8 INTERNATIONAL ICE OBSERVATION AND ICE PATROL SERVICE. 



After passing Nantucket New South Shoal lightship, the Seneca 

 was accompanied by a flock of herring gulls and kittiwakes, and by 

 a few dovelties. This flock left us as we neared the Great Bank, on 

 the 14th, and a few muires then appeared. On the 15th, when on 

 the southern portion of the Great Bank, which we found to be the 

 best fishing ground last j^ear, birds became more numerous and manv 

 herring gulls, kittiwakes, and great black-back gulls were seen. With 

 the exception of these flocks, only scattered birds were seen occasionally 

 until the 19th. This was probably due to the fact that the wind blew 

 with gale force from the 14th to the 18th, inclusive. On the 19th, 

 when we had reached our northernmost position, lat. 46° 50' N., long. 

 48° 30' W., the weather had moderated to such an extent that a large 

 flock of birds, consisting of greater shearwaters, sooty shearwaters, 

 great black-back and glaucous gulls, and kittiwakes, joined the ship 

 and accompanied us to the Gulf Stream, in lat. 44° 50' N., long. 46° 55' 

 W. Gales and rough seas prevailed during the remainder of our 

 stay on and near the Great Bank, from the 21st to the 24th, inclusive, 

 ana only a few scattered kittiwakes trailed the ship at times. Three 

 greater shearwaters were observed as Ave cleared the Bank on the 

 24th, a NW. gale and rough sea prevailing at the time. 



On February 9, the steamship Aitinat reported ice fields in the area 

 between lats. 48° 10' N. and 45° 50' N. and longs. 47° 48' W. and 

 50° 00' W. This was the first report of ice received this season. On 

 the 10th, St. Johns Radio Station broadcasted the same information, 

 and also reported that there was a small field north of Sable Island. 

 On the 12th, the steamship Farahy reported field ice far to the north, 

 extending from lat. 48° 02' N., long. 48° 24' W. to lat. 47° 20' N., 

 long. 48° 46' W. On the 13th, the steamship Bilhster sighted field 

 ice between lat. 47° 00' N., long. 49° 30' W. and lat. 46° 20' N., long. 

 50° 20' W. On the 14th, the steamship Empire Arrow saw field ice 

 in lat. 46° 00' N., long. 47° 50' W., and on the same date, the steam- 

 ship Dighy, while coasting off St. Johns, Newfoundland, reported field 

 ice extending 11 miles and containing one berg in lat. 46° 59' N., long. 

 52° 44' W. She also reported two other bergs in lat. 47° 16' N., long. 

 52° 28' W. These were the only bergs reported during the month of 

 February. 



Commencing with Februarj^ 14, the Seneca every four houi-s broad- 

 casted requests for ice information and temperatm-es of sea water. 

 On the 15th the steamship Dighy reported having passed clear of the 

 ice field, in lat. 46° 06' N., long. 50° 15' W. On the same date the 

 steamship Pioneer reported an ice field extending from lat. 46° 25' 

 N., long. 47° 28' W., to lat. 45° 30^ N., long. 48° 50' W. On the 18th, 

 the steamship Sachem reported having entered an ice field in lat. 

 45° 45' N., long. 51° 50' W., while standing a course of N. 43° W., 

 true. As no fiu-ther reports were received from her, it is supposed 

 that the field must have been of limited extent. On the 24th, the 

 steamship Gallileo reported slob ice as extending for 60 miles hi an 

 ESE. direction from Halifax. 



Ice information was supplied to steamships as follows: Manchester 

 and Severance, February 15; Springfield, Februar}- 18; WJieeling 

 Mold and Gvstavsholm, February 23; La Lorraim and Hoxie, Feb- 

 ruary 25. On Februar}' 17, the steamship Merry Mount requested 

 instructions by radio for the treatment oi a seaman suffering from 

 ah ulcerated tooth, and the Seneca's surgeon prescribed the necessary 



