the first half of April and strong northerly over the northern and 

 western Grand Banks the remainder of April. Consequently many 

 bergs located along the coast in early April were driven out to sea into 

 the Labrador Current and drifted at average rates of 25 to 35 miles 

 per day from the combined force of wind and current. By mid-April 

 there were an estimated 300 bergs spread out from the coast to 300 

 miles eastward, mostly between 48° N. and 49° N. Some bergs were 

 being driven east out of the Labrador Current to the area north of 

 Flemish Cap. Due to an abrupt change in the weather pattern pro- 

 ducing strong northerly winds, bergs were driven south about 130 

 miles in 11 days with the northern half of the Banks infested with 

 bergs. By the end of April there were an estimated 275 bergs south of 

 48° N. only 20 of which remained in the main branch of the Labrador 

 Current on the east slope of the Grand Banks. An estimated 225 

 bergs drifted south of 48° N. during April for a total of 316 for the 

 year thus far. This was the greatest recorded number of bergs south 

 of 48° N. during March and April since 1945. 



Of major concern now were the 20 bergs in the Current only 200 

 miles from the Tail of the Banks. However, late April west-north- 

 westerly winds in this area drove all 20 bergs to the southeast and out 

 of the Current removing them permanently as a threat to Track B. 

 These bergs deteriorated in 12 days as they entered warmer waters 

 with a couple drifting east to 45°30' W. before perishing. Only a few 

 bergs remained in position west of the Current to reenter and continue 

 drifting toward the Tail of the Banks. From early May to early 

 June a handful of these bergs did reenter the Current and five man- 

 aged to drift south of 44° N. before deteriorating, but none drifted 

 south of 43° N. The deterioration of the many other bergs farther 

 west on the Grand Banks was comparatively slow due to abnormally 

 cold sea temperatures. While these bergs were not a threat to Track 

 C or B, many w^ere a threat to Tracks E and F which were being used 

 by ships plying Canadian ports and ships enroute to or from the St. 

 Lawrence Seaway. 



Much attention was directed to a group of about 200 bergs located 

 close ashore from Cape Bonavista to 51° N. in mid-May. As west- 

 southwesterly winds soon arrived these bergs began to move into the 

 Labrador Current and out to sea along the northern Grand Banks, 

 the leaders reaching the northeast slope by the end of June. As winds 

 averaged southwesterly in June bergs tended to drift east out of the 

 Current and failed to achieve any significant southern drift. By mid- 

 June the deterioration of bergs in this area was exceeding the supply 

 and it was obvious that only a minor threat to Track C existed. One 

 berg managed to reach 45°45' N., 47° 10' W. and a growler was re- 

 ported 70 miles further southwest in mid-July. This was the south- 

 ernmost penetration since early June and for the remainder of the 



