No bergs were reported in the Ice-Patrol area (i. e. south of 49° 

 N.) during June. Numerous bergs were reported in the Straits of 

 Belle Isle to Cape Norman, and scattered bergs along track G for 

 a distance of 220 miles to the northeast of Belle Isle. 



The international ice observation was discontinued on June 9, 

 1936. From June 18 to July 1, however, the United States Coast 

 Guard cutter General Greene, the oceanograpliic vessel of the Inter- 

 national Ice-Patrol force, made a short oceanographic cruise along 

 the Labrador coast north to South Wolf Island and thence to the 

 southwest coast of Greenland between Cape Farewell and Arsuk 

 Fjord (Ivigtut). Ice conditions in these regions were extremely 

 light for any season, but remarkably so for the month of June; no 

 field ice at all along the Labrador coast and only scattered pieces 

 around Cape Farewell. Cape Farewell, which is usually inaccessible 

 due to pack ice and bergs, was easily attained this year. Bergs were 

 less prevalent than normally. (See fig. 6.) 



SUMMARY 



The season of 1936 was an extremely hght ice year. The only 

 reports of field ice for the year were in March, and this formed no 

 obstruction to trans-Atlantic traffic. Only 22 bergs drifted south of 

 latitude 48° N., this year, and no bergs south of latitude 45° N. 

 Tracks A, B, C, and D were free of ice the entire season except for 

 one berg which crossed the track D, which runs to the north of Ire- 

 land, on May 11, in longitude 45°40' W. Canadian tracks E and 

 F were open the whole season, although scattered bergs were present 

 along these routes during April and May. The forecast of the num- 

 ber of icebergs south of 48° N., based on the formula described in 

 Coast Guard Bulletin 19, Part 3, pages 180-189, was 65 icebergs. 

 The number south of this latitude for an average season is 419. 

 The estimated count for 1936 was 22 icebergs as stated above. No 

 known loss of life resulted directly from ice conditions, and no vessel 

 struck an iceberg during the season. 



COMMUNICATIONS 



The great importance of dependable radio communication to the Ice 

 Patrol is apparent. The conduct of the patrol, as now organized, 

 would be impossible without it. Through radio the patrol vessel 

 becomes a mobile clearing house for all ice, hydrographic, and mete- 

 orological information over the area between latitudes 39° N., and 

 49° N., and longitudes 42° W., and 60° W., through which all the North 

 Atlantic tracks pass (except Belle Isle route, track G). From this 

 nerve center the invisible threads of radio waves stretch out to every 

 corner of the area of about 475,200 square nautical miles, making pos- 

 sible the constant exchange and dissemination of vital information. 



