58 GENERAL EEMAEKS. 



along- the south coast of Newfoundland. It occasionally reaches St. 

 Pierre, but no ice was sighted from that island after the middle of 

 April during the seven years 1889-1895. With easterly winds the field 

 ice and icebergs may block the harbors on the east coast of Newfound- 

 land until June or even July, but they are usually open in May ; in 

 fact, icebergs, not only those derived from Baffin bay, but also those 

 from eastward of Greenland, may be met with at all seasons of the 

 year. Six icebergs were passed at 15 miles eastward of cape Bauld 

 at the beginning of August, 1905. 



The first of the floating ice to make its appearance upon the coast 

 is what is known as the '' white " or '' northern slob." This white 

 slob is the surface ice which is formed to the north and east of Labra- 

 dor during the early winter months, and is crushed up by the wind 

 and sea and built upon as it journeys south. It is usually found in 

 masses several miles in extent and varying from 3 to 10 feet in 

 thickness. 



The main bod}' of the slob is brought down from the north b}^ the 

 Labrador current and continues along the coast, filling the harbors 

 and bays of Newfomidland as it advances. From the lookout of 

 Aillik, on the coast of Labrador, in latitude 55°, the northern slob is 

 observed each year about the 10th of December as a narrow stream, 

 5 to 8 miles in width, moving southward. This body gradually widens 

 until January, and it may then be 12 to 15 miles in width. About the 

 first or second week in January the sheet ice begins to take the place 

 of the slob and continues to flow southward in the same manner. It is 

 more dense and solid than the slob, but not so thick, except in places 

 where rafting has taken place, and here it may stand from 5 to 20 

 feet above the water. Isolated bergs are also seen about this time. 



The arrival of the slob at St. Johns may be expected from January 

 15 to February 1. It is often seen 5 to 15 miles distant, drifting to the 

 south, for days before it closes in to the shore or obstructs navigation, 

 and vessels ill adapted for contending with ice have frequently 

 reached St. Johns by rounding the southern tail and approaching 

 cape Hace from the southwest. The breadth of the early slob passing 

 cape Spear varies in January from 40 to 60 miles, but it rapidly in- 

 creases. For February the average is 80 to 130 miles. This, however, 

 is far exceeded in seasons of heav}^ sheds, when a breadth of 250 to 

 300 miles is often attained, carrying the ice as far east as 45° west. 

 This extreme breadth is, however, by no means uniform, as the ice, 

 having little depth, is blown along by the wind, and the eastern edge 

 of the main body is deejjly indented hj bays and prolonged by capes. 

 The main body of the ice itself is intersected by leads and open areas, 

 and is compact or loose according to the direction of the wind, easterly 

 winds (northeast to south-southeast) serving to unite the ice and to 



