15 



APRIL 1935 



The month of April shows further southward advance of the ice, 

 and the widest distribution of field ice and bergs south of 49° for this 

 year. Abnormal amounts of field ice were reported constantly during 

 this month in the entire area from Flemish Cap to the Newfoundland 

 coast, and everywhere north of latitude 44° N. along the eastern edge 

 of the Grand Banks. No shipping was able to pass along Canadian 

 tracks E or F during the first part of the month, west of Flemish 

 Cap, though several vessels attempted this course. Those doing so 

 were forced to steer southerly courses as far south as latitude 45° N. 

 before the field ice opened up sufficiently to allow passage to the west- 

 ward. The southern limit of the icebergs for this period was latitude 

 41°57' N., and the eastern limit longitude 43°30' W., and the western 

 limit, Cape Race, Newfoundland. The great mass of St. Lawrence 

 ice reported during March disappeared by the first of April, leaving 

 only scattered ice fields around Sable Island. Heavy St. Lawrence 

 ice continued to be reported, however, in the vicinity of Cape ±lay. 

 During the latter part of this month the field ice opened up suffi- 

 ciently to allow vessels to pass along Canadian track E during periods 

 of good visibility in daylight hours. During darkness and in times 

 of low visibility shipping found it necessary to stop because of the 

 surrounding field ice. Track F remained impassable west of longi- 

 tude 48°20' W. during the entire month. It is estimated 177 icebergs 

 drifted south of latitude 48° N. during this month. Distribution. of 

 the ice during this month is graphically shown on the April Ice 

 Chart (fig. 6). ^ ' 



MAY 1935 



During the first part of May, with the increased use of Canadian 

 tracks E and F, increasing numbers of icebergs were reported along 

 Newfoundland coast around Cape Race and eastward to Flemish 

 Cap. This entire area was infested with scattered field ice and 

 numerous bergs and growlers as far south as latitude 45°30' N. 

 During the early part of Maj", there was a marked diminution of 

 cold current along the eastern slope of the Grand Banks and a con- 

 sequent decrease in the number of bergs moving southward by this 

 route to menace the trans-Atlantic steamer lanes. During this 

 period, also, there was a strengthening of the western branch of the 

 Labrador Current which flows southward along the coast of the 

 Avalon Peninsula through the gully around Cape Race, and this 

 current brought an increasing number of bergs southward in this 

 vicinity. By the middle of May, the eastern branch of the Labrador 

 Current had been so weakened that no bergs were drifting south of 

 latitude 4i°50' N. There were great numbers of bergs continuallv 



