Section III., 1909, [ 143 ] Trans. R. S. C. 



IX. — Œlie Ice Question — as it affects Canadian Water Powers — with 

 special reference to Frazil and Anchor Ice. 



By John Murphy, E.E. 



(CoiDTnunicated by Dr. Barnes and read May 27th, 1908.) 



Canada's Water Powers are daily becoming more and more intimate- 

 ly associated with our daily life because to-day's necessities in the forms 

 of abundant supplies of water for domestic, industrial and tire-protective 

 purposes, and electrical energy for light, heat and power purposes are, 

 to a great extent, dependent upon them. Canada's severe winters have 

 always affected her Water Powers and on this account it has become 

 the custom to couple the Ice Question with discussions relating to AVater 

 Powers in this country. 



The following study of the Ice Question with special reference to 

 Frazil and to Anchor Ice is presented in the belief that the difficulties 

 which these forms of ice have caused may be entirely overcome. 



It is well known that the industries and services which are dependent 

 upon water power for their operation have been frequently interrupted by 

 ice. It is also generally believed that water powers in this country will 

 never be immune from ice troubles. The ice that is usually most trouble- 

 some at Canadian hydraulic power plants is called frazil, but it is more 

 often improperly called anchor ice. At the outset it may be well to say 

 a few words about anchor ice and then dismiss it from this discussion 

 altqgether. 



Anchor ice grows on dark rocks on the bottom of uncovered streams 

 when the earth is losing heat bv radiation. While attached to the bot- 

 tom — anchored there by adhesion to the rocks and not by its weight, be- 

 cause it is lighter than water, — it resembles wool on the backs of sheep. 

 " The French-Canadian expression (for anchor ice) is moutonne, as it 

 " resembles the white backs of sheep at rest." This quotation is from 

 Dr. H. T. Barnes' book called " Ice Formation," page 106, and to those 

 who wish to study the ice question thoroughly I beg to recommend this 

 work. Anchor ice is feathery or woolly stuff through which a pole 

 or rod may be pushed. While still attached to the bottom of streams 

 where it forms and grows it is tenacious and gathers to itself particles 

 of ice which float against it. So long as anchor ice remains upon the 

 bottoms of uncovered streams, where it has formed, it is evident that it 

 will cause no inconvenience to power plants unless it actually forms a 

 dam and prevents the water from passing the latter. As an illustration 



