INTRODUCTION 



Annually pack ice and icebergs drift southward out of Baffin Bay 

 through Davis Strait into the North Atlantic Ocean. A few bergs 

 usually appear south of Newfoundland in January and February. 

 This number increases until a maximum is usually reached in May. 

 By this tune icebergs are not uncommon at the tail of the Grand Banks 

 of Newfoundland between latitudes 42° and 43°. A few bergs may 

 drift much farther south — even to latitude 40° N. and on rare occa- 

 sions to 39° N. During June the summer sun warms the water and 

 melts the icebergs before they reach so far south. By the first of 

 July the waters south of latitude 47° N. are comparatively free of ice. 



Fog enshrouds the ice regions a large percentage of time, particularly 

 in May and June when the ice is most plentiful. The presence of 

 icebergs at night and during the periods of fog have long been a grave 

 menace to the safe navigation of the North Atlantic Ocean between 

 Europe and the United States, and Canadian ports. The records 

 show that from March 19, 1862, to April 16, 1890, there were 14 

 vessels lost and 40 vessels seriously damaged in the North Atlantic due 

 to ice. Among these were many trans-Atlantic steamers that had 

 collided with icebergs. The list undoubtedly would be much larger 

 if reports had been received of all the fishing and whaling vessels lost 

 or damaged. 



To-day to combat the ice menace to shipping in the North Atlantic 

 Ocean two methods are used. Definite lanes or routes are followed by 

 the passenger vessels. These lanes are shifted south as the ice season 

 advances in order to avoid the ice-infested waters. During the ice 

 season the International Ice Observation and Ice Patrol Service is 

 maintained to keep shipping informed with latest ice conditions. A 

 study of the record clearly indicates that the amount of ice drifting 

 south varies greatly from year to year, and that the limits of the ice 

 are much farther south in some years than in others. As naturally 

 would be expected the heavy ice years took the greatest toU in lives 

 and vessels lost and damaged. Before the inauguration of the ice 

 patrol continual efforts were made to gather reports of ice conditions, 

 and the United States Hydrographic Office gave out its information to 

 shipping as quickly as possible. After the sinking of the Titanic on 

 April 14, 1912, a popular demand arose for additional protection from 

 the icebergs. On May 15, 1912, the United States Navy detailed 

 two cruisers to establish the first ice patrol. These vessels alternated 

 on patrol in the ice regions until the ice was no longer a menace for 



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