1884 Season
Nov 21 Local ice formed Bonne Bay. (GR p.85)
Dec 23 St. John’s, arrived schooner “Lizzie” from Charlottetown. (Pat 2 Jan 1884 p3#3)
Jan 1 The schooner “Surprise” arrived at Souris from Halifax on January 1st. She was laid up for the winter and her crew returned to their homes at Rustico on Thursday.” (Pat 5 Jan p3#1)
Jan 1-3 Local ice at La Poile. (GR p.92)
Jan 4 The SS. “Northern Light” arrived at Georgetown yesterday evening from Pictou at 9 o’clock and sailed again this morning, arriving at Pictou at 9:30am. Mails are expected tonight at 10:30 o’clock from Georgetown. (Pat 5 Jan p3#1)
Jan 5 The Hillsborough ice is quite safe, and numbers of teams are crossing today. (Pat 5 Jan p3#1)
Jan 7 Local ice formed St. George’s Bay. (GR p.91)
Jan 7 The “Northern Light” left Georgetown this morning at 8 o’clock and arrived at Pictou at 3 o’clock, this pm. She leaves there for Georgetown tomorrow, daily trips being discontinued and will only cross one way daily for the remainder of the season. The Gulf is reported full of ice. (Pat 7 Jan p3#1)
Jan 17 Ice off Channel. (GR p.32)
Jan 21 Heavy Gulf ice, mild winter west. (GR p.32)
Jan 22 The steamship “ George Shattuck,” which left this port [Halifax] on Tuesday last for St. Pierre, Miq., intending to call at North Sydney, could not get into the latter port on account of the ice. (MH 22/01/1884 p3 #1)
Jan 28 Local ice formed Bay of Islands and Northern ice arrived. (GR p.88)
Jan 30 Cow Bay, CB, Jan 23- The harbor is open and free from ice. (NYMR, p. 3, col. 4)
Jan 31 The steamer “Newfoundland” reports having passed on January 31 a large brig-rigged steamer firmly caught in the ice field which stretched eastward of Banquero [sci] Bank. (MH 06/02/1884 p3 #5)
Feb 5 Northern ice arrived Bonne Bay. (GR p.85)
Feb 5 Gulf ice arrived La Poile. (GR p.92)
Feb 21 Halifax, arrived, steamer “Newfoundland” from, St. John’s, Nfld, reports passed through slob ice on the Newfoundland coast and 30 miles of Gulf ice off Scatterie. (MH 22/02/1884 p3 #6)
Feb 24 Gulf ice arrived St. George’s Bay. (GR p.91)
Mar 12 Ice off Channel. (GR p.32)
Mar 18 The steamer “Newfoundland”; at midnight the steamer entered Gulf ice in 45°25’N 57°55’W and at midnight got jammed, the ice packing through the heavy wind. She remained in that position until noon of the 19th when the wind moderated and the ice began to spread. At 5 p.m. the “Newfoundland” left the ice in 45°N 59°W after having steamed through 50 miles of it, which was very heavy. A schooner and a brigantine were seen steering for the ice at 5 p.m. on the 19th, but observing it hove to, to the southward. (MH 21/03/1884 p3 #2)
Mar 19 A dispatch from the Magdalene Islands states that the ice on the coast is so heavy that sealing vessels are prevented from proceeding on their voyage. (NYMR, p. 3, col. 2)
Mar 21 Northern ice departed Bonne Bay. (GR p.85)
Mar 23 Canso, arrived schrs “Lady Franklin,” from St. Pierre reports encountered heavy ice in vast quantities and was obliged to go well south to clear it. (MH 26/03/1884 p3 #6)
Mar 25 Gulf ice last departed La Poile. (GR p.92)
Mar 28 Gulf ice departed St. George’s Bay. Jan 28 (GR p.91)
Apr 45°50’N 59°20’W field ice. (PCNAO #6 May 1884)
Apr 42°40’N 57°30’W an iceberg. (PCNAO #6 May 1884)
Apr 3 No ice Cape Ray. (GR p.32)
Apr 4 No ice Cape Ray. (GR p.32)
Apr 4 All ice cleared out Bonne Bay. (GR p.88)
Apr 4 Local ice cleared St. George’s Bay. (GR p.91)
Apr 7 No ice Cape Ray. (GR p.32)
Apr 10 SS “Tiger” (Sealer) crushed in the ice off the Gulf of St. Lawrence and sank immediately (off Codroy). (NYMR)
Apr 10 Magdalen Islands, the sealing vessels are not able to get out, Pleasant Bay being full of ice. Gulf full of ice, north, south and west. Clear water to the eastward. It is expected that the bay will break up with the first north wind. (MH 11/04/1884 p3 #1)
