south or southeast to avoid patches of the heavier ice but this 

 was not difficult. 



The advance of ice in the outer branch of the Labrador Cur- 

 rent, noticeable in February was pronounced in March. Figure 

 19 shows the outer edge of the relatively heavy ice as observed 

 for various dates from 10 March to 5 April. The tendency of this 

 ice to push east on striking the shoulder of the Banks then south 

 between the Banks and Flemish Cap is apparent. The movement 

 is irregular owing to the variable forces of wind and current 

 alnd to the melting of the ice. Between the 10th and 13th the 

 southeastern tip of the pack advanced at approximately 35 miles 

 a day, then slowed to 20 miles a day for the next 3 days. From 

 the 16th to the 26th the net gain was 35 miles, although at times, 

 as shown for the 22d, the ice was beyond the limits of the 26th, 

 This apparent lull, attributed in part to melting and to contrary 

 winds, was followed by an advance of 145 miles during the next 

 10-day period. It is believed that most of this latter distance was 

 covered from 28 to 31 March, during the height of strong north- 

 erly winds. Ship reports of the 1st and 2d of April in which ice 

 was encountered south to 44°50' N., 48°25' W., support this con- 

 tention. The ice in this outer branch of the Labrador Current 

 was mostly compact and heavy with individual cakes up to 70 

 feet in diameter. Although leads occasionally do open across the 

 long peninsulas protruding from the main field, this cannot be 

 relied upon. 



A report was received of pack extending seaward to 49° 40' N., 

 47°00' W., on 20 March. This ice is represented as an isolated 

 patch on the monthly chart as careful aerial surveys indicated 

 that the eastern edge of the main field did not approach that posi- 

 tion. Further north the maximum limit of sea ice off the Labrador 

 coast lay west of the February limit until reaching the 55th 

 parallel. 



As in the St. Lawrence area heavy ice persistently was present 

 in a greater area in March than in any other month. The extent, 

 a minimum at the beginning, increased throughout the month. 



Icebergs were far inside the southern limits of the field early in 

 March, but were being released from the southeastern extremity 

 before the end of the month. Most of the bergs drifted with the 

 heavy pack in the offshore branch of the Labrador Current, sea- 

 ward of the 100-fathom line. On 10 March all bergs observed 

 were north of 49° 30' N., and west of 52^20' W., with many in the 

 general vicinity of 50° N., 53° W. The most southeasterly berg 

 sighted was at 49°38' N., 52°37' W. On the 13th and 16th bergs 

 were scattered southeast to the respective extreme positions of 

 48°16' N., 50°10' W., and 47°45' N., 47°41' W. From the above, 

 and assuming that the bergs traveled in a direct course they aver- 



50 



