21 



in 1940 with respect to East Greenland ice, where in southwest Green- 

 land it was the worst year since 1898, with the season notably late. 

 Icebergs were scattered from Cape Farewell northward to Sukkertop- 

 pen and pack ice filled the mouth of Godthaab Fiord. (See fig. 14.) 

 In 1940 the storis did not appear at Ivigtut until June 8, but instead 

 of becoming dissipated within a few weeks or a month, it hampered 

 shipphig into Arsuk Fiord for nearly 3 months or until the 24th of 

 August. It reached Godthaab in large fields on August 12; filled the 

 lower fiord near the settlement, and spread even farther north along 

 the coast, remaining until the 21st of August. In normal years storis 

 disappears north of Julianehaab by July, but this year Julianehaab 

 was blockaded until August 22. The Northland maneuvered for 6 days 

 off the entrance to Julianehaab Fiord, endeavoring to force a passage 

 to the settlement, and it was not until August 20 that the field scattered 

 sufficiently to let us through. 



Ice conditions in East Greenland this year are milaiown except for 

 the month of August, but a considerable quantity of ice in the East 

 Greenland sector was indicated on the basis of the large masses which 

 ultimately appeared around Cape Farewell and up the west coast. 

 On the Northland's voyage to and from Angmagssalik, August 21- 

 September 2, 1940, the pack ice was very scattered, only a few narrow 

 tongues extended out from the coast a distance of 20 miles or more. 

 A belt 5 miles in width was pressed against the coast south of Ang- 

 magssalik, while farther offshore the field was large, extending south 

 of the 65th parallel. Figure 13 indicates the distribution of the pack 

 ice for August, north of Angmagssalik as reported by the Norwegian 

 oil screw Ringsel. It was stated by those experienced in East Green- 

 land that the pack was about normal in width north of Scoresby 

 Sound but wider than usual in Denmark Strait. Figure 13 shows also 

 the icebergs sighted which, similar to the west coast, were more plenti- 

 ful within a 15-mile coastal belt, few being sighted farther offshore. 

 A total of 764 beigs were counted. 



In the earlier part of this chapter, emphasis was laid on the puzzling 

 wide variations in the annual volume and limits of Arctic drift ice 

 which occur in Greenland as well as with the International Ice Patrol 

 off the Grand Banks. The eft'ect of such fluctuations on economic 

 programs and commercial sea trade challenges us to strive for clearer 

 concepts and practical solutions. Certain aspects of the Ice Patrol 

 problems have been suggested as a result of this year's Coast Guard 

 ice observation of Baffin Bay. A definite notion of the rate of trans- 

 port of the ice from the region of production to the North Atlantic 

 steamship lanes, and some of the influences to which it is subjected 

 during the journey are reviewed. First, attention is called to the 

 point that since icebergs undergo a definite seasonal release and im- 

 prisonment at the fiords, July to December, such a seasonal cycle of 



