43 



from St, John's to Battle Harbour, -was particularly mild with light 

 winds and sea and less than normal percentage of fog. Dense fog, 

 however, was encountered just off the Labrador Coast at midnight 

 August 12, and continued until our arrival in Battle Harbour at 0925, 

 August 13, 1935. During this portion of the cruise, St. John's to Bat- 

 tle Harbour, Labrador, only four bergs were sighted and all these 

 were in scattered positions northeast from St. John's as far east as 

 longitude 51°05' W. 



As the port of Battle Harbour has not been visited by vessels of this 

 service for some time it is considered that a few brief remarks 

 relative to the facilities of the port, supplies available, and its 

 suitability for future visits might be of value for reference purposes. 

 The harbor is easy of access and vessels of 17 feet draft may enter 

 safely though local knowledge is imperative for vessels of such 

 draft. There is a custom agent, who is also radio operator, stationed 

 at the port and he will act as pilot if requested. Baine, Johnston 

 & Co., Ltd., is the only commercial agency in the port. Therefore 

 all supplies and services must be obtained from them. This company's 

 dock is substantial and has ample Avater but the harbor itself is so 

 restricted that it would be considered inadvisable for a vessel of 

 uiuch over 150 feet or possibly 165 feet in length to enter the harbor 

 proper. The small government coasting steamers, of about TOO tons, 

 which call every week or 10 days, always anchor just inside Great 

 Island about opposite Black Rock where, in normal weather, there 

 is some protection and ample maneuvering room. There is no 

 adequate chart of Battle Harbour available and though the descrip- 

 tion in the pilot books is excellent it is difficult to follow because of 

 the very large scale of the chart. Any supply of fuel oil must be 

 previously arranged for and dumped direct from the drums to the 

 tanks. No fresh stores of any kind, with the exception, of course, 

 of fresh fish, can be obtained but Baine, Johnston maintain an 

 adequate supply of salt meats, salt fish, chy stores and ample canned 

 goods, though of limited variety. Such staple vegetables as ]:)otatoes, 

 turnips, carrots, etc., can be obtained at most times in limited 

 quantities. This vessel was given to understand that the water 

 obtainable at the dock was not suitable for drinking but good water 

 could be obtained across the harbor on Great Caribou Island. Just 

 inside the harbor entrance on the right, a very small stream 

 trickles down on to the rocks beside a flimsy fish dock. There is 

 ample, water just to the left of this pier to moor the vessel alongside 

 the rocks. The lines are made fast to several iron spikes wedged 

 in the rock crevices and projecting rocks. It is advisable to use 

 breast-shores, fore and aft, to keep the turn of the bilge from striking 

 if, as sometimes happens, a slight swell is running. This portion 



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