44 



CRUISE REPORTS 



FIRST CRUISE, "TAHOE," FEBRUARY 12 TO 28. 1938 



The Tahoe sailed from Boston, Mass., at 1015, February 12, 1938, 

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

 Newfoundland. The voyage to the ice area was uneventful and on 

 February 15 the Tahoe arrived in the vicinity of the Grand Banks and 

 began a search for ice. 



On February 13, the District Radio Commissioner, Halifax, Nova 

 Scotia, was informed by radio that the Tahoe was making an ice 

 observation cruise in the interests of 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. On February 14 all vessels were informed of our pres- 

 ence in the ice area by a broadcast on 500 Idlocycles stating our mission 

 and requesting all sliips to report all ice sighted and their seawater 

 temperatures, weather, barometer, visibility, position, course, and 

 speed every 4 hours while in the Ice Patrol area. 



On February 16 and 17 the Tahoe scouted up the cold current from 

 latitude 43° N., to latitude 46°10' N., along the eastern slope of the 

 Grand Banks. No ice was sighted. Acting on information received 

 by radio the Tahoe, at 1900, February 17 proceeded to the assistance 

 of the steamship Azalea City who had lost her propeller in latitude 

 42°17' N., longitude 52°25' W. Northwest gales which had sprung 

 up in the morning continued during the night of the 17th reaching 

 force 10, whole gale for 3 hours durmg the night and held gale force 

 until the following evening February 18, At 0715 the following 

 morning the steamship Azalea City was sighted in latitude 41°56' N., 

 longitude 51°32' W., and the Tahoe stood by this vessel until the 

 arrival of the Chelan on February 2 1 at wdiich time the Tahoe resumed 

 i^e observation. 



Northerly gales which blew continuously February 22 and 23 made 

 further scouting impossible. On the 24th and 25th with good visi- 

 bility an effort was made to locate a berg reported on the 17th in 

 latitude 47°25' N., longitude 47°53' W. The southerly current was 

 searched from latitude 44°50' N. to latitude 46°50' N., and east to 

 longitude 46°35' W., in the area between latitudes 46°00' N. and 47° 

 00' N. It was not found. As numerous vessels had repeatedly 

 crossed the areas into which this berg might drift and since it remained 

 unreported for 8 days, it was stricken from the Ice Patrol record. 



At 1200 February 25 fresh to strong easterly winds brought fog, 

 rain, and generally low visibility, making further scouting unprofitable. 

 As these conditions seemed likely to continue for some period and the 

 ice situation showed no indications of immediate change and the 

 prescribed steamer routes tracks C and D were well south of any ice, 



