APRIL 



The recession of ice which began in the latter part of March con- 

 tinued in April. By 7 April the pack ice had receded to the New- 

 foundland coast at Cape St. Francis extending due north from this 

 southern limit, and there were no offshore bergs south of 49°00' N. 



Three bergs that might possibly move south toward the shipping 

 lanes were sighted on 13 April in the vicinity of 49°00' N., between 

 longitudes 51°00' W., and 51°42' W. Two of these bergs subse- 

 sequently drifted to the southwest onto the Banks, and the other 

 drifted southeast to 48°30' N., then to the northeast about 40 miles 

 where it disintegrated. No other bergs moved into a potentially 

 threatening position during April. 



Near the end of the month there were only two offshore bergs south 

 of 52°00' N., that might possibly drift to the northeast slope of the 

 Banks and south toward the shipping lanes. The pack ice had 

 receded northward and westward to Cape Freels and Fogo Island and 

 had thinned sufficiently to preclude the possibility of any westerly 

 wind driving numbers of bergs to the area northeast of the Grand 

 Banks and thereby threatening the major tracks. Any ice tlireat to 

 shipping in 1953 would now have to originate from the area north 

 of 50°00' N., in the Labroador Current. 



Passage through the Strait of Belle Isle was possible as early as 

 27 April, although a northerly wind could have filled the Strait with 

 field ice in hours. At that time about 60 percent of the strait was 

 covered with close pack ice, and the area to westward was clear. 

 The prospect of a very early opening of the Strait of Belle Isle to 

 shipping was very good. 



It is estimated that 11 bergs drifted south of 48°00' N., during the 

 month, but all 11 were in Trinity or Conception Bay or close along 

 shore of the Avalon Peninsula. Two bergs drifted south of 47°00' N., 

 both grounding on the east coast of Avalon Peninsula just south of 

 47°00' N. The limits of pack ice and field ice for April were much 

 less than average, and the limits and number of bergs were less than 

 the averages in the Ice Atlas. Distribution of ice is shown in figure 9. 

 In the Gulf of St. Lawrence the rapid disintegration of ice that 

 began in the third week of March continued in April. Observation 

 on 1 April showed that the steamer track from Cabot Strait to the 

 St. Lawrence River was clear of all ice. The St. Lawrence River 

 was reported navigable to Montreal by reinforced vessels. The only 

 ice remaining in the gulf was close pack ice in Northumberland Strait 

 north to Chaleur Bay and open pack ice from the Strait of Canso to 

 East Point, Prince Edward Island. A day later the St. Lawrence 

 River had only some light scattered ice and was therefore reported 

 navigable to all ships. This early opening date is almost without 

 precedent. By 15 April all routes and ports in the River and Gulf 

 of St. Lawrence were reported open to navigation except the Strait 



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