1881 Season
No mention of ice on Channel – Cape Ray area of Cabot Strait. (GR p.33)
No ice of any kind at La Poile this year. (GR p.92)
No ice at Burgeo this year. (GR p.94)
Nov 27 Local ice formed Bonne Bay. (GR p.85)
Dec 29 Local & Other News; – The brigt “Gaven” sailed from Murray Harbour on the 29th. – The barque “Jouanol” which sailed from Georgetown on the 1st inst was damaged by ice and put into Arichat leaking ??? and she now lies sunk at Arichat wharf. (Pat 6 Jan 1880 p2#6)
Jan 1 Local ice formed Bay of Islands. (GR p.88)
Jan 5 Arichat, the barque “Journal” from Georgetown, PEI, bound to Baltimore which passing through the Strait collided with ice. A leak was discovered off Madam Island when a pilot was taken on board, and the vessel brought into this port last evening. Before she could be beached she filled with water, rolled over and now lies bottom up in the Channel off Lenoir’s wharf. (MH 05/01/1881 p3 #6)
Jan 16 Northern ice arrived Bonne Bay. (GR p.85)
Feb 11 SS “Newfoundland” ,arrived here today from St. John’s, NF reports having passed through 40 miles of scattered Gulf ice off Scatterie. (NYMR)
Feb 11 Halifax, arrived, steamer “Newfoundland,” from St. John’s, NF, reports passed through 40 miles of scattered Gulf ice off Scatterie. (MH 11/02/1881 p3 #6)
Feb 12 Halifax, arrived, steamer “Scandinavian,” from Glasgow, reports had heavy weather and passed field ice 30 miles south of Whitehead. (MH 12/02/1881 p3 #6)
Feb 17 “George Shattuck” hence arrived at St. Pierre Miq., having been 3 hours in the ice. (MH 17/02/1881 p3 #1)
Feb 22 SS “George Shattuck”, arrived here from St. Pierre Miquelon, reports very much ice SE off Scatterie and extending a long distance, had experienced very heavy weather. (LL)
Feb 23 “George Shattuck” which arrived yesterday from St. Pierre, Miq., reports Gulf ice extending 80 miles south of Scatterie, and the steamer was six hours skirting the outside edge of it. Also that he never saw the ice so far to the south at this time of the year. (MH 23/02/1881 p3#1)
Feb 26 Halifax, arrived, steamer “Newfoundland” from St. John’s Nfld, reports had NW gales during the passage, and passed through a quantity of slob ice. (MH 28/02/1881 p3 #5)
Feb 27 Halifax, arrived, Sun Feb 27 steamer “Texas,” from Liverpool, GB, reports on Saturday 100 miles East of Halifax, and 30 miles off the coast, fell in with large quantities of field ice some what loose. (MH 28/02/1881 p3 #5)
Feb 28 SS “Austrian” from Glasgow, which arrived at Halifax reported that from 2 pm of the previous day until 3 am the next morning , she passed 10 miles of ice, and also passed through large fields of slab ice. (LL)
Feb 28 Halifax, arrived, steamer “Austrian” from Glasgow, reports passed 100 miles ice 2 pm yesterday until 8 am this morning, and passed through large fields of slob ice. (MH 01/03/1881 p3 #6)
Mar 11 Halifax, arrived, steamer “Newfoundland,” from St. John’s, NF, reports yesterday passed through 90 miles of very heavy ice and was off the harbor four hours detained by fog and heavy weather. (MH 12/03/1881 p3 #6)
Mar 21 Halifax, arrived, steamer “George Shattuck” from St. Pierre, Miq., reports no ice. (MH 22/03/1881)
Mar 25 All points of the coast from the SW point of Anticosti to Father point report very little ice. (LL)
Mar 27 SS “Northern Light” drifting in the ice in the Straits of the Northumberland for nearly a fortnight, arrived at Pictou yesterday. She landed her passengers safely, but on account of heavy drift ice was unable to land any freight. She left for PEI this morning. (LL).
