ICE BELLEISLE STRAIT. 63 



The ice forms in the gulf early in December, and being joined by 

 that from the river, is carried by the current toward Cabot strait. 

 The ice in the gulf forms rapidly during the cold season ; it is usually 

 in sheets a mile or two in length with passages between them, al- 

 though sometimes during a prevalence of southwesterly winds it may 

 form an, unbroken sheet for a few days, extending many miles, or 

 even from Cow head to Great Mekattina island. In the eastern part 

 of the gulf ice may be met with as late as the beginning of June. 



A portion of the ice setting eastward through the gulf appears to 

 split on cape St. George ; the main part passes into St. George bay 

 and toward Cabot strait; the other part generally sets east-northeast- 

 ward, especially in March and April. 



The ice, Avhich usually enters the gulf through Belleisle strait early 

 in January, can not at present be traced ; it may arrive off Bonne bay 

 during January or February, or it may be driven on to the northern 

 shore of the gulf. Icebergs are rarely found westward of Greenly 

 island, although some have been seen off Natashkwan point. One 

 iceberg and two pieces of ice were seen, at the end of July, 1905, 

 west-southwestward, 27 miles from Eich point. Northwesterly winds 

 close the west coast of Newfoundland, while southwesterly winds open 

 a lane of water inshore. The gulf ice usually clears off the west 

 coast of Newfoundland during the first half of May, but it may 

 remain much later. 



Small vessels from the harbors on the northern shore of the gulf 

 and the western harbors of Newfoundland, as wtU as steamers spe- 

 cially constructed for ice navigation, prosecute the seal fishery in the 

 gulf in March and April. 



Belleisle strait. — Thin sheet ice makes its appearance in the 

 strait between the 15th and 25th of December, and at about the begin- 

 ning of the year ice, several miles in extent and 3 to 10 feet in thick- 

 ness, passes between the coast of Labrador and Belle isle and drifts 

 into the strait. 



Icebergs do not arrive in any great number until after the com- 

 mencement of April, but from that time until September (or even 

 October) they are numerous and sometimes very large. The greater 

 number of the bergs enter between Belle isle and Labrador and pass 

 slowly through the strait, frequently grounding and breaking up, the 

 broken ice drifting toward the northern shore. It is stated that no 

 bergs ever come ashore on the Newfoundland side. In 1898 many 

 bergs were from 150 to 200 feet in height, and some 500 to 600 feet 

 in breadth. Some of the bergs ground, while others change their 

 positions ; no berg drawing more than 30 fathoms of water can reach 

 the western end of the strait without breaking up, and only the 

 smaller bergs pass through; these are occasionally seen as far west 

 as Greenly island, and as far south as Rich point. The bergs are 



