^ ' MARIOX ' ^ EXPEDITION TO DAVIS STRAIT AND BAFFIN BAY 35 



lapped at the melting floes. The edge of this last pack ice sighted 

 during the expedition was skirted for 5 miles to the southeastward, 

 after which the southerly course could be resumed again without 

 hindrance. 



From 64° 07' X., 59° 05' W., a line of stations Avas taken to the 

 westsouthwest toward Cape St. David, Baffin Island, for nearly 

 120 miles. The weather was mostly clear, with fine visibility, while 

 light westerly airs prevailed. About 4G icebergs Avere sighted during 

 the day, but the ship was south of all the pack ice that had prevented 

 a close approach to Baffin Island, 120 miles farther north. Many 

 astronomical observations Avere taken, and at about 11 p. m., after 

 the eA'ening star sights had been computed, it Avas thought that the 

 ship's position was quite Avell knoAvn. Throughout the late afternoon 

 the heights of Baffin Island had been visible to the westAvard, and 

 many bearings Avere taken of points thought to be Cape St. David 

 and Cape Murchison. The station program was continued on 

 through the night, hoAveA^er, it being planned to take the last station 

 a safedistance east of BreA^oort Island at 4 a. m. 



At 1 a. m. the fathometer shoAved the officer of the deck that the 

 water was shoaling considerably. He looked around in the darkness 

 and saw the dim outlines of an island to the northeastward and the 

 high land ahead seemed to be close aboard. He took the inshore 

 station at once, not daring to go on any farther. Then a course to 

 the southeastAvard Avas run. 



No land Avas visible at daylight on the morning of the 18th, but 

 a. m. star and sun sights A^erified the positions carried forAvard by 

 dead reckoning from the evening before. The chronometer's error 

 Avas well knoAvn, because radio time ticks were being heard almost 

 daily. Apparently the land about Cape Murchison and Cape St. 

 DaAdd Avas charted on our copy of British Admiralty Chart 235 

 about 20 miles to the southAvest of its true ]:)Osition. This can not be 

 stated as an absolute fact, due to the slight possibility of unusual 

 refraction, to the darkness, and to the hurried manner in AAdiich the 

 Marion had to approach and leaA^e the coast. The fact that an ap- 

 parent error in the chart was noted should certainly be mentioned 

 here, however, in order that the land's position may be checked 

 up in the future by the next expedition passing through the region 

 concerned. 



August 18 Avas a fine clear day Avith moderate northwesterly 

 breezes. All day long and until 4 a. m. August 19 the ship con- 

 tinued cruising to the southeastAvard, stopping to take stations CA^ery 

 25 miles. Numerous bergs Avere sighted until the ship ran out of the 

 cold current Avith surface temperatures of 37° F. and sot into the 

 47° F. Avater situated farther out in Davis Strait. The last berg 

 sighted from this line of stations was passed in 62° 53' N., 61° 35' W. 



The greater part of Sunday, August 19, Avas spent running to the 

 Avestward on a line of stations laid in toAvard Resolution Island. 

 There Avas a moderate nortliAAest gale almost all day. Late in the 

 afternoon, Avhile it Avas bloAAing the hardest, an end flange on the 

 drum of the forAvard Avinch began to bulge out Avith a crack that grew 

 wider and Avider, and finally prevented turning at all. The manu- 

 facturer that supplied the hoists for use on the ice patrol in 1927 had 

 not designed the drum flanges with sufficient strength to Avithstand 

 the side thrust Avhich occurs when several thousands of meters of 



