CRUISE REPORTS 



FIRST CRUISE "CAYUGA," FEBRUARY 4 TO FEBRUARY 21, 1937 



The Cayuga sailed from Boston, Mass., at 1810, February 3, 1937, 

 on an ice observation cruise in the vicinity of the Grand Banks of 

 Newfoundland. Northerly winds and moderate sea and good visi- 

 bility were experienced enroute and on February 6 the Cayuga arrived 

 in the vicinity of the Grand Banks and began the search for ice. 



On February 5, the District Eadio Commissioner of Halifax, Nova 

 Scotia, was informed by radio that this vessel was making an ice 

 observation cruise in the interests of the International Ice Patrol, 

 and requested that the Canadian radio stations lend the same valuable 

 assistance in the collection and dissemination of ice information as in 

 former years. This same day all vessels were informed of our presence 

 in the ice patrol area by general call on 500 kilocycles, informing them 

 that the Cayuga was making an ice observation cruise and requesting 

 all vessels to report all ice sighted and their sea water temperature, 

 weather, barometer, visibility, position, course and speed every four 

 hours. The regular ice broadcasts were begun at 1900 February 5. 



From February 7 to February 17, the Cayuga scouted out the cold 

 water to the south of the Tail of the Grand Banks and up the eastern 

 edge of the Banks between the 100 and 1,000 fathom curves from 

 latitude 43° N., to latitude 48°10' N. No icebergs were sighted and 

 only one area of field ice. This field ice was light and open with a 

 few heavy pieces and was about 6 miles wide, extending from latitude 

 47°42' N., longitude 48°33' W., to latitude 47°52' N., longitude 

 48°45' W. The bergs and growlers reported in the cold current east 

 and northeast of the Grand Banks on February 1 and 4 have dis- 

 appeared and no others have appeared in an advantageous position 

 to drift southward. Much light and open field ice was reported 

 during this cruise around Cape Race and to the eastward, wliile a few 

 bergs were reported in scattered positions on the Banks and around 

 Cape Race. Heavy field ice was reported moving out of the St. 

 Lawrence through Cabot Strait past Scatari Island, Cape Breton 

 Island. No menace to the United States-European lane routes or 

 Canadian track D existed during this cruise. Canadian track E was 

 in constant use and only five bergs in widely scattered positions were 

 reported along this route, all on the Banks. Considerable field ice 

 was reported along Canadian track F inside the 100 fathom curve. 

 This route is passable by using due caution during fog and darkness 

 but is not recommended and was used by only a few vessels during 

 this cruise. (See fig. 25.) 



On the evening ol February 17, the Cayuga steamed westward 

 toward the relieving point and at 0730 February 21 met the Champlain 

 in latitude 43°48' N., longitude 59°38' W. A boat was lowered and 



