MARCH 



The month of ^Nlarch saw the invasion of the Grand Banks area bj' 

 bergs and the most southerly extension of the field ice for the season. At 

 the beginning of the month the field ice extended south to Cape Bona- 

 vista. From Cape Bonavista the eastern boundary of the field ice ran 

 to 50°30' X., 52°15' W., and thence northnorthwesterly. Between 

 these limits and the Newfoundland coast there were numerous bergs and 

 growlers. East and south of these limits strings and patches of sludge 

 extended to a distance of 10 to 40 miles. The inner portion of the field 

 south of Cape Freels and the entire field north of Cape Freels was closely 

 packed making navigation impossible. The outer portion of the field 

 south of Cape Freels was more loosely packed, cover ranging from three- 

 tenths to seven-tenths. By the 3d of the month the field had moved 

 further south. The eastern boundary of the field now ran from Cape 

 Spear to 47°o0' N., 52°10' W., thence to a point midway between Funk 

 Island and Fogo Island, thence due north. From the southern boundary 

 of the main field, light sludge extended 18 miles to the south. Light 

 sludge was also present along the eastern boundary of the main field, its 

 maximum eastward extension being 42 miles in the vicinity of Cape Bona- 

 vista. Cover in this light sludge surrounding the eastern and southern 

 portions of the main field ranged from seven-tenths to nine-tenths. The 

 main field consisted almost entirely of consolidated pack ice and was not 

 navigable except by specially constructed vessels. There were numerous 

 bergs and growlers throughout the field. 



As the month progressed the addition of heavier ice from the north, 

 together with the predomination of processes of ice formation over melt- 

 ing along the southern and eastern boundaries of the main field, resulted 

 in a further extension of the main field to the south and east. By the 

 14th of the month the main field had reached its maximum southerly 

 extension for the year. It then extended from Baccalieu Island to a 

 point several miles east of Cape St. Francis then southward along the 

 Newfoundland coast to a position 30 miles south of Cape Race. From 

 here it ran northeastward to 48°00' N., 50°30' W., thence northward. 

 Surrounding the pack on the east was a belt of strings and patches of 

 sludge from 15 to 25 miles wide. A belt of sludge running along the 

 southern boundary of the main field was bounded on the south by the 

 parallel of 45°40' N. The southwestern boundary extended from Cape 

 St. Mary to 45°40' N., 53°40' W. The main field was consolidated pack 

 ice containing numerous bergs and growlers along the length of its western 

 boundary. The sludge belt contained two growlers; one at 46°03' N., 

 52°28' W., the other at 46°13' N., 53°21' W. 



The middle of the month marked a turning point in the growi^h and 

 distribution of the field ice. The southern boundary of the main field 

 retreated to the north, but simultaneously a tongue of field ice broke out 

 to the east along the 100-fathom curve of the Grand Banks. At the same 

 time the western boundarv of the main field commenced to move off 



