25 



to more scattering of the fields and possibly less ice than usual on the 

 American side. The dates of appearance and the persistence of west 

 ice at Upernivik, Vester Eiland, and Holsteinsborg have been tabu- 

 lated for the period 1911-40 and compared with the number of icebergs 

 recorded past Newfoimdland. The character of the records, however, 

 obtained from the Beretninger vedvorende Gr0nlands Styrelse 

 (Annual reports of the Greenland Styrelse) are difficult to classify 

 for comparison, and require further study before conclusions can be 

 reached. The Ice Patrol should test this possible relationship further 

 by arrangements for a standard and more adaptable form of recording 

 west-ice conditions along the Greenland coast. 



Annual variations in the extent of the icefields off the Labrador 

 coast may be learned from the reports of the catch of the sealing fleet 

 out of St. Johns, Newfoundland. This survey coming from the sea 

 and in the pack February and March each year, and closer to the Ice 

 Patrol's area, may have short range forecasting promise. The 

 abmidance of seals and the catch is believed to be largely dependent 

 on the extent and pattern of the icefields; more seals more pack and 

 vice versa. The openness of the pack is also a modifying feature. 

 Early April 1940, for example, it was known that a very poor sealing 

 season had ended, but it was a month later before the lightest iceberg 

 year on record was realized. 



Further study to learn the extent of suspected variations in the 

 iceberg production of the West Greenland glaciers is indicated. 

 Measm'ements on the rate of flow of the many glaciers is considered 

 impracticable but it might be worth while to attempt a count of bergs 

 similar to 1940. It was noted as a result of this year's ice observation 

 that near each one of five of the principal iceberg producing glaciers 

 of West Greenland, there lies a settlement, strategically located to 

 observe the approximate number of sizeable bergs drifting seawards, 

 When inquiries were made regarding the approximate number little 

 information was available. The larger settlements are administered 

 by a Government official, the kolonibestyrer (leader) and the smaUer 

 places, the udstedbestyrer. As a test of the value of an annual census 

 of icebergs calved and the settlements from which a station observer 

 might maintain a log, the following is suggested: 



p,. . _ Observation station 



T *, , fJacobshavn settlement. 



Jacobshavn <_, ,, 



[Godhavn. 



Karajaks (Lille & Stor) Umanak settlement. 



um^mi;)^:;:::::::::::"::::::::"::::::::::}N"gatsiak. 



Upernivik Tugssuak. 



Giesecke Kuh. 



Hayes Devils Thumb. 



