The Ely miner., 1911-09-29

I the arctic, they ind their way INTO
the Labrador current and begin their
| journey to the southwark. 1t Is not
an unobstructed drift, but one attend
| eG with many stoppages and mishaps.
| Many ground in the arctic basin and
break up there; others reach the
shores of Labrador. where from one
end to the other they continually
| ground and float; some break up and
disappear entirely, while others get
| safely past and reach the Grand bank.
| The whole coast Of Labrador is cut
up by numerous islands, bays and
headlands. shoals and reefs, which
makes the journey of all drift a long
one. and adds greatly to the destruc-
tion of the bergs by stoppages and
by causing them to break up.
"It is the greatly increased surface
which the fragments expose to the
that accounts for the rapid disappear
ance of the ice after 1t has reached
the northern edge Of the warm cir
culatory drift currents of the north
Atlantic ocean. If these processes OF
disintegration did not go on and large
bergs should remain intact several
years might elapse before they would
melt and they would ever be present
in the trans-oceanic routes. In fact.
instances are on record in which
masses Of ice. escaping the influences
of swift destruction or possessing
capability for resisting them, have. by
phenomenal drifts. passed into Euro
pean water and been encountered
from time to time throughout that
portion of the ocean which stretches
from the British isles to the Azores.
"They assume the greatest variety
of shapes. from those approximating
to some regular geometric figure to
others crowned with spires. domes.
minarets and peaks, while others still
are pierced by deep indentations or
caves. Small cataracts precipitate
themselves from the large bergs.
while from many icicles hang In clus-
ters from every projecting edge. They
frequently have outlying spurs under
water, which are as dangerous as any
other sunken reefs. For this reason
IL is advisable for vessels tc give them
wide berth, for there are a number
Of cases on record where vessels were
seriously damaged by striking when
apparently clear of the berg. 1t is
generally best for vessels to go to
windward of them, because. the dis
integ-ated fragments will have tend
ency to drift to leeward, while open
water will be found to windward
Serious injury has occurred to vessels
through the breaking up or capsizing
Of icebergs."
Collisions Have Decreased.
A few years ago collisions of steam.
ships with icebergs were reported fire.
quently. That such accidents have
diminished Is due not to a decrease
In the number of bergs-they are
plentiful as ever-but to the remark
able development of the science of
photography The wireless also plays
an important role in relaying from
ship to ship information regarding
distractions of all types. whether they
be fugitive buoys. derelicts. floating
spars or dangerous bergs. Hanging
on tho wall of the photographic Of
fee in New York is pilot chart,
with red symbols marking the posi-
tions of bergs and other distractions
as last reported Nearly every day
the Office is visited by shipmasters
and junior officers, who either bring
reports of drifting objects they have
seen or seek the latest news from the
transatlantic lanes. They examine
the charts. copy the daily memoran-
dunn of obstructions issued by the
Washington Office, as well as the
daily log of the Maritime Exchange.
and receive the weekly photographic
bulletin, which tells all about drift
ing objects and gives other facts Of
interest to seamen All of this in
/ formation is given without charge
J and the office has no secrets. Its OBJ
| ject is to aid the men who are re-
sponsible for the safety Of valuable
ships and thousands of passengers
AS consequence, liners master,
when he leaves port, knows approx
| mately what he is likely to encounter
! on his voyage. He is more than likely
to add to his stock of information
through wireless conversation with
; old friends of the high seas. His
chief concern is fog. Icebergs, unless
! they are submerged, are not regard
/ ed with awe, except In foggy weather,
for rarely does a ship strike one
when the atmosphere is clear. The
: record of collisions with ice proves