entrance during the month. Ice conditions in eastern Baffin Bay, 

 where the major berg- producing glaciers are located, were reported as 

 the worst in many years. There are two factors which probably 

 caused this situation, namely the predominance of onshore winds and 

 abnormally cold climatology in the area during this summer. On 

 the other hand, ice conditions in western Baffin Bay were estimated 

 about normal. One berg drifted south of 48° N. for an estimated total 

 of 369 bergs, or slightly below the 64-year average since 1900. 



SEPTEMBER 



Only three or four bergs managed to drift south of Belle Isle during 

 the month. A berg w^as reported on the 8th at 50°05' N., 50°O8' W., 

 and two bergs were sighted on the 21st, one at 49°40' N., 53° 18' W. 

 and the other at 51°20' N., 55°05' W. These bergs are estimated to 

 have deteriorated by the end of September with no new arrivals south 

 of 51° N. Aerial ice reconnaissance flights were made on 21 and 

 22 September for the purpose of determining ice conditions from the 

 Grand Banks to Hudson Strait entrance. The area from the Labra- 

 dor east coast to 80 miles offshore was covered with a visual effective- 

 ness of 85 percent. A total of 178 bergs, including 26 radar targets 

 which w^ere presumably bergs, were counted with the following 

 distribution : 



It was noted that north of 57° N., 85 percent of the bergs were within 

 10 miles of the coast and probably aground temporarily. South of 

 57° N. most of the bergs were over 20 miles offshore. Onshore winds 

 prevailed north of 57° N. and alongshore or offshore south of 57° N. 

 during the preceding few weeks. Only a couple of the bergs were 

 considered large enough to survive to the Grand Banks in the next 

 3 months. Belle Isle Strait and approaches were expected to be inter- 

 mitt-ently threatened as usual for the remainder of the year. No pack 

 ice was observed on the 22 September survey. For a detailed plot of 

 ice conditions 21-22 September, see figure 30. This marked the first 

 effort by the International Ice Patrol to determine ice conditions 

 along the Labrador coast each month during the offseason period. 

 Similar monthly flights are planned until next ice season. 



26 



