polkadotted with bergs," to mention a few. Even on the Banks 

 bergs were frequently too numerous to count from a plane and 

 reports as "many bergs in area" or "bergs numerous along course" 

 were received. Positions of individual bergs could not be given in 

 such cases. With so many reports of this nature it is difficult to 

 estimate the number of bergs drifting south during the season, or 

 during any of the peak months. An estimated 840 bergs drifted 

 south of the 48th parallel during 1943. 



Field ice was no more than a local problem in the northern part 

 of the Newfoundland area in June. By the 16th it was confined 

 to patches inshore north of latitude 50° N., and west of longitude 

 55° W., and in the Strait of Belle Isle. 



Bergs continued to move south over the Grand Banks in great 

 numbers in June. Reports of sightings indicate that bergs pene- 

 trated farthest south and west during that month. On the 12th 

 several bergs were sighted at latitude 42° N., longitude 52° W. 

 On the 14th one was sighted at latitude 41°55' N., longitude 

 48°50' W. Owing to fog, visibility conditions were bad over the 

 southern and eastern edges of the Banks during June, and it is 

 believed that only a small number of the bergs drifting to that area 

 were reported. Bergs probably drifted south well past latitude 

 42° N., although none were reported south of the position given 

 above. Bergs were reported west to the unusual positions of lati- 

 tude 42°17' N., longitude 55°51' W., on the 10th, and latitude 

 45°56' N., longitude 56°18' W., on the 29th. These bergs were 

 not reported a second time. Several bergs, however, were sighted 

 in positions indicating a possible drift to those points. The berg 

 crop on the Grand Banks is estimated to have reached its peak 

 between the last of May and 10th of June, an abnormally late date, 

 but in agreement with the retarded release of bergs from the south- 

 ern edge of the pack. 



Dozens of bergs drifted south past St. John's harbor in June. 

 Several grounded near the harbor entrance, and frequently broke 

 up to give dangerous growlers. 



Two vessels struck bergs in the vicinity of latitude 44° 55' N., 

 longitude 48°53' W., on 6 June. One was able to proceed under 

 its own power. The other put into a nearby port with a bent stem 

 and 30 feet of water in the fore peak. The bergs were struck at 

 night in dense fog, one of the vessels striking an underwater 

 projection. 



The concentration of bergs on the Grand Banks decreased rapidly 

 in late June and during July. By early August no bergs appeared 

 to be in a position to drift south in the eastern branch of the 

 Labrador Current, but considering the large amount of fog in that 

 area during July, a few bergs could easily have escaped detection. 

 Many bergs drifted south along the east coast of the Avalon Penin- 



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