SCIENTIFIC RESULTS 171 



March 15, 1883. the bark General Birch was found fast in pack 

 ice in Latitude 45^ N.. longitude 48° 30' W.. with bows stove in and 

 ihe vessel abandoned and full of water. 



January 2. 1884. steamship Nottiix/ Hill collided with a bero; 

 and was s(t seriouslv daina<red that she had to be abandoned in 

 latitude 46" N.. lonf^itude 46' 20' W. 



May 7. 1885. the brig Annie CJirist'/ne struck a berg on the Grand 

 Bank and foundered. 



February 17, 1890. the bark Meteor spent nine days in a large 

 ice field south of Cape Hace. The ice crushed in her bow, opened 

 her seams, and she sank. The creAv were rescued in an exhausted 

 condition. 



The majority of tlie trans-Atlantic traffic, however, continued to 

 follow courses through the ice longitudes (forty-five to fifty-tw^o 

 meridians) despite the added safety that it had brought to the 

 Cunard Line and a few others navigating farther to the south. The 

 increase in distance caused by following the safer route of about 

 100 miles has always been the incentive for the navigator to " cut 

 the corner.*" 



Noting the insui-ance of safety inherent to circunmavigating the 

 ice regions, the United States Hydrographic Office in 1891 urged 

 the several principal steamship companies to meet and discuss fur- 

 ther lane route recommendations. In 1898 the trans-Atlantic Track 

 Conference was formed with all of the established passenger com- 

 panies agreeiuL^ to the present svstem of prescribed tracks (see fig. 

 112, p. 175) ; ^ 



Lane route A runs between tlie United States and Europe. It 

 is effective o\\\y during ice seasons when bergs are numerous south 

 of the Grand Bank. The eastbound route crosses meridian 47 at 

 latitude 39" 30' N. ; the westbound route crosses meridian 47 at lati- 

 tude 40" 30' N. 



Lane 7'oufe B runs between the United States and Europe. It is 

 effective normally February 15 to August 1. unless .severe ice condi- 

 tions require lane route A. The eastbound route crosses meridian 

 47 at latitude 41" 30' N. ; the westbound route crosses meridian 47 

 at latitude 40° 30' N. 



Latie route V runs between the United States and Europe. It 

 is effective normally August 1 to February 15. The eastbound route 

 crosses meridian 50 at latitude 42° N. ; the westbound route crosses 

 meridian 50 at latitude 43° N. 



Lane route L> runs between Canada and Europe. It is effective 

 normally February 15 to April 10. The eastbound route crosses 

 meridian 50 at latitude 42° N. ; the westbound route crosses merid- 

 ian 50 at latitude 43° N. 



Lane rexite E runs between Canada and Europe. It is effective 

 normally April 10 to May 15, or until the Cape Race tracks are clear 

 of ice. The eastbound route crosses meridian 50 at latitude 45° 25' 

 N.; the westbound route crosses meridian 50 at latitude 45° 55' N. 



Lafne rovte F runs between Canada and Europe. It is effective 

 normally May 15 to July 1, or until the vStrait of Belle Isle is navi- 

 gable. After the strait becomes closed vessels may revert to route D. 

 The eastbound route crosses the meridian of Cape Race 25 miles 

 south of the latter ; the westbound route crosses the meridian of Cape 

 Race 10 miles south of the latter. 



