28 



THIRD CRUISE "MENDOTA," MARCH 6 TO MARCH 24, 1937 



The Mendota sailed from New York, N. Y., at 0940, March 3, 1937, 

 to reUeve the Champlain as ice observation vessel in the vicinity of the 

 Grand Banks of Newfoundland. The trip to the ice regions was 

 without incident and moderate southwest and northwest winds and 

 good visibility were experienced. The Champlain was met in lati- 

 tude 43°14' N., longitude 55°33' W., at 1545, March 6, 1937, Lt. G. 

 Van A. Graves, ice observation officer and the observer's party 

 reported aboard and at 1640 the Mendota relieved the Champlain as 

 ice observation vessel. 



On March 7, an area of cold water on the western edge of the Banks 

 suspected of containing bergs was scouted out but no bergs were 

 found. On March 8, 9, and 10 and 11, the Mendota searched around 

 the Tail of the Banks and up the cold current on the eastern edge to 

 latitude 46°40' N. No ice was sighted. The next day, March 12, 

 was spent steaming across the Banks to the area of reported field ice 

 and bergs south and southeast of Cape Race. During March 13 and 

 14, the eastern and southern limits of the field ice were delineated 

 south of latitude 46° N. Heavy field ice was found to extend east to 

 longitude 50°30' W., and south to latitude 45°15' N., with patches of 

 ice and pieces south to 45° N. Three bergs were sighted in the ice. 

 (See fig. 27.) The following days March 16, 17, 18, and 19 were spent 

 scouting out the western edge of the Banks south of the ice for bergs. 

 During this, the following steam trawlers were spoken and identified 

 and all found well aboard: S. S. Saiita Joana of Aveiro, Portugal: 

 S. S. Capricorne of Bordeaux, France; S. S. Greenland of Fecamp, 

 France; and the S. S. Vallwiit of St. Malo, France. 



At 2200 March 18, a message from the steam trawler Imperialist ol 

 St. John's Newfoundland, stating a man aboard had a serious infection 

 of the hand and arm and requesting medical aid was received. The 

 Mendota proceeded immediately to her position making contact at 

 0700 March 19, in latitude 43°55' N., longitude 52°04' W. A boat 

 was lowered to get the injured man and at 0700, one, John Ryan, 

 mariner, of Bay Bulls, Newfoundland, was received aboard for treat- 

 ment. The Imperialist proceeded on her way and the Mendota con- 

 tinued scouting to the south and eastward throughout that day and 

 the next, working toward the eastern edge of the Grand Banks, arriv- 

 ing there the morning of March 20. With rather poor visibility the 

 Mendota searched up the 100-fathom curve that day until dense fog 

 made further scouting useless and the Mendota stopped to drift. As 

 the weather showed no signs of clearing, course was laid to the west- 

 ward toward the relieving point and so throughout the next day and 

 night. 



The Champlain was met in latitude 43°55' N., longitude 59°37' W 

 A boat was lowered and Lt. G. Van A. Graves, ice observation officei 



