1919 Season
Dec 14 H.W. Coffin, R.C.M.P. Marine Depot, Halifax: The earliest opening of navigation from Cabot Strait to Montreal, over a period of 50 years, was on the 8th of April [no year]. The latest date [of navigation] being 14th December 1918. (CIS IC0716)
Dec 30 Last departure of the season from Quebec. (WBB)
Dec 31 J.A. Ward, Lightkeeper, Miscou Point, New Brunswick: Closing date. (CIS IC0756_2)
Jan – Feb Extract from Log and Reports of C.G.S. “Montcalm”, 1919: Jan 21: Left Quebec, light ice in river. Stopped for night with Cape Dog Light abeam. Jan 22: Ice getting thicker and heavier; stopped in heavy ice at 6 p.m. off Manikuagan. Jan 23: Proceeded in heavy ice everywhere; making no headway. 10 miles S of Manikuagan Buoy for night. Jan 24: Drifting in heavy ice towards N shore. Jan 25: Ship had drifted 45 miles in a westerly direction in gale; heavy ice. Jan 26: 2 miles NW of Briquette Island; light winds which loosened ice; proceeded through light scattered ice. Stopped for night Carousel (Seven Islands) abeam. Jan 27: Light ice, arrived off West Point, Anticosti. Heavy ice everywhere; took north passage. Abeam Cape Bear at 6:15 p.m., broke starboard rudder chain in heavy ice. Jan 28-30: Drifting in heavy ice about 4 miles off Table Head. C.G.S. “Stanley” 25 miles SW of Heath Point trying to break through heavy ice barrier. Jan 31: 5 miles E of E end Anticosti in heavy ice but loosening a little. Feb 1: 6 miles E of Anticosti in heavy ice, making good progress in heavy ice, then loose ice for Sydney. Feb 2: Reached Sydney at 11 a.m. (RG12 Vol.3000)
Jan 10 The steamer “Stanley” will leave Pictou this morning direct for the Magdalene Islands. This will be her last trip from Pictou, but she will make another trip to Souris and take a full cargo direct to the Magdalene Islands. (Pat 10 Jan p5#3)
Feb 3 The steamer “Voyageur,” en route from Quebec since January 21st, is not making very great progress toward Halifax. The steamer “Stanley,” which was waiting for her at the Magdalens, started toward Heath Point to help her through the ice, but got caught herself, though she is capable of getting clear in time. A message was received on Saturday stating that the government steamer “Montcalm” had reached the “Voyageur,” somewhat in the vicinity of Heath Point, and that the two were proceeding in the direction of Halifax. The “Stanley” will possibly get clear of the ice and join as an escort. (HH 03/02/1919 p11#4)
Feb 4 The steamer “Stanley” was reported still in the ice, yesterday somewhere between the Magdalens and Anticosti. This steamer has had a pretty strenuous time during the past two months and it does not seem that her troubles are over yet. (HH 04/02/1919 p11#4)
Feb 5 The Canadian “Voyageur” arrived yesterday morning from Montreal and anchored in the stream. This steamer left Montreal on the 21st of January and had a hard time trying to prove that Quebec and Montreal were rival winter ports to Halifax and St. John. She got into the lower reaches of the St. Lawrence all right, but there she met ice and good, substantial ice at that. The steamer “Montcalm” was sent to her assistance and so was the “Stanley,” but the latter got caught herself and with troubles of her own she was of little or no service. The “Montcalm,” however, got the “Voyageur” clear and the latter put into Louisburg. After bunkering she proceeded to this port, arriving as stated above. The “Stanley” hung around the Magdalens in anticipation of the “Voyageur” getting that far under her own steam and without assistance. The latter steamer has also returned to port after a strenuous experience in the Gulf, freighting between Pictou and Souris and the Magdalens. (HH 05/02/1919 p11#4)
Feb 17 All the lights in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, from St. Paul’s Island to Quebec, have been extinguished and will not be relighted until the 1st of March, as there is no movement of ships there in the winter time on account of the ice. (HH 17/02/1919 p11#6)
Feb 19 The government steamer “Montcalm” arrived in port yesterday afternoon from Sydney. This boat is employed on the St. Lawrence as an ice breaker. She came down to Heath Point and got the “Canadian Voyageur” out of the ice and escorted her as far as North Sydney. After staying at the latter port for about ten days the “Montcalm” started for Halifax, doing some buoy work at Flint Island and other points on the way. As the St. Lawrence is solidly packed with ice, the “Montcalm” will not venture back until spring and in the meantime will join the fleet of steamers connected with the marine department. (HH 19/02/1919 p11#4)
Mar 3 The spring floe of ice is moving out of the gulf and passing to the eastward, passengers by the Reid boats arriving at Sydney from Newfoundland report. (HH 03/03/1919 p11#4)
