tically all of the ice off the east coast of the Avalon Peninsula from 

 Cape St. Francis to Cape Race was blown inshore into a belt whose 

 outer edge at the widest point was not much more than one-half 

 mile off the headlands. Ordinarily this amount of ice would have 

 had little effect on navigation in the area, but the persistent easterly 

 wind kept the coast blocked until early 2 March, when a wind shift 

 to the north moved the ice off shore and cleared the harbor ap- 

 proaches, 



A few bergs were reported during the month in or near the pack 

 off the Labrador coast. As a rule bergs entrapped in the heavy sea 

 ice drift south with it and are liberated at the edge of the field by 

 its melting. This movement was not sufficiently advanced in Feb- 

 ruary to release any bergs from the southern edge of the pack or 

 to bring them near that edge. Rather, the expanding of the ice 

 areas off the Newfoundland coast during the period was primarily 

 due to ice forming locally and not to an influx of berg bearing ice 

 from the north. Too few reports of berg sightings are available 

 from the latter part of February to accurately establish the berg 

 limit. But by considering also conditions in early March it is 

 believed that the limits as shown on ice chart, figure 12, are very 

 nearly correct. 



March was characterized by an increased flow of heavier ice 

 from the north and a reduction in the amount of sea ice formed 

 locally. The ice throughout the pack averaged considerably heavier 

 than in February. By referring to the monthly ice chart the effect 

 of the two branches of the Labrador Current east of Newfoundland 

 are seen as reflected in the contour showing the maximum limit of 

 sea ice. The inner branch of this current hugs the east coast of 

 Newfoundland south past Cape Race thence trending westerly. 

 The outer branch upon striking the northern shoulder of the Grand 

 Banks between 47°30' N., and 48°30' N., is deflected towards the 

 east and flows south between the Banks and Flemish Cap, with 

 the core of the current paralleling and slightly off shore of the 

 100-fathom line. This current not only carries pack ice and bergs 

 to the south, but its mean temperature is considerably lower than 

 that of bordering waters, and its salinity less, both factors favoring 

 formation of sea ice locally during periods of low air temperatures. 

 Local ice forms more quickly in the inshore branch which is shallow 

 and in the lee of the land, whereas more of the heavier ice and 

 bergs drift south in the stronger flowing and deeper offshore 

 branch. Strings and patches of light pack ice were present in the 

 inshore branch past Cape Race at intervals throughout most of 

 the month. Two maxima of locally formed ice were reached, one 

 about the 6th and the other about the 23d. After the port of 

 St. John's opened on 2 March it was not blocked again, a favorable 

 wind shift moving the ice off shore the few threatening times. 

 It frequently was necessary for vessels making the port from the 



49 



