27 



track A and it was, therefore, recommended that an emergency United 

 States-European track be made effective immediately. Eastbound 

 to cross longitude 47°00' W. at latitude 38°45' N., and westbound to 

 cross longitude 47°00' W. at latitude 39°30' N. The southernmost 

 berg was in latitude 40°17' N., longitude 50°09' W. in water of tem- 

 perature 44° F., a little to the east of the cold wall. This berg was 

 small and drifted into warmer water during the night of the 28th. 

 The Champlain remained with this southernmost berg until it melted 

 on the 29th. 



Low visibility and fog set in over the cold water during the night of 

 the 28th and, after the southernmost berg had melted, course was set 

 to the westward in an attempt to clear the fog by entering warmer 

 water. Darkness set in before warmer water was reached so the 

 patrol vessel drifted during the night of the 29th. The next day, 

 with poor to moderate visibility, an effort was made to locate a berg 

 reported in latitude 40° 41' N., longitude 49°28' W. This berg was not 

 found because it was in cold water and dense fog covered the area in 

 its vicinity. The patrol vessel drifted that night and the following 

 day course was set to the southward in order to enter warm water 

 and await clearing of the fog. 



On June 1 the area south of the cold water was scouted out with 

 negative results. With improved visibility on June 2 the Chamjdain 

 thoroughly searched all the cold water south of latitude 41°00' N. 

 No bergs were sighted. On June 3 search courses were run from lati- 

 tude 40°20' N., longitude 47°30' W. to latitude 41°50' N., longitude 

 50°49' W. and seven bergs were sighted along the track. The south- 

 ernmost berg was in latitude 41°20' N., longitude 48°41' W., so the 

 patrol vessel attempted to return to it and two other bergs in its 

 vicinity the following day. Upon completion of the scouting program 

 on June 3, it was believed that conditions had improved sufficiently 

 to warrant return of traffic to tracks A and the Commander, Inter- 

 national Ice Patrol, was advised accordingly by dispatch. The 

 southernmost berg was not relocated until the morning of the 5th 

 when it was found in latitude 40°46' N., longitude 48°38' W. That 

 day the Champlain relocated the two additional bergs in the vicinity, 

 returning to the southernmost of the three that afternoon and remain- 

 ing nearby to observe the direction of drift. On June 6 the Champlain 

 headed toward the relieving point. 



On June 1, 1939, a life ring was picked up from the water in latitude 

 39°45' N., longitude 49°42' W. The only markings on the ring gave 

 the home port as San Francisco, the name of the vessel having been 

 obliterated. On June 4, 1939, a life jacket stenciled "S. S. Mormac- 

 sea" was picked up from the water in latitude 41°10' N., longitude 

 48°18' W. 



220899 — 40 3 



