the May chart closely approximates the extent of broken and scat- 

 tered pack on 30 April. 



The minimum limit of heavy field ice shown on the April chart 

 corresponds to the approximate boundary of the compact core of 

 the ice field at the end of the month. Fast ice in protected arms 

 and bays from the south to 49°40' N., was breaking out leaving 

 open water with loose drifting ice inshore. A considerable area 

 of open water was forming ofl" the Labrador coast at the eastern 

 entrance to the Strait of Belle Isle. The outer limits of the pack 

 off the Labrador coast averaged little different than in March. 



With the receding of the pack in April numerous bergs were 

 liberated and spread rapidly south over the Grand Banks. A recon- 

 naissance flight on the 5th disclosed 142 bergs mostly from 5 miles 

 inside the south edge of the pack to 10 miles outside, and all but 

 two south of 48° N. Actually only a small portion, although the 

 most prolific, of the total probable berg area was covered on this 

 survey. The maximum number of bergs south of 48° N., at that 

 time is estimated as less than 200. On the 6th 111 bergs were 

 sighted upstream between the 48th and 50th parallels. These 

 mostly were concentrated from the coast to from 50 to 75 miles off. 

 At least 60 were in a position to drift without grounding south 

 past 48° N. Although many of the bergs sighted on the 2 days 

 were relatively small, some were as much as 1,000 feet long at the 

 water line. One twin-peaked berg about 600 feet long and rising 

 260 feet out of the water as measured by radio altimeter was sighted 

 at 47°40' N., 51°45' W., on the 5th. On the 9th this berg was 

 sighted at 47°45' N., 51°45' W., with half of one of its peaks broken 

 off, and on the 22d at 46°35' N., 51°24' W., little changed in general 

 appearance but riding at a different angle. Its slow traveling 

 speed of 70 miles in 13 days indicated that it was probably bump- 

 ing along on the bottom on a course where most soundings ranged 

 from 50 to 90 fathoms. 



It is difficult to estimate with any accuracy the number of bergs 

 that drifted south of the 48th parallel during the month. The area 

 is too large and the weather too variable to cover entirely on one 

 day, or a few consecutive days, even by plane. Many of the reports 

 were of a general nature indicating a number of bergs in a general 

 area and not suitable for a statistical analysis. Many duplications 

 are bound to occur in reports from different sources andiat different 

 times and these cannot always be spotted. A total of 564 berg 

 sightings aside from general reports, were reported during April 

 in the area south of 48° N. After eliminating possible duplications 

 143 bergs were sighted south of that latitude on the 5th alone. 

 Considering the speed at which the bergs were moving and the 

 number upstream from the area it seems probable that 300 or more 



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