The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-04-22

The shortest route would lie far to the
north. in sight Of the New Foundland
coast, but II would pass through the
entire region Of icebergs and fog.
THE two chief considerations that
enter into the matter OF adjusting the
lane routes are safety and time. In
order to avoid collision with each other
the east and west bound steamers keen
about fifty miles apart at that part OF
the route where danger from ice and fog
is greatest This has another advantage
in that fishing boats. tramp steamers and
many other craft likely to frequent these
regions know definitely along what track
the regular liners are passing"
Capt. Knapp says II IL question
whether the lanes should not be set still
further southwark. especially during a
season of much arctic ice, although a
more southerlv course would lengthen the
time of transit
Capt. Knapp accounts for the presence
ON 40 much ice 30 fur south az the fOrtieth
parallel in the edge OF the Gulf Stream
by a strong undercurrent which pushes
it down because the surface drift pre-
vailing there il to the eastward. The
larger the bergs and he bigger the field
the further south the ice will drift. keep
ing cold the water in which it travels.
The Captain illustrated the drift Of an
ice field from report to the photographic
Office regarding the remarkable expert
ence Of Capt. Tyson on October 1. 1871. He
and a party of nineteen others were
separated from the United States ship
Poiaris in latitude q or 7s north. just
south of Littleton Island. Being unable
TO regain the ship. they remained on the
journey. drifting more than / 500 miles.
exposed to danger from beginning to
end, They were picked up six months
later on April 80. 1872. bv the sealing
steamer Tigress near the Strait Of Belle
Island. in latitude 1888 north,
Capt. Knapp included in his statement
the following summary from treatise on
on North Atlantic ice movements which
was issued in 1890 and has been sent out
each year to all sailing interests:
The proximity Of ice is indicated by the
following described signs: Before Ice Ia
seen from deck the ice blink will often
indicate its presence. This is caused by the
reflection Of the rays of light from'sun or
moon ON clear day over the ice on the
horizon the sky IL much paler or lighter
in color and is distinguishable from that
overhead. so that a sharp lookout should
be kept for il,
On a clear day icebergs can be seen at q
lonG distance. owing 10 their brightness
and at night to their ehulgence. During
foGgy wsather they are seen through the
log Oy theT apparent DiacknesS II sucn
term can he applied.
They can also be detected by the echo
from the steam whistle or fog horn. BY
noting the time between the blast OF a
whistle and the reflected sound the distance
in feet may be found by multiplying the
seconds by $50.
The presence OF icebergs IL often made
known by the noise OF their breaking up and
falling 10 pieces. The cracking OF the
ice or the falling Of pieces into the sea
makes noise like breakers or a distant
discharge Of guns. which may often be heard
a short distance.
The absence OF swell or wave motion
in n fresh breeze is a sign there Is land
or ice on the weather side.
The appearance OF herds OF seal or hocks
Of birds far from land ia an indication Of the
proximity of ice.
The temperature Of the air falls as ice is
approached. especially on the leeward
side. but generally only at an inconside ra BILE
distance from it. The fall OF the temperature
of the sea water Ia sometimes the sign OF the
proximity OF ice. although in regions where
there ia an intermixture Of cold and warm
currents going on. as at the junction of the
Labrador current and the Gulf Stream,
the temperature Of the sea has been known
to rise as the ice is approached. II a berg
he grounded water flowing past it will be
lowered in tempera ture and this gives an
indication n OF its presence.