The Raymer enterprise., 1913-09-04

and the icebergs OF the North
Atlantic steamship lanes.
which has just been brought to an
end. has resulted In contributions OF
great value to the mariners store OF
knowledge about ice movements and
their dangers to the great fleet con-
stantly passing between Europe and
America. The Ice patrol itself was a
direct result OF the tremendous shock
suffered by both Europe and America
In the loss Of the giant liner Titanic
a year ago last April. when more than
l.GO0 persons were drowned when that
vessel collided with an iceberg In the
same waters searched this year BY the
revenue cutters.
The vessels engaged In the Ice pa
troll we're the cutters Seneca and MI.
ami. commanded by Capts. c. B. John.
Ston and A. S. Gamble respectively.
Captain Johnston was the senior Off.
Ger In command OF the ice patrol. and
I'm his final report are conclusions
which ought to form the basis OF study
by all commanders and navlgatOrs OF
steam vessels in the North Atlantic
ship lanes. The Titanic disaster
brought TO every ocean traveller, with
shocking vividness. the reality OF the
danger to the transatlantic fast liners
from the presence OF Ice in their
tracks during the spring months, To
all passengers on such steamers Cap
tain Johnston's report may serve well
AZ an index to the measure OF care
and precaution necessary for any ship
In the vicinity OF the annual path OF
lcebergs. and II has therefore a definite
value for the travelling public as well
AZ to mariners,
Make Daily Reports.
The mode OF procedure In the Ice pa.
troll maintained by the Seneca and the
Miami was for the two vessels to take
turns In securing the ocean for Ice In
the waters bounded by the tiftieth and
fortyfourth parallels north latitude.
and the forticth and forty.ninth merid
ians OF west longitude All passing
vessels reported by wireless TO the pa
troll vessels any ice they had en-
cOuntered In those waters. while the
vessels In turns transmitted to the
naval photographic Office nj New York
daily reports OF all ice either seen by
them or reported to them by other yes.
sells. In short time practically every
berg In those waters had been located
Identified and It's general movements
ascertalned. Thereafter the task OF
OF the patrol vessels was to check up
on the known bergs at frequent inter.
walls. and by observation OF their po-
sI'ions at each sighting. to learn the
rate and direction OF their movements
II Is this secondary phase Of the patrol
that yielded the general observations
Of greatest permanent value to mari
time interests.
1t was found that the icebergs were
brought south along the coast OF New.
foundland and the Grand Banks BY
what Is known as the Labrador cur.
rent The southerly drift was found
10 vary from practically nothing to as
high as 90 miles day, depending
upon wind and tide In Its fluctuations
At tho junction OF the Labrador cur.
rent, accelerated by the flow from the
Gulf OF st. Lawrence. and the north.
ward moving Gulf stream from tho
Gulf Of Mexico the direction OF the
drift OF lcebergs Is changed from
southerly to north and east The Gulf
stream is more powerful than the Lab
rador current and dominates II, taking
along In It's course whatever Ice may
be brought into Il. This change usually
occurs In April and May, and those
months become then the period OF
greatest danger to transatlantic liners
from ice The tracks OF the liners
hardly touch the Labrador current. brt
do lie along the path OF the Gulf
stream. The area OF tho ice danger Is
Mt the same time restricted. because
bergs coming into the Gulf stream do
not last long In tho warm water Of
that current