170 



MARIOX EXPEDITION TO DAVIS STRAIT AND BAFFIN" BAY 



Although coUisioiis between ships were materially reduced after 

 the inauguration of prescribed tracks, the dangers incident to navi- 

 gating without due regard for the menace of icebergs and pack ice 

 remained unmodified and therefore accidents continued to prevail. 



It is to the credit of the Cunard Steamship Co. tluit in 1875 the first 

 real steps were taken to reduce the number of casualties due to drift- 

 ing Arctic ice. The Cunard Line order its shipmasters to follow 

 lane routes across the Atlantic that were laid south of the zone into 

 which northern ice normallv drifted. The westbound lane was ran 



Arctic. Mixed, and Gulf stream Waters 



Figure 110. — The distribution of the three main classes ot water in the region of the 

 Grand Bank south of Newfoundland. The solid black area indicates the position of 

 the (Oldest water, ca. ."{4° F.. and the m( st lialile retreat of .\rctic ice. The wavy, 

 parallel lines mark the region of warmest water, the northern edfie of tho tkilf 

 Stream, about l>()° F.. and the U-r.si prubability of harljoring Arctic ice. The 

 stippled ar(a is the intermediate zone of mixed waters, about 4't° F., and represents 

 an area liable to contain icelergs. The marked difference in temperature Iietween 

 the cold, icy water on the one hand and tlie warm oceanic water on the other 

 provides the fjrea test liability of fog over the mixed and the icy waters, whili' clear 

 weather prevails over the Gulf Stream. 



to the ])oint, latitude 48° X. longitude 50° W. ; and the eastbound 

 route was placed 60 miles to the southward. 



A few of the other large and more progressive passenger lines 

 followed the policy of the Cunard Co.. and as a result the number 

 of accidents due to ice showed an encouraging decrease from the 

 former high rate. They still, however, continued to be of too fre- 

 quent occurrence, since during the decade ISSO to 1S90, according to 

 Kodman (1890), there were no less than 14 vessels lost and over 40 

 seriously damaged off Newfotmdland. For example we note the 

 following : 



June 2, 1882, the steamshii) AsJuJi'idxtl sti'urk a ()erg 20 miles 

 south of Cape Race and sunk. 