Mar 26 An unprecedented early opening of navigation on the St. Lawrence is anticipated. The channel from Three Rivers to Quebec is said to be clear of ice. (NYMR, p. 13, col. 2)
Mar 26 The first steamer or vessel of any kind to go up the St. Lawrence to Quebec in the month of March was the “Montcalm,” which left Sydney on the 11th and arrived at Quebec on the 17th making the trip from port to port in seven days five hours. The “Montcalm,” it will be remembered came down the Gulf as an escort to the new steamer “Canadian Voyageur.” The trip of the “Voyageur” was the first from the St. Lawrence in the winter time, but it was not thought possible that the “Montcalm” should get back until spring. However, the attempt was made, the “Montcalm” calling at St. Paul’s Island, Anticosti, Thunder River and several other places en route. She was in charge of Capt. McDonald, of the government steamer “Aranmore” and that gentleman is now able to boast of being the first master mariner to navigate the St. Lawrence in the month of March. (HH 26/03/1919 p15#5)
Mar 27 Sydney Mines, the ice fields extend far out to sea and with the strong winds of the past twenty four hours, the ice is driven pretty well up the Sydney harbor. The Reid passenger steamer “Kyle” is wedged tight and secure in the ice floes about one mile directly opposite Cranberry Head. The members of the crew were able to walk ashore and make a safe landing at the pilot station. Unless there is a favorable change of wind, the steamer “Kyle” will be compelled to remain in security in her present position. (HH 29/03/1919 p11#5)
Apr 5 Friday night an ice jam set in the Strait of Canso and the railway ferry, car ferry boat at Mulgrave was tied up for twenty-four hours. The oldest residents of the place say they never before saw such a jam and it was southern ice at that, driven in by a southeast wind. The pack extended solidly to Louisburg. It tied the “Scotia” up in the dock, the jam reaching to the bottom, 29 feet. (Pat 7 Apr p5#2)
Apr 6 J.A. Ward, Lightkeeper, Miscou Point, New Brunswick: Opening date. (CIS IC0756_2)
Apr 8 The “Sable I” arrived yesterday. The “Sable I” left with the rest of the sealing fleet for the seal fields, but owing to very bad weather, and to the fact that the ice broke earlier than usual this year her catch is very small. The strong north winds which prevailed this season broke the ice and scattered the seals, making it almost impossible to get them. (HH 08/04/1919 p11#5)
Apr 9 (Crabbes Station) [Crabbe River, St. Georges Bay, NF?] This has undoubtedly been the mildest and finest winter known hereabout within living memory and to are knowledge it is the first year in living memory that we have not been visited by drift ice. (TWS, pg. 3, Cols. 1-2)
Apr 15 Montreal to head of Lake St. Peter, river clear, some ice still holding on lake; Three Rivers to Quebec river, clear, some shore ice holding. Expect navigation open to Quebec and Montreal middle next week. Quebec to Gaspe, no ice; Anticosti, no communication; Magdalen Islands no ice in sight, may be some mid-stream. Flat Point, heavy close packed ice, distant. (HH 15/04/1919 p11#5)
Apr 16 Now that the navigation is open in Bay of Islands, we suggest to the authorities that the bay steamer be put on. In view of the manner that Bonne Bay was treated in the manner of transportation last fall, we are of the opinion that special effort should be made to send a steamer at an early date… Navigation is open, and there is no necessity for further delay. (TWS, pg. 2, Col. 2)
Apr 16 The drift ice was in to the islands last week, but the off-shore winds since took it off again. (TWS, p 2, Col. 2)
Apr 16 The down-pour of rain and heavy breeze of southeast wind of Sat. took the ice out the Humber Arm and we have open navigation again. (TWS, pg. 3, Col. 1)
Apr 17 Shipping men are of the opinion that the season of navigation in the gulf and river of St. Lawrence will not open as early as anticipated last month. Heavy ice had moved into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the persistent northeasterly winds keep the channels, vessel lanes and harbors chocked. Should a good _? or three days there would be a sudden resumption of marine activity up north. (HH 17/04/1919 p11#5)
Apr 19 First arrival of season at Quebec. (WBB)
Apr 19 Montreal to Quebec – River clear. Navigation open. Quebec to Gaspe – No ice. Anticosti – No communication. Must be no ice. Magdalen Island – No ice. Eastward – Service interrupted. No message received. Steamer “Queen Elizabeth,” due at Quebec today from Halifax, came thru Cabot Strait; reports light ice. Scatterie to Cape North – No ice seen from Cape North to Father Point. (HH 19/04/1919 p9#4)
Apr 27 From Cape Pine westward to 64°W, a great many bergs. (NYMR)
May 22 42°14’N 59°24’W a large iceberg. [49°N?] (HB #1552 Jun 4)
Jul 4 First Westbound steamer through the strait of Belle Isle. (WBB)