to northeasterly winds prevailing during the earh' months of the 

 year. A close parallel existed in the distribution of pack ice. The 

 consolidated and heavy ice was concentrated along the coast with 

 only transient storms carrying loose pack any distance offshore. 

 Such conditions are depicted in figure 8, which shows observed ice 

 conditions on 3 March. 



On 22-23 March aerial ice observation found the edge of the Arctic 

 pack at the Labrador coast at about latitude 53° N., and accompanied 

 by a high concentration of bergs witliin the pack. Few bergs as yet 

 had drifted south of Belle isle but many were scattered throughout 

 the Strait and into the northeast arm of the Gulf of St. Lawrence 

 as far as Riche Point. Tliis latter condition is a relatively rare 

 occurrence but is due probably to the unseasonally light sea ice within 

 the Strait and its approaches permitting tiie transit of icebergs that 

 would otherwise have been blocked. 



There was little change in the field ice limits given by figure 8 from 

 March 3d through March 16th. However, between the 16th and 

 the 22d a rapid southward movement occuri'cd under the influence 

 of strong northwesterly winds. On the 23(1 heavy sea ice extended 

 as far south as Fogo Island, Newfoundland, and was being driven well 

 off the Labrador coast. The situation as it existed that day is shown 

 on figure 9. 



The conditions thus described resulted from the shift from north- 

 easterly to northwesterly winds. This was made obvious at the 

 month's end by the appearance of numerous bergs and growlers 

 eastward from Belle Isle to longitude 52° W. Two weeks earlier 

 none of these bergs were known to be east of the 55th meridian. 



On 31 March the Arctic pack had advanced to latitude 51° N., and 

 loose field ice had encroached alctiig tlie Xewloniidland coast about 

 49° N., 52° W. 



In the Gulf of St. Lawrence ice conditions (h'cliiied steadily through- 

 out March exce])t in the northeast arm where \'oung ice continued 

 to form and winter ice was cai'ried in l)y an exceptionally vigorous 

 circulation through the Strait of Belle Isle. This ice reached its peak 

 about 23 March and thereafter deteriorated steadily. 



No well developed "ice-biidge" was foj'med across Cabot Strait by 

 the bi'eakup and outflow of Gulf ice by reasons of both a light ice 

 year and pressure exerted l)y the noi'theast winds. However, Cabot 

 Strait did not escape ice-lree. With the relaxation of the northeasterly 

 flow, sufficient ice drifted into Cabot Strait to l)lock the port of 

 Sydney, N.S., during the third week of March. Shipping continued 

 through Cal)ot Strait but was hampered by patches and belts of 

 loose ice for the I'etnaindei' of the month. 



Twice during March, icebergs were sighted l)v Ocean Station Bravo 

 (United States Coast fJuard Cutter Casfh Hock), located in the middle 

 of the Lal)radoi' Sea. These bergs were trnckcd b\- that vessel within 



