]70 MARION EXPEDITION TO DAVIS STRAIT AND BAFFIN BAY 



Although collisions between ships were materially reduced after 

 the inauguration of prescribed tracks, the dangers incident to navi- 

 gating without due regard for the menace of icebergs and pack ice 

 remained unmodified and therefore accidents continued to prevail. 



It is to the credit of the Cunard Steamship Co. that in 1875 the first 

 real steps were taken to reduce the number of casualties due to drift- 

 ing Arctic ice. The Cunard Line order its shipmasters to follow 

 lane routes across the Atlantic that were laid south of the zone into 

 which northern ice normallv drifted. The westbound lane was rim 



Arctic. Mixed, and Gulf Stream Waters 



FiGi'EE 110. — The distribution »if tlie tliree main t-lasses of \vati»r iu tlie reuion of the 

 Grand Bank south of Newfoundhmd. The solid black area indicates the position of 

 the coldest water, ca. 84° F.. and the mcst liable retreat of Arctic ice. The wavy, 

 parallel lines mark the region of warmest water, the northern edse of the (iulf 

 Stream, about 60° F., and the least probability of harboring Arctic ice. The 

 stippled ana is the intermediate zone of mixed waters, about 4.'>° F., and represents 

 an area liable to contain icebergs. The marked difference in temperature between 

 the cold, icy water on the one hand and the warm oceanic water on the other 

 provides the greatest liability of fog over the mixed and the icy waters, while clear 

 weather prevails over the (Julf Stream. 



to the point, latitude 43^ X. longitude oO- AV.: and the eastbound 

 route was placed GO miles to the southward. 



A few of the other large and more jjrogressive passenger lines 

 followed the policy of the Cunard Co.. and as a result the number 

 of accidents due to ice showed an encouraging decrease from the 

 former high rate. They still, however, continued to l)e of too fre- 

 quent occurrence, since (hiring the decade isso to ISiX), according to 

 Rodman (LSDO), there were no h'ss than 14 vessels lost and over 40 

 seriously damaged oil' Xewfoundland. For example we note the 

 following: 



June 2, 1882, the steamship Ashdruhul >tnirk a berg 20 miles 

 south of Cape Race and sunk. 



