Flight statistics for the season are presented in the following table: 



Table 2.— Aerial Ice Observation Statistics for the 1957 Ice Season 



'Days on which possible to search visually at least 50 percent of scouting area with 25-mile spacing between legs of 

 flight plan. 

 2 Ratio (X100) of area actually searched visually to area of search pattern. 



COMMUNICATIONS 



Because of the early advent of the ice season, United States Coasi 

 Guard Radio Argentia (NIK) and United States Coast Guard Radto 

 Boston (NMF) began broadcasting of ice warnings to shipping on 28 

 January, well in advance of the arrival at Argentia of Commander, 

 International Ice Patrol and his staff. These ice warnings were broadcast 

 during all single operator periods on 444 kcs. after preliminary call on 

 500 kcs. They were sent at 15 words per minute immediately following 

 the silent periods of each single operator period. The texts of these 

 broadcasts were prepared by Commander, International Ice Patrol at 

 Woods Hole, Mass., and forwarded to the radio stations via landlines. 



Beginning 20 February and continuing through 13 August ice bulletins 

 were broadcast daily to shipping by NIK at 0048 and 1248 GMT on 155, 

 5320 and 8502 kcs. A general call to ships on 500 kcs. preceded each 

 broadcast with instructions to shift to the above operating frequencies. 

 A 1-minute period of test signals transmitted on the operating frequencies 

 facilitated receiver tuning. Each bulletin was transmitted twice, once 

 at 15 words per minute and second time at 25 words per minute. The 

 ice bulletins were also sent via the teletype net to the United States 

 Navy Hydrographic Office, Washington, D. C, the Canadian Depart- 

 ment of Transport, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the Royal Canadian Navy 

 Radio Station at Albro Lake, Nova Scotia. 



Each bulletin concluded with a request that all shipping in the ice 

 patrol area report to NIK all ice sighted, and weather conditions and 

 sea temperatures every 4 hours. The effectiveness and efficiency of the 

 International Ice Patrol were enhanced considerably by the excellent 

 response by shipping to this request. Over 57 percent of all ice reports 

 was received from commercial vessels. Merchant ships worked NIK 

 on 425, 454, 468, or 480 kcs. or their assigned frequency in the 8 mc. 

 band. NIK worked on 444 or 8650 kcs. 



