During this first cruise the ice-observation vessel, in answer to a 

 request for assistance, proceeded through mountainous seas to stand 

 by the S. S. Azalea City, which was drifting helpless, having lost her 

 propeller, in latitude 42°17' N., longitude 52°25' W. The Tahoe 

 arrived by the stricken vessel the evening of February 18 and re- 

 mained in the near vicinity, in case of emergency, until the arrival 

 of the Coast Guard cutter Chelan on February 21, 1938, when ice 

 observation was resumed. (See fig. 35.) 



On March 8 open-pack ice and growlers were reported on the 

 northeastern shoulder of the Banks just outside the 100-fathom curve, 

 and a further report early the next day showed this ice extended 

 from latitude 47°25' N., longitude 47°20' W., for 75 miles m a north- 

 east direction. So the Tahoe sailed from Halifax to investigate the 

 changed conditions that these reports indicated. The extent of the 

 change may be seen by comparing the February and March ice charts 

 (figs. 6 and 7). En route to the Grand Banks the observation vessel 

 passed north of Sable Island approximately along latitude 44°35' N., 

 and although only light local pancake ice was encountered, heavier 

 ice could be seen to the north and some heavy pieces were passed, 

 so that shipping was still advised to pass south of Sable Island. 

 Bergs began to be reported on the north and east slopes of the Banks, 

 in any number, for the first time about March 13. The majority of 

 these were brought south in the field ice which was continuously 

 reported. The great masses of field ice just east of the Banks effec- 

 tively blocked tracks E and F and kept them from any general use; 

 most vessels continued to use the prescribed route, for Halifax, track 

 D south of the Tail. 



On March 21, two bergs were reported in latitude 43°45' N., 

 longitude 49°31' W., and one berg in latitude 43°50' N., longitude 

 48°45' W. It is difficult to explain how these bergs drifted so far south 

 without being seen by the patrol vessel. The scouting on March 17, 

 18, and 19 was designed to prevent just such an occurrence, its possi- 

 bility being fully realized. (See fig. 36.) The scouting interval on 

 the 17th was 24 miles, and if the ice were small or low it might have 

 been mistaken for a whitecap on the horizon and so missed. There- 

 fore, on the 18th a line was run approximately half way between the 

 previous day's courses, thus reducing the interval to 12 miles, in order 

 to eliminate this possibility. No ice was sighted although this search 

 extended north from latitude 43°15' N. As a further precaution on 

 the 19th an effort was made to relocate the bergs and growlers sighted 

 by the observation vessel on the 16th which were strung in a northeast- 

 southwest direction just outside the 1,000-fathom curve from latitude 

 45°30' N. to latitude 44°30' N. Unfortunately, misty rain and gen- 

 erally low visibility, never over 5 miles, made this search comparatively 

 ineffective, and it is believed that it was this day that the bergs were 