Apr 3 Local ice cleared Bonne Bay. (GR p.85)
Apr 6 The harbour of North Sydney is now quite free of ice. (NYMR).
Apr 8 Northern ice departed Bonne Bay. (GR p.85)
Apr 9 North Sydney harbor is now quite free from ice, and several vessels have arrived. (MH 09/04/1881 p3 #5)
Apr 9 Cape Traverse, today. There are six miles of lolly? in the straits and crossing is impossible. (Pat 9 Apr 1881 p3#1)
Apr 11 Ice boats are crossing at Cape Traverse. The “Northern Light” is breaking a passage to the wharf at Georgetown today. (Pat 11 Apr1881 p3#1)
Apr 12 The ice is now passing down the River St. Lawrence, and navigation is being resumed. Several schooners have made the journey to Anticosti and back. (LL)
Apr 13-19 A fine schooner was launched at Darnley (north shore of P.E.I.)on Wednesday (April 13th). She is now in Souris. (Pat 19 Apr 1881 p2#3)
Apr 16-22 Ship News; April 16 – arrival Grand River. April 19 – arrival Souris. April 19 – arrival Charlottetown. (Pat 22 Apr 1881 p2#2)
Apr 18 Light SW wind; mild weather. The Gulf is clear of ice. (LL)
Apr 18 Local & Other News; Ferry Boats are all ready to run but owing to the quantity of ice in the harbour, are as yet unable. (Pat 18 Apr1881 p3#1)
Apr 19 Halifax, arrived steamer “George Shattuck,” from, St. Pierre, Miq., via Louisburg, reports saw a small quantity of loose ice on Cape Breton coast. (MH 20/04/1881 p3 #4)
Apr 20-21 The schooner “J.J. Bell” was the first arrival in this port this season, she left Souris at two yesterday morning and arrived here at ten o’clock. Mr. Small who was on board reports that the Straits are clear of ice from Cape Bear eastwardly, and that from Cape Bear to Point Prim the Island shore is clear of ice, but the Nova Scotia shore is packed solid from Pictou Island westward as far as he could see. (Pat 21 Apr 1881 p3#1)
Apr 20-25 Ship News; – 25th April Summerside navigation is just about open. – 25th April vessels cleared Charlottetown. – 20th, April vessels cleared Georgetown. (Pat 26 Apr 1881 p2#3)
Apr 22 The “Princess of Wales” did not get to Pictou yesterday. She got as far as 1 hour east side of Pictou Island and found it impossible to proceed further, there being nothing but ice between that and Pictou. (Pat 23 Apr 1881 p2#3)
Apr 25 Pictou Harbor is clear, but that the Gulf is full of ice. The wind was north-east at Port Mulgrave and the Strait full of ice. Owing to the ice the steamer “Edgar Stuart” which left this port for Charlottetown on Friday, was detained at Port Mulgrave yesterday. The steamer “Carroll” from Boston, is waiting at this port for a favorable opportunity to get to Charlottetown. (MH 26/04/1881 p3 #1)
Apr 25 Ship News; Capt. Westaway reports Straits full of ice. (Pat 25 Apr 1881 p2#3)
Apr 26 SS “Valetta” from Cow Bay which arrived here this evening, reports the Straits of the North Bay are still full of ice. A narrow passage was found 20 miles W of Cape Ray. There was [heavy ice for] 90 miles SE of Scatterie. (LL)
Apr 26 Father Point, The steamer “Valetta” passed inward at 8:30 pm today. She reports the Strait and North Bay full of ice. Found a narrow passage twenty miles west of Cape Ray. Heavy ice for ninety miles south-east of Scatterie. ([MH?] 29/04/1881 p3 #6)
Apr 27 First Arrival – The schr “Richard Thompson” arrived at this port [Pictou] yesterday from Summerside – the first arrival of the season. She encountered heavy ice in the strait. After a few days shipping may be looked for regularly. (MH 27/04/1881 p3 #1)
Apr 29 Halifax, arrivals, Sunday May 1, steamer “Action” from Liverpool, GB, on Friday last tried to get into Sydney; but was prevented by the ice, 25 miles from that port (MH 02/05/1881 p3 #4)
Apr 30 Barque “Hecia,” from Liverpool, arrived at North Sydney on Sunday last and reports large fields of ice south and eastward of Scatterie. (MH 30/04/1881 p3 #6)
May 1 Ship damaged by ice off Nova Scotia. (NYMR).
