Ill GENERAL COMMENTS 



1. Weather: 



In an operation of this nature in the Labrador area the weather can be the con- 

 trolling factor that leads to success or failure. Bad storms or continued periods 

 of fog can bring certain phases of the work to a complete halt and prevent completion 

 of the task. 



In July and August 1952 the weather can only be termed good. There were no 

 major storms or severe holdups. Moderate seas and good visibility provided favorable 

 working conditions throughout most of the summer, Out of the sixty-three days along 

 the Labrador co n st, only five days were sufficiently bad to require the vessel to re- 

 main at anchor; and even on some of these, certain limited projects such as harbor 

 sounding and biological collecting were carried out. Of course a number of other days 

 were partially lost due to the weather, but these interruptions were few and not 

 serious . 



The weather information available was again very good for planning purposes and 

 contributed substantially toward the efficiency of operation. The NSS Western North 

 Atlantic forecast together with special local forecasts prepared by the Meteorological 

 Office at Goose Bay provided good coverage of the Labrador coast where reliable and 

 regular forecasts are not otherwise available. While en route to and from the area 

 the Halifax and Gander regional forecasts together with NSS provided excellent in- 

 formation. 



2. Flan of Operation 



The plan of operation as contemplated was carried out. The expedition was in the 



field a total of seventy-six days from June 22nd to September 6th with the time being 

 divided as follows: 



Underway to and from Labrador waters 13 days 



Coastwise navigation in Labrador waters 9 days 



Hamilton Inlet-Lake Melville study 23 days 



North Labrador operation 31 days 



7b days 



With the many unforeseen difficulties and uncertainties connected with such an 

 expedition, it is quite remarkable that the 1952 operation was carried out almost 

 exactly on schedule or actually a little ahead of schedule. The program of work 

 undertaken was an ambitious one for which, with the normal allowance for delays, a 

 considerable longer field season might have been expected. Its completion in exactly 

 two months can be attributed largely to the good weather that prevailed throughout 

 the summer. The projected oceanographic studies of Hamilton Inlet and especially the 

 sounding operations offshore and among the outer islands were completed under the best 

 of conditions . 



In comparison with 1951. a substantial amount of time was saved by omitting a 

 stop at St. Anthony and proceeding direct to Goose Bay and the study area. A larger 

 number of experienced personnel brought greater efficiency to the work, which con- 

 tributed materially toward the rapid completion of the task. Every advantage was 



