Avas sent out, but returned with negative results because of fog. Most 

 of the ice observed during the first week of April was concentrated 

 close inshore and many of the bergs were stranded in the numerous 

 bays and inlets of the east coast of Newfoundland from Cape St. 

 Francis north to Cape Freels. 



Two flights on 13 April revealed a gradual movement of bergs and 

 growlers offshore, with one berg drifting as far east as 49°20' W. It 

 was thought at this time that these bergs were the forerunners of the 

 large number of bergs expected for this season. Ship reports were 

 noticeably few in number; no doubt the result of poor visibility in 

 the search area. One vessel reported a berg at 47°09' N., 51°20' W., 

 on the 16th of April and it was thought this berg was one of two 

 previously reported by ice-observation aircraft on the 13th and 14th 

 east of this position. The drift as indicated by these reports was west 

 and apparently this was the explanation of why no bergs were round- 

 ing the shoulder of the Grand Banks in the vicinity of latitude, 47° N. 



On the 16th Cape Kace reported a berg at 46°35' N., 52°54' W., 

 which was the first known berg to drift to this vicinity during this 

 season. The next complete search of the area was accomplished by 

 flights on the 22d of April. There was little over-all change, but by 

 this time a few bergs were beginning to spread out along the 100- 

 fathom curve north of 48° N. Those bergs which wei-e sighted in 

 the vicinity of 47°09'' N., 51°20' W., were never sighted or reported 

 again, and it is presumed that they disintegrated within 6 days of the 

 last report. Between 26 April and 30 April, three more flights were 

 made in the area. By 30 April there were no bergs south of 48° N., 

 east of 52° W. How^ever, several bergs were drifting south along the 

 east coast of the Avalon Peninsula. The one in the vicinity of Cape 

 Race disintegrated into several growlers by the 26th. 



The Esso Manhattan reported a radar target (possible berg) at 

 40°45' N., 48°09' W., on 28 April. That such a target could be an 

 iceberg seemed doubtful since this position was so far removed from 

 any ice previously sighted or reported. However, to make sure that 

 no iceberg had drifted south undetected and was threatening trans- 

 atlantic shipping, a plane was dispatched to the vicinity of the re- 

 port that same date. After a thorough search of the area and after 

 identifying every radar target as other than ice, the plane returned 

 to the base with negative results. No further reports from ships were 

 received to confirm the presence of an iceberg in this region and it 

 was concluded that the reported radar target had been a ship. 



Beginning with the end of March and continuing through April, 

 the southern limits of the drift ice retreated northw^ard. By the 22d 

 of the month the limits of the drift ice Avere from Cape Bonavista 

 to 49°50' N., 53°00' W., to 49°40' N., 52°10' W., then curving to the 

 northwest. Since this ice was no longer a menace, potential or other- 



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