The sun., 1895-05-10
MILD WINTER IN NEWEOUNDLAND.
Lighthouse Keepers Who Believe the Cli.
mate Is Becoming Less Rigorous.

WASHINGTON. May 6.-In view OF the severe
winter just experienced in the United States
and Europe 1t Is curious to extract from the re-
ports OF lighthouse keepers on tho coast Of New
foundland that tho weather In that region Of
the North was unusually mild. Only few
typical reports arc selected, and special atten-
ton is given to the absence of ice on tho coast.
Tho same feature characterized the ocean over
the Grand Banks, where icebergs usually appear
in large numbers soon after the middle of jan
uary, but where only n few struggling ones had
been sighted this year up to the middle of April.
That the presence Of Arctic ice has an influence
on the weather is more than likely but how far
1t modifes climate is still problem.
An interesting report comes from Belle Isle
light station. at tho northeast entrance to the
Straits OF Belle Isle, which separate Newfound-
land from Labrador The lighthouse Is darkened
from the middle OF December to the end of
March, but Its keeper. Michael Cotton remains
on the spot over winter. The light is 40 feet
above sea level. and from this lofty perch the
outlook reaches far to seaward. Keeper Cotton
says that from Dec. to Feb. there was not
enough ice in the straits to impede navigation.
Since then heavy field ice has drifted past. but
with plenty Of opon water in 1t for vessels. The
iceberg season was late in opening. and not till
Feb l3 did he see many ber2s to the eastward,
there being thirty bergs on that day. thirty-four
on the next. and forty lone on the 18th. few
OF them grounded near Belle Isle and the rest
The coldsst weather in December was 40
below zero on the 27th. In January the ther-
mometer fell below zero on the 9Th. 10th. llth,
and 2ath. the lowest being l50 on the 10Th
February was warmer. the mercury showing
less than zero on three days only-the 4th. 9TH.
heavy sea prevailed throughout February.
off the coast He ais" notes that iarse 'i num-
ber OF wild ducks and other sea birds settled
he says. is much earlier than in former years
came similar reports showing the unusual mid
ness OF the recent winter and tho absence Of
ArrtiG I ice. At TwillinEate there was no local
were many bergs sighted. March was equally
free, free Of ice; Thousands Of sea birds arrived
reports tho winter as being inrmoraoe FOR its
mildness and absence of Ice. 1t not being ex-
ceeded in this respect by any season Of the last
phenomenon the long continuance Of heavy
seas after the passage Of gales. and ventures the
5he@ry t that the heavy ground swell the effect
current meets the Arctic stream. and before
bcna absorbed, and detected by it causes a
platned by the mere action of winds.
adham Island is we'll out on the north
tj tnst SoGst The keeper Of the light at that sta
the end OF March. The latter was a stormy
tionallv mild. Another prominent point is Cape
Bonavlsta seventy miles north OF St. Johns.
The winter was very mild and tho coast was
Richard Marshall. the observer at BURN
Island. on the south coast OF Newfoundland,
u am, now 20 years old. and have a distinct
recollection Of events in this vicinity for sixty
years past. l find that the climate in that time
frost or snow now as there used to be, with the
exception OF n Few days in some winters"