1931 Season
A very light ice year with little ice reported south of 48°N (IIP p23)
Dec 5 Last eastbound steamer through the Strait of Belle Isle. (WBB)
Dec 9 SS “Frederickborg” completed loading her cargo of potatoes. Last steamer taking potatoes from Summerside this winter. (Pat 9 Dec p8 c4)
Dec 13 Quebec pilotage authority advises ice below Quebec and recommend ice breaker assistance Quebec to Father Point. (RG42 Vol.371)
Dec 17 “Cabot Tower” arrived in Charlottetown last night. Between Father Point and Charlottetown, Captain Wells met between 60 and 70 miles of ice. Past 15 years, “Cabot Tower” has been last boat to leave Montreal. (Pat 18 Dec p8 c4)
Dec 20 Pilotage officer, Father Point: Ice starts making. (CIS IC0708_2)
Dec 23 Last departure of the season from Quebec. (WBB)
Dec 23 J.A. Ward, Lightkeeper, Miscou Point, New Brunswick: Closing date. (CIS IC0756_2)
Dec 24 SS “Kings County”: 6 miles off Cape Magdalen. From 10 miles off Father Point to 8 miles off Pointe Des Monts light scattered ice and from there had no ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Jan 3 Rocky Point ferry still running. (Pat 3 Jan p8 c4)
Jan 7 Slush ice formed on the waters of the Humber Arm the first of the week. (TWS, pg. 2, Col. 2)
Jan 9 SS “Hillsboro” made two return trips to Rocky Point yesterday. Harbour is frozen over but ferry went along edge where tides meet. (Pat 9 Jan p8 c4)
Jan 12 Winter air mail service to begin January 12th. (Pat 10 Jan p1 c3)
Jan 15 Ferry steamer “Hillsboro” made trips till January 15th. (Pat 30 Dec 1931 p5 c1)
Jan 20 Lightkeeper, East Point, PEI: Ice formed in vicinity. (CIS IC0993)
Jan 21 When the SS “Corner Brook” went down the Humber Arm last Thur. on her outward trip to England she encountered no more ice than she will meet in the Thames… There is not a bit of ice in the Bay of Islands or the Gulf. (TWS, pg. 2, Col. 5)
Jan 23 Last year [1931] the Humber Arm froze over on 23rd Jan, but it was some days later before it was safe to cross over. (TWS [13 Jan 1932] pg. 2, Col. 7)
Jan 27 Reports from the ice-breaker “Montcalm” at North Sydney were that there was no ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. (HH 28/01/1931 p11#2)
Jan 28 The SS “Humber Arm” took away the key of navigation in Bay of Islands last Thur. morning. She had clear water all the way out to the Bay. (TWS, pg. 2, Col. 3)
Jan 31 North Sydney, Jan [?] – While breaking ice in Sydney harbor today, CGS #4 better known as “Stumble Inn” had several plates around her stern punched in by the heavy ice. (HH 31/01/1931 p1)
Feb 2 The St. Lawrence river’s solitary winter commercial service received a setback when the steamer “Sable I” broke a propeller blade while battling heavy ice off Godbout, Que., according to word received here yesterday. The schedule of the “Sable I” calls for fortnightly mail trips down the coast to Seven Islands. The service may be extended to Anticosti. (HH 03/02/1931 p13#5)
Feb 4 The drift ice is not yet evident, although it appeared the 18th of Jan last year (Codroy) (TWS, pg. 1, Col. 5)
Feb 11 Reports from out the Bay state that drift ice was in to land Sun. and that the local ice extended to Woods Island. (TWS, pg. 2, Col. 2)
Feb 17 Sydney, ice has not yet begun to drift through Cabot Straits in quantities, according to a radio message from St. Paul’s Island today. There was no ice in the immediate vicinity of the island although a patch could be seen on the south east horizon. (HH 18/02/1931 p3#1)
Feb 21 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Souris, no ice in sight. St. Pauls Island, slob ice everywhere in sight (viz ~½ mile). (RG42 Vol.371
Feb 23 Dept. Mar. & Fish: St. Pauls Island, no ice in sight. (RG42 Vol.371
Feb 24 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Magdalen Islands, Grindstone, Grosse Isle, St. Pauls Island, Souris, Pictou, all no ice in sight. (RG42 Vol.371)
Feb 25 Should the ice be in fit condition it is proposed to run another series of heats on Fri. (TWS, pg. 2, Col. 2)
Feb 25 Dept. Mar. & Fish: St. Pauls Island, Grindstone, Grosse Isle, Étang du Nord, Old Harry, Souris, Pictou, all no ice in sight. Pleasant Bay, light open ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Feb 26 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Grosse Isle, Old Harry, Etang du Nord, Amherst, Souris, St. Pauls Island, Pictou, all no ice in sight. Pleasant Bay, strip of close packed ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Feb 26 North Sydney, The steamer “Stanley,” which left port for Halifax two days ago is still off the mouth of Sydney Harbor held there by more than 15 feet of slob ice. The “Stanley” may have to remain in her present position until aid reaches her from Halifax. (HH 27/02/1931 p3#3)
