13 



Labrador current. When this station was finished a berg about 5 

 miles to the northwest was approached and examined. 



This one proved to be a large picturesque berg. The blue tints 

 and streaks in the ice were very striking. Peaks at two ends were 

 seen to be cracked and apparently ready to fall, but w^histle blasts 

 and the reports from several blank 6-pounder charges failed to dis- 

 lodge any ice. This berg was seen to have a distinct line of brownish 

 yellow dirt in it as noticeable and as even as the caramel icing be- 

 tween the layers "of a white cake. It was surmised that this was due 

 to dust deposited on the ice cap in Greenland at some time in the 

 past, possibly after a great volcanic eruption. The berg was very 

 stable and had an old deeply worn-out water line around it, with 

 spray glazed ice just above. 



Three large birds, different from the regular species of sea birds 

 about, were noted. These were perched on the high parts or on 

 sheltered niches far up on the berg. "When the ship got close they 

 were found to be snow}' owls that somehow had become passengers 

 on this moving block of ice and been carried far from their arctic 

 home. 



A little to the westward a station showed only 32 fathoms of water. 

 All of it was cold arctic discharge from —0.6° to —1.0° C. During 

 the remainder of the day and throughout the night the ship drifted 

 on the Bank in the rain. A gradualh^ rising wind and a falling barom- 

 eter were experienced. 



Since the 10th many reports of ice had been coming in from 

 steamers. No less than 17 reports were received on the 15th and one 

 of these was from a steamer just northeast of the Banks that reported 

 nine bergs along her course for the day. Two other vessels on 

 parallel courses, 40 and 65 miles south of her, reported altogether 11 

 bergs during the day. 



The ice had become much too voluminous to permit the listing of 

 all the separate bergs in the broadcasts, so the practice of summariz- 

 ing conditions in certain areas was resorted to. This expedient per- 

 mitted the shortening of broadcast to practicable lengths. When- 

 ever, as frequently occurred, ships would ask for special reports of 

 ice along their courses their tracks would be laid down on the ice 

 chart and messages would be immediately framed for their particular 

 needs, giving the reported locations of all the bergs near their tracks. 



On the 12th the Montcalm began the Canadian ice patrol in the 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence. A day or two later the first steamer bound 

 for the gulf and river ports was noted approaching the Banks. 



By daylight on the 17th it was blowing fresh from the north, 



but the visibility was good. A search to the east and south off the 



Bank was made during the day. Three bergs were sighted in the 



deep water. On returning to the Bank for the night the two bergs 



33382—29 2 