May 1 All ice, local and Northern, cleared out Bay of Islands. No arrival date from latter. (GR p.88)
May 1 Steamer “Mayfield” from Cow Bay for Quebec, put into North Sydney, CB, damaged by ice, and was run ashore to prevent sinking; jettisoned a portion of her cargo. (MH 06/05/1881 p3#5)
May 2 Immense fields of ice reported off Cape Breton Island. (MWR Jun.p.12).
May 4 Norw. Barqentine “Immanuel”, for Sydney has put in today. She reports that six days ago she encountered small pieces of ice, and the following morning was surrounded by heavy ice. (LL)
May 4 Halifax, arrived Wednesday May 4. Steamer “George Shattuck,” from St. Pierre, Miq., via North Sydney and Cow Bay. Was six hours in the ice East of Scatterie, and came through St. Peters Canal. Norwegian barque “Immanuel,” from Havre, was bound to Sydney and six days ago encountered small pieces of ice. The following morning the vessel was surrounded by heavy ice, when within 10 miles of Flint Island. Had stern damaged and vessel chafed. (MH 05/05/1881 p3 #6)
May 4 The steamer “Valetta,” direct from Montreal, arrived at North Sydney, on Wednesday last. She was three days in the ice off Ingonish, but received no damage. She reports the schr “R. Grant,” in the ice and supplied her with provisions. Another small schooner was also seen in the ice. (MH 04/05/1881 p3 #7)
May 6 Steamer “Gardenia,” from Cardenas for Montreal with put into Sydney, CB damaged by ice. (MH 11/05/1881 p3 #6)
May 7 SS “Canima” from St. John’s, reports that she encountered a large field of ice off Scatterie… Also saw several icebergs grounded off the coast of Newfoundland. (LL)
May 8 The barque “Gananoque” 76 tons, McMohran, master, bound from Belfast, to Miramichi, in a fog on the 8th inst., struck an iceberg four miles from Bird Rock, in thick fog. She stove in her starboard bow and filled rapidly. The crew, fifteen in all, safely landed on Bird Rock and were taken off on the 12th by a passing ship. Nothing was saved. (MH 17/05/1881 p3 #1)
May 9 St. John NB, the steamer “Alpha” laden for that port is surrounded with block ice at Lingan, CB and may not be able to leave for a day or two. Brigt “Para,” for St. John, is also blocked up with ice at the same port. (MH 11/05/1881 p3 #6)
May 10 Bark “Gananoque” collided with iceberg 4m from Bird Rocks, Magdalen Is. (MWR Jun.p.12).
May 11 SS “Valleta” from Montreal was stuck in ice on the coast of Cape Breton West… (LL).
May 13 SS “Valetta” from Montreal and Sydney C.B. arrived in St. John’s encountered large ice fields in the mouth of the St. Lawrence; the vessel was jammed in the ice for three days…. (LL)
May ~13 Steamer “Gardenia” from Carderas, Cuba, for Montreal, put into North Sydney Cape Breton, with one of her bow plates damaged by ice. Steamer “Valenta,” from Montreal via Sydney, CB, arrived at St. John’s NF, night of May 13, and reports encountered large ice fields at the mouth of the St. Lawrence, was jammed for 3 days and broke her propeller in trying to force a passage. (The V. was previously reported jammed in ice off Cape Breton coast and leaking). (MH 18/05/1881 p3 #6)
May 26 Barque “Hancock,” at Cow Bay, from Boston, was 21 days on the passage, during 15 of which was in the ice off Scatterie, CB. (MH 26/05/1881 p3 #6)