FOREWORD 



This is the annual report of the International Ice Patrol for 1953. 

 Annual reports have been published since 1913 with the exception of 

 the World War I years. Although the International Ice Patrol was 

 also suspended during the World War II years, ice conditions were 

 observed and reported. These reports contain detailed information 

 of ice conditions in the North Atlantic, ice movements and physical 

 oceanography in the Grand Banks region and the Labrador Sea, and 

 many other related subjects from year to year. For the history and 

 development of the International Ice Patrol the reader is referred to 

 the previous bulletins of this series. 



The purpose of the International Ice Observation and Ice Patrol 

 Service in the North Atlantic is to afford transatlantic shipping maxi- 

 mum protection from the danger of drifting ice. The basic problem 

 of ice drifting into the shipping lanes during the spring and early sum- 

 mer has not changed since the very fu-st ice patrol. However, new 

 methods and techniques have constantly been sought for, always with 

 the objective of providing greater safety for international shipping. 

 The introduction of oceanography studies in the 1920's has been an 

 important factor in contributing to the efficiency of ice patrol. The 

 development of radar and the use of ahcraft for ice observation have 

 also played a significant role. 



For a summary of ice conditions during 1953 the reader is referred 

 to pao-es 10-15. For a summary of the physical oceanography of the 

 Grand Banks region and the Labrador Sea in 1953, the reader is re- 

 ferred to page 45. Authors of the section of this bulletin dealing with 

 oceanography were Oceanographer Floyd M. Soule, LCDR A. J. 

 Bush, and LT J. E. Murray. Other sections of the report were written 

 by LT R. E. Lenczyk, USCG. 



XI 



