On the 21st the first berg south of latitude 48°00' N. was re- 

 ported by the S. S. Nova Scotia near 47°45' N., 49°00' W with 

 loose strings of field ice extending 15 miles to the northeast. " This 

 was the southernmost ice reported for the month. 



The second ice observation aircraft, PBIG 77255, with Com- 

 mander, International Ice Patrol, arrived in Argentia on Febru- 

 ary 28. 



During February, two aerial flights were made. It is estimated 

 that three bergs drifted south of latitude 48°00' N. Distribution 

 of field ice and icebergs is shown graphically in figure 1. 



MARCH 



What later proved to be the southernmost penetration of a berg 

 durmg the entire season was reported by the S. S. Senhora Das 

 Candets on March 3 near 47°16' N., 46°59' W by the S S 

 Idefjord on the 4th at 46°52' N., 47°25' W., and was last sighted,' 

 small and deteriorating, by the ice patrol aircraft on March 15 at 

 46°33' N., 47°35' W., having drifted south-southwestward at about 

 4 miles per day. 



A thorough aerial search of the southern and eastern slopes of 

 the Grand Banks on March 3 confirmed the absence of ice and 

 bergs in that area. A flight on the 4th, placed the field ice limits 

 of loose strmgs from Baccalieu Island to 48°35' N., 50°00' W., 

 indicating no appreciable change from the limits observed in mid- 

 February. On March 14, an air search north and northeast of 

 the Grand Banks to latitude 50°00' N. indicated that, except for 

 occasional loose strings, no ice pack of any description remained 

 m that area. Apparently the strong easterly and southeasterly 

 gales which had prevailed for the preceding week had all but 

 destroyed what little ice there was. Thus, the earlier indications 

 that the ice season would most probably be a light one were sub- 

 stantiated. 



On the 15th two flights searched the eastern edge of the Grand 

 Banks between latitudes 43°00' N. and 48°20' N.; except for the 

 berg mentioned above, the only ice sighted were several small 

 growlers m the vicinity of the Virgin Rocks (probably the rem- 

 nants of the berg reported by the S. S. Gli7nmaren on the 10th at 

 46°55' N., 49°30' W.). 



Two flights on March 20 between latitudes 47°00' N. and 52°35' 

 N. eastward to longitude 50°00' W. completed a search of the en- 

 tire ice region from the Tail of the Grand Banks to the Strait 

 of Belle Isle. Further recession of field ice limits and an absence 

 of bergs were revealed, confirming beyond any doubt the destruc- 

 tion of field ice which had been considered a potential threat to 

 the northern routes early in the month. Again easterly gales 