Apr 17 Cow Bay, CB, signs of distress having been shown at Flint Island all the week, a boat went off yesterday when the ice moved out. The lighthouse keeper reported that on Saturday last, Michael Kiday [?], his assistant, went guoning [?] on drift ice. A breeze springing up, the ice parted, preventing his return. On the following day he was seen some distance off trying to get to the island on the clampers. Then he suddenly disappeared through the ice, and was not afterwards seen. Several vessels arrived at this port yesterday and today. (MH 18/04/1884 p3 #3)
Apr 18 Halifax, arrived, Norwegian barque “Otteren” from Christiansund, Norway, was bound to Sydney, but meeting ice was obliged to bear up for Halifax. (MH 19/04/1884 p3 #5)
Apr 20 Gulf jammed from Bird Rocks to Cow Head. (GR p.32)
Apr 23 The steamer “Peruvian” with the first English mail bound up the Gulf of St. Lawrence; is now on the passage, and is due on Saturday. It is not probably that she will get up on account of the ice. (MH 23/04/1884 p3 #1)
Apr 26 Montreal 27th: “The steamer “Peruvian,” which was expected at Quebec tomorrow, will be forced to go to Halifax to discharge her mail and passengers. She was signaled [sic] at Bird Rock yesterday, and after proceeding forty miles, had to return, as she could find no passage through the ice. (MH 30/04/1884 p3 #1)
Apr 27 Cabot Strait reported clear. (GR p.32)
Apr 28 Ice reported to extend from Bird Rocks to east Cape Anticosti. (GR p.32)
Apr 29 Bark “Lynwood” 45°15’N 56°51’W [46°51′-NYMR and more likely] passed 2 large bergs. (MWR)
Apr (end) Ship “Everest,” from Liverpool, arrived in port. yesterday in tow of tug “C W Jones,” being the first arrival of the sailing fleet this season. Capt. Churchill reports, having been seventeen days in the ice off Anticosti. (MH 08/05/1884 p3 #5)
May 1 SS “Lake Champlain” at Quebec reported that met Gulf ice at midnight of Apr 27 off South Point Anticosti and cleared it at noon on the 29th having steamed through it 70 miles. (MWR Apr.97.1)
May 2 Port Hawkesbury, arrived str “Carroll,” from Boston, sailed for Pictou and P E Island, (and put back at 2 p.m. on account of ice in North Bay.) (MH 05/05/1884 p3 #5)
May 2 Shipping Intelligence – Ships entered and cleared the Port of Charlottetown on the 2nd of May.
Shipping Intelligence – Ships entered and cleared the Port of Halifax on the 1st of May. (Pat 3 May, p3#3)
May 4 The steamer “Northern Light” arrived here yesterday from Georgetown, and reports the Island coast clear of ice. The ice has no doubt been driven into Antigonish Bay, causing the delay of the steamer “M.A. Starr” which we understand, has been several days waiting to get up. (Pat 5 May p2#3)
May 5 The Gulf is again reported full of ice. (Pat 5 May p3#1)
May 6 Ice In Abundance. In conversation, this morning, with Capt. David Anderson, of the schooner “Avinia Jane”, we learn the following in regard to the state of the ice in the Straits: Capt. Anderson left this port yesterday morning at 7 o’clock, bound for Pictou. He had a very fair run to within about two and a half miles of the Nova Scotia shore. Here he encountered ice. As far as the eye could scan from the mast head no open water was visible from Cape Tormentine on the western shore to Cape George on the east. The ice is lying for 2.5 miles off the land, varying in thickness from 10 to 20 feet. Capt. Anderson sighted two schooners to the eastward of Pictou Island, but could not tell which they were He also sighted, last night about ten o’clock a large steamer lying broad off Amet Island supposed to be loaded. After drifting around the Straits yesterday and all last night Capt. Anderson returned to this port this evening. He says the probabilities are, unless the wind hauls around to the southwest that it will be an impossibility to get near Pictou today. (Pat 6 May p3#2)
May 7 The ice has broken at Cape Basin [Gaspé?] Harbor, Quebec, and it is expected the harbor will be clear this week. (NYMR, p. 3, col. 1)
