C on their journey in the vicinity of longitude 45°00' W., bergs being- 

 reported approximately 25 miles north of the lane on the 30th and 31st 

 of March, and numerous bergs and growlers moved directly across this 

 track early in the month of April. Bergs locked in an ice field, when 

 not of deep draft, are strongly influenced by the drift of the field until 

 released by the break-up of the ice. Westerly winds prevailed at this 

 time, forcing the ice field out of the full strength of the Labrador Cur- 

 rent into the slow moving, warmer, mixed water to the southeastward. 

 At this point the ice field disintegrated and the bergs became subject 

 to the movement of the Atlantic Current. 



Very little ice was reported along the coast of Newfoundland and no 

 difficulties were encountered by shipping in making the port of St, 

 John's. Heavy pack ice was reported on the 13th off Cape Breton 

 but inasmuch as the St. Lawrence River was not open to shipping no 

 reports were received regarding ice conditions in the Gulf of St. Law- 

 rence. It is estimated that 22 bergs drifted south of latitude 48° N. 

 during this month. Most of these bergs w^ere of the low flat blocky 

 type similar to those calved from the Nansen Glacier. Ice conditions 

 for the month are graphicall}" shown on the March Ice Chart. (See 

 fig. 3.) 



APRIL 



Early in the month of April bergs began to drift southward to the 

 Tail of the Banks, the first of these (207) was a berg sighted on April 

 6 and relocated on the 8th, 9th, and 10th. At that time the latest 

 current map furnished by the oceanographic vessel indicated a very 

 narrow Labrador Current from latitude 45°10' N., to the Tail of the 

 Banks. The above-mentioned berg followed the current pattern more 

 closely than previous bergs this year. In explanation of the drift of 

 this berg as compared with the drift of its predecessors, it is pointed 

 out that when it arrived at the turning point of the Labrador Current, 

 latitude 45°10' N., it was the only berg that was not surrounded by 

 field ice and was in a more westerly position. It has been proved by 

 Coast Guard experience on Ice Patrol that moderate to strong winds 

 affect drifting field ice far more than isolated bergs. Although the 

 berg in question was being forced slightly to the eastward by the 

 prevailing winds which were weaker during this period, it was able 

 to remain in the current and thus continue its journey southward. 

 At the beginning of the month the southern tip of the field ice tongue 

 receded slowly northward to latitude 46°00' N., where it maintained 

 itself for a short period and then again surged southward to latitude 

 44°32' N., remaining in approximately this position to the close of 

 the month. 



The Newfoundland coast remained free of any ice. The Canadian 

 ice breaker A^. B. McLean commenced Ice Patrol in the Gulf of St. Law- 

 rence on April 9, 1939. Strings and patches of field ice were reported 



