FOREWORD 



In December 1941, based on then-existing war conditions and dis- 

 ruption to normal maritime commerce and practices in the North 

 Atlantic, the President approved the recommendation of the Com- 

 mandant of the Coast Guard for suspension of the International 

 Service of Ice Observation and Ice Patrol. With the passing of these 

 extraordinary conditions the International Ice Patrol was resumed 

 early in 1946. This does not mean that ice conditions were not ob- 

 served or reported during the seasons of 1942-45, but the methods 

 used and the extent of the area involved were altered to fit the naval 

 needs and facilities of nations at war. In this report of the Inter- 

 national Service of Ice Observation and Ice Patrol for the 1946 

 season a description of ice conditions and a tabulation of collected 

 ice information are made available for the war years in as near 

 the usual form as the sources and peculiar circumstances surround- 

 ing its collection permit. 



The section of this report dealing with ice conditions in 1942 was 

 prepared by Lieutenant Commander Clifford A. Barnes, U.S.C.G.R., 

 the sections on ice conditions in 1943 and 1944 were prepared by 

 Lieutenant Commander Barnes and Lieutenant Ernest R. Challen- 

 der, U.S.C.G.R., the section on ice conditions in 1945 was prepared 

 by Lieutenant Challender, the section on ice conditions in 1946 was 

 prepared by Commander Floyd M. Soule, U.S.C.G.R., and Lieuten- 

 ant Challender, and the section on Radar Detection of Floating Ice 

 was prepared by Lieutenant Garth H. Read, U.S.C.G. 



(Ill) 



