29 



west. It was realized that a ship on the St. Lawrence track passing 

 Cape Race expects ice and is prepared to encounter it, therefore no 

 routing instructions were given to assist her to avoid all ice. She 

 was requested to submit a daily report on her progress and success 

 with the ice. She furnished the patrol with a report of ice con- 

 ditions each day thereafter, until she was past the entrance to the 

 St. LaA\'Tence (west of Cape Ra}^. In addition to this, the steam- 

 ship Rosalind, which runs between Halifax and St. Johns, submitted 

 a com.plete and clear report on. ice conditions over the Grand Banks 

 on April 23. With the aid of the reports from these two ships the 

 ice patrol was in readiness to furnish the anticipated St. Lawrence 

 steamers with a most accurate summary of ice conditions prevailing 

 ahead of them. The ice message varied somewhat from day to day. 

 Each ship upon coming within radio working distance reported to 

 the patrol for information and advice as to the best route. The 

 following is a typical message sent by the patrol: "April 28: A few 

 scattered bergs on Grand Banks. The Grand Banks field has south- 

 ern limit in 47° 20', 46° 40'. The ice in which you are most inter- 

 ested is St. Lawrence field. It extends from Cape Breton coast to 

 45° N., 54° W., thence to St. Pierre. It is loose until you reach 

 46° 30', 58° 30', when it becomes heavier, with open leads. Farther 

 inside, between Cape North and Cape Ray, it is close packed and 

 necessitates slow speed. Several inbound ships up there now pushing 

 on." I^eplies of thanks were received in almost all cases. The ships 

 receiving this special ice information were as follows: April 21, 

 steamships Marloch and Cravley; April 24, steamship Bolinghrolce; 

 April 25, steamships Canadian Squatter and Montcalm; April 26, 

 steamships Metagama, Negantic, Canada, Knockfor'na, and Athenia, 

 and French cruiser .Regidu'S; April 27, steamships Ansonia, Man- 

 chester Regime, Manchester Spirit, Concordia, Letitia, Canadian 

 Victor; April 28, steamships Sachem. Manchester Spinner, and 

 Canadian Carrier; May 1, steamship Minnedosa. 



April 28 the Seattle Spirit reported to the patrol, in lat. 43° 20' N., 

 long. 43° 02' W.. bound to Montreal, and requested ice report for 

 her route. This ship was already so far south that it was thought 

 advisable to suggest a route south of tJie large St. Lawrence ice field. 

 She was informed accordingly and told that it was the belief of the 

 ice patrol that she would make much better time than by following 

 the Cape Race route, as the other St. Lawrence ships were doing. 

 He thanked us and later asked if we would recommend Gut of Causo 

 passage, to which we answered in the negative. 

 88124—24 3 