Feb 26 The Dominion Government steamer “Stanley,” is hove to in the heavy close packed slob ice off the entrance to North Sydney Harbor. The “Stanley” left Halifax last week on her annual chores of picking up the buoys along the Cape Breton coast in anticipation of the arrival of the ice pack from the North. At seven o’clock Wednesday night she had only succeeded in logging some three or four miles and reported there was no water in sight as far as Flat Point. The “Stanley” reported late yesterday afternoon that she was bucking a barrier of ice and snow fifteen feet deep near Cranberry Head. (HH 27/02/1931 p13#5)
Feb 27 Dept. Mar. & Fish: St. Pauls Island, Souris, Old Harry, Amherst Island, Etang du Nord, all no ice in sight. Pleasant Bay, drift broken ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Feb 27 North Sydney, caught in an ice barrier 15 to 17 feet thick, made up of closely packed slob ice, the steamer “Stanley” has only been able to make progress through it at the rate of about half a mile a day. Open water is now half a mile ahead of her. The “Stanley” had been off Cranberry Head, at the entrance to this harbor, for the past three days. The ice-breaker “Montcalm” which left her to assist the “Stanley” is in close packed ice three miles east of Flat Point the other side of the harbor entrance. The new ice-breaker “N B McLean,” which came from Halifax, should reach the ice barrier tonight, and will help the “Stanley” and “Montcalm” to get out. The Newfoundland steamer “Kyle” was unable to reach here on her regular trip, and went to Louisburg. Her officers report that the ice off the Cape Breton coast extends for miles and that it will be some days even with a shifted wind before the coastal waters will be clear of ice. The “Kyle” took three days in which to complete a normal eight or nine hour passage. (HH 28/02/1931 p3#1)
Feb 28 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Caraquet, NB, ice good and solid. Cap des Rosiers, heavy close packed ice moving to SE. Bathurst, solid ice in harbour and bay. Point Maquereau, heavy open ice distant. Cap d’Espoir ice 9 miles from shore. NE winds blocked coast badly with ice along Miscou Point. Cheticamp, strip of ice on shore. Tignish, PEI no open water E or W side. Cape Cove, PQ, N ice distance from shore far as Port Daniel at end of visibility. Richibucto, ice in river solid. Point Escuminac, heavy close packed ice in shore. St. Pauls Island, Souris, Grindstone, all no ice in sight. Pictou, Strait full of ice. Pleasant Bay, strip of ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Feb (end) Pilotage officer, Father Point: River clear of ice. (CIS 0708_2)
Mar 1 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Fame Point, heavy close packed ice everywhere. Cape des Rosiers, packed ice moving S. Cap Despoir, no ice in sight. Point Maquereau, heavy open ice distant moving E. Point Escuminac, heavy close packed ice everywhere. Carquet, ice solid. Richibucto, midwinter ice conditions. West Point, Anticosti, heavy open ice everywhere moving SE. Cape Tormentine, considerable drift ice along. Borden shore St. Pauls Island, no ice in sight. Magdalen Island all points report strong NW and snowing Grosse Isle, Amherst, Etang du Nord no ice in sight. Pleasant Bay, narrow strip of ice in bay. Southwest point, Anticosti, no ice in sight last 2 days. Heath point, little ice to be seen to the E but no ice to the W. Point Tupper, heavy close packed ice north Hastings open ice off Tupper. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 2 Dept. Mar. & Fish: St. Pauls Island, Souris, Grosse Isle, Old Harry, all no ice in sight. Amherst Island and Etang du Nord open ice 5 to 6 miles from shore. Pleasant Bay, narrow strip of close packed ice in NE end. Pictou, Strait full of ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 2 North Sydney, after being imprisoned in slob ice off Sydney Mines since last Wednesday, the ice-breaker “Stanley” today arrived in port. The other ice-breaker “Montcalm,” also caught in the ice is in sight off Cranberry Head, but if the wind holds from the present quarter she is expected to return to port tomorrow. The ice barrier extends about 15 miles from shore, but a strong wind from the north cleared a lane through the ice on the north side of the harbor permitting the “Stanley” to steam through. The ice is being driven down on Flat Point and into Sydney harbor, and it is expected the wind will clear the ice from the “Montcalm.” (HH 03/03/1931 p3#7)
