THE INAUGURATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL 



On April 14, 1912, the S. S. Titanic collided with an iceberg and 

 was sunk with a great loss of life. After the disaster a universal 

 demand arose to have the area containing ice patroled to prevent 

 further accidents of that nature. The ice area near the Tail of 

 the Banks is particularly dangerous, as it is enshrouded by fog a 

 great proportion of the time. On May 15, 1912, the United States 

 Navy detailed two cruisers to establish the patrol and alternate 

 on duty until the ice was no longer a menace. In 1913, the naval 

 vessels not being available, the President of the United States 

 directed the Secretary of the Treasury to detail two Coast Guard 

 (then revenue cutters) cutters to perform the duty. The cutters 

 Seneca and Miami were assigned, and they carried out the patrol for 

 1913. The British Government also took up the question of ice ob- 

 servation and ice patrol for the season 1913, with the result that 

 the steam trawler Scotia was chartered and fitted out for the service. 

 The work of the Scotia was confined almost entirely to ice and 

 weather observations off the coast of Newfoundland. The Scotia 

 cooperated with the cutters in so far as the conditions permitted 

 in disseminating ice information to passing vessels. On Novem- 

 ber 12, 1913, an international conference for the safety of life at 

 sea was convened at London. On January 20, 1914, an agreement 

 was signed by the principal maritime nations of the world, pro- 

 viding among other things for the inauguration of the international 

 derelict destruction, ice observation, and patrol service, to consist 

 of two vessels which should establish and maintain a continuous 

 patrol of the area of the North Atlantic Ocean most endangered 

 by ice during the ice season. The United States was asked to under- 

 take the management of this service, each of the contracting parties 

 agreeing to bear its share of the cost of the patrol in proportion 

 to the shipping tonnage. This was favorably considered by the 

 President of the United States, and on February 7, 1914, the United 

 States Coast Guard (then the Revenue Cutter Service) was directed to 

 assume tlic duty of conducting the ice patrol. The Coast Guard 

 has been carrying out the patrol and collecting data concerning the 

 movements of the ice and currents in the ice area since that time, 

 except for the years 1917 and 1918. The countries that are now a 

 party to the agreement are Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, 

 Germany, Great Britian, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and 

 the United States. 



(VI) 



