16 



received from vessels crossing the area on March 21 indicated that the 

 southern end of the pack ice tongue had drifted south to latitude 

 44°02' N. and, therefore, orders were issued for Ice Patrol to be in- 

 augurated at 1200 on March 22, 1939, in accordance with Ice Patrol 

 instructions. 



Fog set in on the evening of the 21st and continued until the morn- 

 ing of the 23d. On the 23d, with moderate visibility, tlie cold current 

 was scouted from latitude 44°40' N., longitude 48°52' W. to latitude 

 43°20' N., longitude 49°25' W. Scattered patches of slob ice were 

 sighted from latitude 43°52' N., longitude 48°54' W. to latitude 44°36' 

 N., longitude 49°00' W., and the growler sighted on the 21st was 

 relocated in latitude 44°18' N., longitude 48°47' W. This growler 

 had been much reduced in size, but in the interests of safety, it, along 

 with a large piece of pack ice, Was carried on the ice broadcasts as 

 a growler for another day. On the 24th, with good visibility, the 

 Labrador Current was again scouted from latitude 45°00' N., to 

 latitude 43°30' N., and only scattered patches of slob ice were sighted. 

 On the night of the 24th, course was set northward inside the 50- 

 fathom curve of the Grand Banks in order to be in position to scout 

 northward the following day. With excellent visibility on the 25th 

 an area from latitude 44°00' N., longitude 48°48' W. to latitude 46°00' 

 N., longitude 47°42' W. was searched. The southern tongue of the 

 field ice was located in latitude 44°57' N., longitude 48°48' W. and 

 the Ice Patrol vessel cruised to the eastward along the field ice, sighting 

 the following bergs: Berg and three growlers latitude 45°22' N., 

 longitude 48°27' W.; berg latitude 45°38' N., longitude 48°16' W.; 

 berg and growler latitude 45°47' N., longitude 48°08' W., and berg 

 latitude 45°50' N., longitude 47°45' W. Two vessels, the S. S. Liberty 

 and the S. S. Nova Scotia, were sighted working eastward through the- 

 ice in latitude 45°12' N., longitude 48°40' W. and latitude 45°48' N.,. 

 longitude 48°00' W., respectively. Reports received from these 

 vessels indicated that the western edge of the ice tongue extended 

 from latitude 44°57' N., longitude 48°48' W. to latitude 45°43' N.^ 

 longitude 48°22' W. 



Wliile the Chelan was scouting the Labrador Current north of 

 latitude 45°00' N., on the 25th, a growler was reported in latitude 

 43°00' N., longitude 49°23' W. As the patrol vessel could not arrive 

 at this position before nightfall plans were made for scouting the- 

 area in the vicinity of the Tail the following day and safety messages 

 were released during the night, advising vessels of the position of 

 tliis growler. That night course was set southwest and the following 

 day, with excellent visibility, the area in the vicinity of the growler 

 was searched but only a small patch of slush ice was located in latitude 

 42°34' N., longitude 49°58' W. In addition to the search made by 

 the patrol vessel on the 26th, a commercial vessel passed westbound 