May 7 Schr “Eugenie”, from Halifax for Grand River, PEI, with general cargo, ashore; the Gulf drift ice is closing in on vessel; was bilged by the ice and the captain was obliged to run her ashore to save life, cargo and vessel. She was run ashore on account of ice as stated above, near Bear Island, south entrance to Strait Canso. (MH 07/05/1884 p3#5)
May 7 Schr “Eugenie” before reported ashore, is now afloat. The Strait is still full of drift ice. (MH 10/05/1884 p3 #5)
May 7 Shediac Harbour is reported full of ice. (Pat 7 May p3#1)
May 7 The steamer “Summerside” which left here yesterday morning for Pictou, returned to this port at 11 a.m. today. She did her best to get into Pictou, but could not make any headway. She was driven into the ice only to be backed out. The ice is packed solid between Caribou and Pictou Island and extends from three to four miles to the west of Pictou Island. Last evening the “Summerside” was headed for Wood Island, where she lay at anchor till this morning, when she again started for Pictou Island. The ice around the Nova Scotia shore was so heavy and extended for such a great distance, it was resolved to head for this port. (Pat 7 May p3#1)
May 9 Gaspe, The steamer “Miramichi” returned here this morning. Reports thick and close packed ice from Mascou [sic] a hundred miles east. Spoke barque “Chapman” bound to Pugwash, cruising for a passage for the last twelve days, and barque “Hebe” bound to Miramichi, and a dozen others on the outside edge of the ice. (MH 12/05/1884 p3 #5)
May 11 Local ice cleared Bonne Bay. (GR p.85)
May 12 Steamers moving between Pictou and Charlottetown. (Pat 12 May p3#2)
May 13 Charlottetown, PEI., the steamships “Tunstall” and “Benona” were reported in the ice off the north side Saturday and Sunday night. The “Tunstall” got nipped off St. Peters Bay light and sank in a heavy north-westerly blow. The captain and crew landed with great difficulty. The steamer was bound to Montreal from Pictou. (MH 13/05/1884 p3 #4)
May 13 The fleet that sailed Saturday and Sunday met ice off Margaree and had to return to Port Hood. (MH 14/05/1884 p3 #5)
May 14 Port Mulgrave, about all the fishing vessels had sailed for Magdalens and Cape North; met with ice off Margaree and some returned; very large fleet anchored at Port Hood. (MH 15/05/1884 p3 #5)
May 23 Canso, “J M Manning,” from Cape North for Yarmouth. (reports that on 20th inst. was driven from Cape North Banks by ice, losing an anchor, one hundred fathoms of cable and all gear; saw schr “Florence B Parr” and “Pictou Bros” (Am) fishing on same grounds before ice came down. Low Point, CB., there is drift ice off. (MH 24/05/1884 p3 #4)
May 25 Monster Icebergs on the Atlantic. (N.Y. Herald, 26th) The gigantic Arctic icebergs reported yesterday by our correspondent at St. Johns [sic], Nfld, as blockading that harbor, are large enough to rival the celebrated Antarctic bergs. One of these ice islands forecloses to the eye all ingress and egress to the port, another seen from the blockhouse over harbor of St. Johns a few days ago, was estimated to be seven miles long, and a third was ascertained, by cross bearings and trigonometrical survey, to be nine miles long and a quarter of a mile wide. Either of these floating glacier fragments rival in are the mammoth historic berg reported by Sir John Ross in his first Arctic voyage, which was less than three miles long and two broad. Meantime the appearance of these huge bergs bearing down on the main highways of Atlantic commerce should be a warning to navigators that the ice season of 1884, which began at an unusually early date, is by no means over. (MH 30/05/1884 p3 #2)
Jun 43°N 56°W an iceberg. (PCNAO #6 May 1884)
Jun 2 Port Mulgrave, arrived schr “Minnie D” of Gaspe, from Halifax, returned on account of ice. (MH 03/06/1884 p3 #4)
Jul 3 SS “Circassian” from Belle Isle to Point Amour passed about 20 large bergs, extending across the strait. (MWR Jun 143.1)