Mar 3 Dept. Mar. & Fish: St. Pauls Island, Grosse Isle, Old Harry, Souris, all no ice in sight. Amherst, open ice 5 or 6 miles from shore. Étang du Nord, ice about 10 miles off. Pleasant Bay, narrow strip of light ice. Elmira, heavy packed all sides. Tracadie, Bay full of ice. New Carlisle, ice in Bay not solid, broken but not drifting. Open water in places. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 3 North Sydney, the slob ice which closed the harbor entrance for some days has been pushed out to sea by a strong off-shore wind. Reports from the Gulf say that several large strips of field ice are drifting out the St. Lawrence, but the ??oe is open and easily navigable to ships operating in that area. The West coast of Newfoundland is partly marooned by floes and the island itself is recovering from the effects of a great blizzard which swept the country last week, tying up rail traffic between Port Aux Basques and St. John’s. (HH 05/03/1931 p13#3)
Mar 4 The SS “Kyle” has had to go to Louisburg on her last 2 trips owing to Sydney Bight being packed with heavy slob ice which prevented the ship from reaching North Sydney. Condition of the ice in Humber Arm is such that with few days more of the weather of the past week or so and it will be unsafe to on. Humbermouth is clear, other brooks are opening up, and out the bay the water is in Benoit’s Cove. (TWS, pg. 2, Cols. 3 & 4)
Mar 4 Bonne Bay and Port au Choix report no ice. (TWS, pg. 2, Col. 5)
Mar 4 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Grosse Isle, Old Harry, Etang du Nord, St. Pauls Island, Cape Ray, all no ice in sight. Amherst Island, open ice 5 to 10 miles off shore. Pleasant Bay, narrow strip of ice. Pictou, Strait full of ice. Souris, considerable drift ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 5 Dept. Mar. & Fish: St, Pauls Island, Grosse Isle, Old Harry, Etang du Nord, all no ice. Souris, heavy ice. Elmira, heavy close packed ice. Pleasant Bay, narrow strip of close packed ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 6 Dept. Mar. & Fish: St. Pauls Island, Cape Ray, Grindstone, all no ice in sight. Flat Point, slob ice everywhere. Souris, heavy packed drift ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 6 Gulf clear of drift ice as far as Magdalene Islands. (Pat 6 Mar p1 c6)
Mar 7 Dept. Mar. & Fish: West Point, St. Pauls Island, Cape Ray, Grosse Isle, Old Harry, Etang du Nord, Cape St. Lawrence, all no ice in sight. Fame Point, heavy open ice everywhere. Souris, heavy drift ice. Pleasant Bay, ½ full of broken ice. Pictou, Strait full of ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 9 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Father Point, Bersemis, Point de Monts, West Point, Grindstone, Cape St. Lawrence, all no ice in sight. Fame Point, small patches of light broken ice everywhere. Cap des Rosiers, light open ice distant. Point Maquereau, heavy open ice in shore. Pleasant Bay, a few miles of broken ice. Souris, heavy drift ice. Elmira, heavy packed ice along both shores. Dalhousie, NB, ice in River good, weakening with some holes at Douglas Island. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 9 Conditions in the St. Lawrence between Quebec and the sea are improving rapidly according to a report on the condition received from the Marine Signal Service. From heavy open ice at Cape Salmon, 94 miles below Quebec, the quantity decreases until at West Point, Anticosti, and Cape Ray, the southwesterly point of Newfoundland, no ice is reported. (HH 09/03/1931 p15#5)
Mar 10 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Father Point, Cap des Rosiers, Bersemis, West Point, Anticosti, St. Pauls Island, Cape Ray, all no ice in sight. Fame Point, heavy open ice. Pictou, Strait full of ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 11 Mrs. W.J. Milley had the misfortune to break her arm… while returning from an afternoon’s skating in the Bay ice. (TWS, pg. 2, Col. 4)
