Almost immediately after the first of Jmie, or just after the beginning 

 of the eighth cruise, May 31 to June 15, the long stagnation of bergs 

 north of latitude 45° N., was brought to an end. The scouting on 

 June 2 revealed a definite movement of bergs southward and they 

 drifted swiftly and surely as it was predicted they would. Was there 

 any explanation of this abrupt change in conditions? On May 31 

 and June 1 strong winds to moderate gales from the north and north- 

 west blew all along the course of the Labrador Current for 400 miles 

 north of the Tail of the Banks (latitude 43° N.). These conditions 

 existed for about 48 hours and apparently overcame, at least tem- 

 porarily, whatever barrier existed to bergs moving south of latitude 

 45° N. By the next 10 days, 10 bergs had drifted into the area south 

 of latitude 45° N., into which only 1 berg had come in the last 2 weeks. 

 While such wind conditions along the axis of the Labrador Current 

 will, imdoubtedly, have a powerful influence on the stream and the 

 subsequent drift of bergs, it is not hitended to convey the idea that 

 this was the sole factor perpetuating the season. (A discussion of 

 other factors to this same end will be found on page 121 under Ocean- 

 ography.) It is mamtained that iliis storm introduced wind compo- 

 nents into the Labrador Current which materially assisted in moving 

 bergs south of latitude 45° N., and may, possibly, have been the 

 determining factor in that movement. Certain it is that apparently 

 favorable current conditions existed for a month prior to this storm 

 with no very striking results and immediately following the disturbance 

 bergs moved southward. The truth is probably neither all one thing 

 nor all another, but a combmation of other circumstances coincidental 

 with the occurrence of the storm. 



At the end of this cruise, the eighth, there were apparently fewer | 

 bergs in the area than last patrol. Track F was still encumbered 

 with bergs and track E, though comparatively free, had a few bergs 

 drifting across it between longitudes 46° W., and 49° W., and occa- 

 sional bergs along it south of Cape Race. At this time, also, there 

 were seven bergs south of latitude 45° N., all potential danger to 

 track B. The most southern was in latitude 42° N., longitude 50°30' 

 W. Track C could not be used until this situation cleared up and 

 traffic should continue on track A (extra southern) until track B was 

 again free of bergs. 



The remainder of the patrol, from June 15 to the end, July 22, 

 comprising the ninth, tenth, and eleventh cruises, was spent closely) 

 watching those bergs which drifted south of latitude 43° N., across 

 the steamer tracks. During all this time scouting to north waa 

 impossible due to almost perpetual fog over the cold water. By the 

 end of the last cruise, however, reports showed so few bergs remaining 

 that a patrol was no longer necessary and upon recommendation of 



