THE FROST A\D DROUGHT OF 1905. — DOANE. 625 



The writer witnessed a similar iiieiclent at Annapolis in 

 1SS8. The tide runs very swiftly opposite the town, but ice 

 jammed in the river on tlie night of January 21st, and during 

 the next thirty days steamers moored some distance down the 

 river were loaded with apples hauled over the ice. 



Governor Murray, of liockhead prison, has kept a record 

 for years of the date on which Bedford Basi'n froze over and the 

 date on which the ice went out. February 6th was the earliest 

 date for the closing and A])ril 6tli the latest day for the opening 

 of this sheet of water. L'.i 1905 it w^as shut up for the winter 

 on January 24tih, and remained fiiozen dowai to the Narrow^s 

 until the ice broke up on April 16th. 



There were ice races in the Uartmouth rink on April 3rd, 

 and open-air skating o'n Milton pond, near Yarmouth, on April 

 5th. 



The severity of the winter and the heavy snowfall chilled 

 the water to sucJi an extent that the lobster fishery along our 

 shores was commenced much later than usual, and it was feared 

 that the prosecution of this industry would be attended with 

 but small results. Fortunately, the worst fears were not 

 realized. The fishermen who followed this pursuit received 

 higher prices in consequence of the conditions, and the results 

 w^ere eve'n more satisfactory than in ordinary years. 



jSTotwithstanding the lateness of the cold season, hedges 

 were opening their leaves on May 8th, and the trees one week 

 later. 



The following table shows the lowest temperature for 

 January and J^'ebruary in each year since 1864 : — 



1864 — January !) below. Febuary 4 below. 



1.865 — " '■) above. " 2 above. 



1866— '"'■ 16 below. '' 12 below. 



1867— " 8 below. " 5 below. 



1868— " 4 below. " 7 below. 



1869— " 1 above. "' 6 above. 



