or the oceanographic vessel, and that sighted by other units. The 

 former was listed as ice sighted and the latter as ice reported. 



Reports of sea water temperatures, weather and ice reports 

 were solicited from merchant vessels with the commencement of 

 the daily broadcasts of the ice bulletin. A tabulation of reports 

 received for the entire season is as follows : 



Total number of ships sending reports 176 



Number of ice reports 64 



Total number of ships sending ice reports 28 



Number of water temperatures 1779 



Total number of ships sending water temperatures 154 



Total number of ships requesting special reports 12 



Of these ships sending reports approximately 42 percent were 

 British, and 21 percent were United States vessels. A total of 

 18 nationalities were represented by these reports. 



Maritime agencies and vessels making use of this service are 

 again urged to submit criticisms and suggestions for better service 

 to the Commandant, U. S. Coast Guard, Washington 25, D. C. 



ICE CONDITIONS 1951 



JANUARY 



The first ice report for the 1951 season was received from the 

 U. S. C. G. C. Castle Rock, which, on January 5, while enroute to 

 Ocean Weather Station "B", reported three growlers near 51°35' 

 N., 51°03' W. During the last week of the month, PBY air- 

 craft from the U. S. Coast Guard Air Detachment at Argentia, 

 Newfoundland, made preliminary ice reconnaissance flights in 

 compliance with a request from Commander, International Ice 

 Patrol, The outer limit of field ice was determined to extend 

 from 48°40' N., 53°05' W., to 50°30' N., 52°00' W. 



FEBRUARY 



By February 6, air reconnaissance revealed that the field ice 

 had drifted southward to an approximate southeast limit of 49°45' 

 N., 50°40' W. Since this indicated a normal seasonal trend, Com- 

 mander, International Ice Patrol ordered the first PBIG aircraft 

 to Argentia for ice observation. Coast Guard Aircraft PBIG 

 77249 arrived at Argentia on February 14, and the results of 

 flights made on the 17th and 18th defined the outer limits of field 

 ice from Baccalieu Island, Newfoundland, to 48°30' N., 49°15' W., 

 to 49°05' N., 49°40' W., thence northward to 52°30' N., 50°50' W. 

 The number of icebergs observed in the pack ice was very few, 

 and it was this fact that aroused the first suspicion that a less 

 than normal ice season might be in prospect. 



