 Fig. 1.) Three current maps were constructed during the ice-patrol 

 season, one in April, one in May, and one in June. These current 

 maps showed the cold current running in a broad stream with sUghtly 

 below normal velocities from latitude 47° N., southward along the 

 eastern edge of the Grand Banks to latitude 43° N., and around 

 the Tail of the Banks to the westward in April and May. (See figs. 

 25 to 27.) The current maps are used by the patrol vessel in laying 

 out the scouting plan, determining the areas to be searched and in 

 locating dangerous bergs after periods of fog. After the termination 

 of ice observation for the season the General Greene made a short post- 