Mar 11 C.G.S. “N.B. McLean”: No ice between Red Island and Bic and as far as can be seen. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 11 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Father Point, Fame Point, Cap des Rosiers, Magdalen Islands, St. Pauls Island, Cape Ray, Cape St. Lawrence, all no ice in sight. Bersemis, light close packed ice in shore. Pointe des Monts, heavy close packed ice everywhere. West Point, Anticosti, heavy close packed ice stationary. Pleasant Bay, light broken scattered ice. Souris, heavy drift ice. Elmira, open water N side, loose ice in Strait. Pictou, Strait full of ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 12 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Father Point, Cape des Rosiers, Cape Gaspe, Magdalen Islands, St. Pauls Island, Cape Ray, Aspy Bay, Cape St. Lawrence, all no ice in sight. Fame Point, loose ice everywhere. Bersemis, light close packed ice in shore. Pointe des Monts, heavy packed ice distant. West Point, Anticosti, heavy open ice everywhere. Pleasant Bay, ~ 4 miles broken ice. Souris, heavy drift ice. Elmira, drift ice both sides. Pictou, Strait full of ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 13 Signal Service: “Thetis and “Ranger” only sealers in Gulf. Report from “Ranger” position approximate 15 miles SW Deadman’s Island in close packed ice as far as can see. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 13 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Father Point, Cap des Rosiers, St. Paul’s Island, Cape Ray, Flat Point, all no ice in sight. Bersemis, light close packed ice everywhere. Pointe des Monts, heavy close packed ice in shore. West Point, Anticosti, heavy open ice everywhere. Pleasant Bay, ~ 4 miles of close packed ice, elsewhere no ice in sight. Souris, heavy drift ice. Pictou, Strait full of ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 13 Correspondence: “I now wish to inform you that our icebreaker “N.B. McLean” is today entering the Bay of Chaleur. She will endeavour to open up Dalhousie. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 14 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Cape Salmon, West Point, Flat point, all no ice in sight. Father Point, scattered ice in shore. Fame Point and Bersemis, light open ice everywhere. Magdalen Islands, no ice in sight around island. Pleasant Bay, ~ 4 miles of loose ice. St. Pauls Island, loose slob ice to SW, S and E. Souris, heavy drift ice. Pictou, Strait blocked with ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 16 “Gazette” reports ice conditions: Father Point, scattered ice; Fame Point, light open ice; West Point, Anticosti, no ice in sight; St. Pauls Is., loose slob ice to the SW, S and E; Souris, PEI, heavy drift ice; Ermine, PEI, loose ice to the W; Pictou, NS, Strait blocked with ice; Bersemis, light open ice; Cape Salmon, no ice in sight; Pleasant Bay, loose ice in sight for 4 miles, none elsewhere. (RG12 Vol.3000)
Mar 16 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Cape Salmon. Fame Point, Bersemis, Meat Cove, St. Pauls Island, Cape Ray, all no ice. Father point, scattered ice in shore. Cap des Rosiers, light close packed ice in shore. Pointe des Monts, heavy open ice in shore. West point, Anticosti, no ice around island. Pleasant Bay, ½ full of loose ice. Souris, close packed ice. Pictou, Strait blocked with ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 17 Mr. Henry Gallop, keeper of the lighthouse on Codroy Island, anticipated visiting friends in Grand River, when the ice should come. We fear he will not be at liberty, as up to date there is no sign of drift ice. (TWS, pg. 1, Col. 5)
Mar 17 They made the trip from Bonne Bay to Bay of Islands by motor boat. There was no ice along the coast, and but for the little ice in Humber Arm they would have come right to Curling by boat. (TWS, pg. 2, Col. 7)
Mar 17 Dept. Mar. & Fish: St. Pauls Island, Cape Ray, Flat point, Point des Monts, all no ice in sight. West Point, Anticosti, heavy open ice everywhere. Magdalen Islands, no ice in sight around island. Pleasant Bay, half full of loose ice. Souris, heavy drift ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 18 J.A. Ward, Lightkeeper, Miscou Point, New Brunswick: Opening date. (CIS IC0756_2)
Mar 18 Signal Service: Steamer ~ 3 miles off New Carlisle not going ahead very much as the ice is still pretty well packed around here and the wind being strong from the NE it will no doubt fill the Bay up some more. Harbour here inside the lighthouse is open water. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 18 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Fame Point, Cap des Rosiers, point des Monts, Magdalen Islands, St. Pauls Island, Cape Ray, Flat point, all no ice in sight. Bersemis, close packed ice everywhere. West point, Anticosti, close packed ice stationary. Souris, close packed ice. Pictou, Strait blocked with ice.
