47 



The following is a summary of ice and water-temperature reports 

 received during this cruise: 



Number of bergs reported south of latitude 48° north 13 



Number of bergs reported south of latitude 43° north 



Number of ice reports received 60 



Number of vessels furnishing ice reports 25 



Number of water-temperature reports received 689 



Number of vessels furnishing water-temperature reports 90 



Number of vessels furnished special information 8 



THIRD CRUISE, "PONTCHARTRAIN," MARCH 22 TO APRIL 5, 1938 



The Pontchartrain departed New York, N. Y., at 1245, March 19, 

 1938, for a cruise in the interests of International Ice Patrol and set 

 course for the vicinity of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland to relieve 

 the Tahoe. Light to moderate southwest winds and moderate visibil- 

 ity were experienced en route and the Tahoe was met at 2042, March 

 22, 1938, in latitude 43°14' N., longitude 52°38' W. A pulling boat 

 from the Tahoe came alongside and Lt. G. Van A. Graves, ice-observa- 

 tion officer, and the observer's party reported aboard and at 2130 the 

 Pontchartrain relieved the Tahoe as ice-observation vessel. Course 

 was set for the Tail of the Banks to commence a search for ice the fol- 

 lowing day. 



Dense intermittent fog during the next 5 days — March 23, 24, 25, 

 26, and 27 — made scouting impractical so the Pontchartrain maintained 

 position on the Banks ready to commence a search for ice whenever 

 the opportunity offered. Reports during the day of March 24 showed 

 field ice and many growlers drifting south of latitude 44° N., into west- 

 bound tracks C and D, making those routes, the prescribed routes, 

 unsafe at night or in fog. It was recommended, therefore, to the com- 

 mander. International Ice Patrol, that ice patrol be inaugurated and 

 that United States-European traffic be shifted to track B immediately. 

 In accordance with these recommendations ice patrol was commenced 

 at 2042, March 24, and track B became effective at 0900, March 26, 

 1938. 



The morning of the 28th dawned bright and clear and search courses 

 were run covering the area south of the Tail and up the eastern edge 

 of the Banks to latitude 43°30' N. As no ice was located in this area 

 the next 2 days were spent scouting out the cold current from the Tail 

 to latitude 44°40' N., and 30 miles east of the 50-fathom curve and the 

 following ice was sighted: Scattered small growlers from latitude 

 44°20' N., longitude 48°54' W., to latitude 44°29' N., longitude 

 49°02' W. ; growler latitude 44°24' N., longitude 48°50' W. ; and a berg 

 latitude 44°21' N., longitude 48°30' W. The next day, March 31, 

 strong northerly gales and heavy sea effectively prevented all further 

 scouting so the ice of the 30th could not be relocated nor its movement 

 determined. 



