ICE. 57 



hour afterwards at 5 miles to the westward the temperature was 58°, 

 and it continued between 58° and 60° for 100 miles down the west 

 coast of Newfoundland. The water in the strait is very clear. 



Ice. — Vessels crossing the Atlantic from Europe to Newfoundland 

 and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and to New York, are liable to encoun- 

 ter icebergs or extensive fields of solid compact ice, which are carried 

 southward by the Arctic current, and probably also by the current 

 setting southwestward and southward between Iceland and Green- 

 land. B. A. Chart No. 2058 shows the usual limits within which 

 both field ice and icebergs may be met with, and where it should be 

 looked out for at all seasons, but especially from April to August, 

 both inclusive. It must, however, be borne in mind that in some 

 years ice has been met outside the limits given on this chart. Ice- 

 bergs have been seen throughout the year northward of the parallel 

 of 43° north latitude, but not often so far south after August. 



The southern and eastern limits of field ice are about latitude 42° 

 north and longitude 45° west, but icebergs have been met much far- 

 ther from Newfoundland; in April, May, and June they have been 

 seen as far south as latitude 39° north, and as far east as longitude 

 38° 30' west, whilst in July and August their limits appear to be 

 about latitude 41° north, and longitude 38° west. Heavy floes cover- 

 ing extensive areas and three icebergs were seen at 120 miles off St. 

 Johns in January, 1905. There are exceptional instances on record 

 of icebergs having been seen within 60 miles of Corvo island, and 

 an iceberg has been met with in latitude 36° 10' north, longitude 39° 

 west. 



It is impossible to give, within the outer limits named, any idea 

 of where ice may be expected, and no rule can be laid down to insure 

 safe navigation, as the position and quantity of ice differ greatly in 

 different seasons. 



On the Great bank of Newfoundland bergs often move southward 

 or southeastward; those that drift westward of cape Eace usually 

 pass between Green and St. Pierre banks. The Virgin rocks are 

 generally surrounded by ice until the middle of April or beginning 

 of May. 



The North Atlantic icebergs are sometimes over 200 feet in height 

 and of considerable extent. 



The ice formed in the Arctic, borne southward by the current 

 from BaiRn bay, blocks the harbors along the coast of Labrador, and 

 the east coast of Newfoundland, commencing at the northern part of 

 Labrador in October, and reaching cape Kace about the end of Janu- 

 ary. The west and south coasts of Newfoundland are not affected by 

 this drift ice, excepting that some small portion passes into and blocks 

 the strait of Belleisle ; and that a prevalence of easterly wind between 

 December and May sometimes carries this ice westward of cape Race 



