During the 1957 season, Ice Patrol communications involved the 

 handling of 37,693 radio messages and 6,841 landline messages. Sta- 

 tistics concerning the reports received from shipping are as follows : 



Number of ice reports received from vessels 2,504 



Number of vessels furnishing ice reports 411 



Number of sea surface temperatures reported 12,030 



Number of vessel? furnishing sea surface temperatures 619 



Number of requests for special information 204 



Number of weather reports relayed to Observer, Washington 515 



Total number of vessels worked (not including relays) 619 



The percentage distribution of reporting vessels by nationality was 

 as follows : 



Nationality Percent of total 



Great Britain 27.2 



U. S. A 16.9 



Germany 10.6 



Norway 8.0 



Sweden 6.3 



Liberia 47 



Netherlands 3.6 



Panama 3.4 



Canada 2.8 



Italy 2.8 



Denmark 2.2 



France 2.2 



Greece 2.2 



Others (15 nations) 7.1 



Total 100.0 



GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE AND STRAIT OF BELLE ISLE 



Aerial ice surveys of the Gulf of St. Lawrence were conducted by the 

 Canadian Department of Transport. Capt. R. M. Carsell, Ice Infor- 

 mation Officer, performed daily flights, weather permitting, from 7 March 

 to 18 May. Ice conditions in the Gulf of St. Lawrence were reported 

 to be the most severe and prolonged since 1948 season. The first passage 

 was made on 1 April by a reinforced vessel but it was not until the middle 

 of May that the gulf steamer tracks were unencumbered by ice. 



Field ice from the Cabot Strait off Sable Island and the Nova Scotia 

 coast reached as far south as latitude 45°15' N. and coastwise traffic 

 had to pass outside the island until the middle of May. 



The Strait of Belle Isle experienced notably severe and lengthy ice 

 conditions during 1957. The strait was not free for navigation until 

 about 15 July as contrasted with the average annual opening date 

 around the middle of June. Heavy concentrations of bergs existed in 

 the strait and off the eastern entrance until the middle of August and 

 occasional bergs were reported during the remainder of the year. 



More detailed information is given in the summary of ice conditions 

 by months. 



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