Mar 19 Correspondence: .. The “Montcalm” has just returned to North Sydney from a trip to the Magdalens and saw little or no ice. An early opening is anticipated as, from reports already received, only small patches of well broken ice have been encountered on the main routes in the Gulf and the Cabot Strait are practically free of ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 19 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Father Point to Fame Point, Bersimis, Cap des Rosiers, St. Pauls Island, all no ice in sight. Point Maquereau, 18th inst., bay filled up with ice. West Point, Anticosti, light close packed ice distant. Pictou, Strait blocked with ice. Elmira, ice in shore, northward open water in sight. Drift ice in Strait. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 20 W.J. Balcom, Master, C.G.S. “N.B. McLean”: [on this date] an ordinary ship could pass from Cape Race via Cape Ray via Heath Point to Father Point without hindrance. (CIS IC0785)
Mar 20 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Fame Point, Cap des Rosiers, Cape Gaspe, Southwest point, Heath point, St. Pauls Island, all no ice in sight. Father point, light ice in shore. Martin River, light close packed ice distant. Point Escuminac, heavy open ice distant. Point des Monts, light close packed ice distant. West Point, Anticosti, light close packed ice distant. Point Tupper, northward heavy close packed ice, southward no ice in sight. Flat Point, heavy close packed ice in harbour, no ice in sight outside. Point Amour, heavy close packed ice everywhere. Pictou, Strait blocked with ice. Souris, harbour clear of ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 21 Capt. Balcom, Master, C.G.S. “N.B. McLean”: … Most of the ice seen, except areas in Bay Chaleur, part of the N side of PEI and St. George Bay, is of a soft and broken nature and not dangerous to navigation. The area around Bird Rocks and the Magdalen Islands was visited by the “Montcalm” who reported no ice seen and conditions in the Straits of Belle Isle by the Sealer “Terra Nova”. In comparison with other years there is very little ice in the River and Gulf and under conditions as we have found them a ship would have little difficulty in making passage from St. Pauls Island to Father Point. The wind has been easterly for a long time and has held the ice in on the SW side but with some westerlies which are long overdue the major part of this ice should pass through Cabot Strait, leaving the Gulf route fairly clear. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 21 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Bersimis, Father Point, Fame point, Cap de Rosiers, Southwest point, Heath Point, Magdalen Islands, St. Pauls Island, all no ice in sight. Clarke City, Seven Island side clear right to W end of village. Clarke City side 1¼ mile solid ice being S side of Bay. Clear water inside whaling station to bottom of Bay. Outside understand no ice whatever. Point des Monts, close packed ice distant. Matane, light close packed ice stationary. Martin River, light packed ice distant. Point Escuminac, heavy close packed ice in shore, heavy open ice distant. West Point, Anticosti, light close packed ice distant. Point Tupper, heavy close packed ice N of Port Hastings, no ice in sight southward. Point d’Amour, heavy close packed ice everywhere. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 23 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Father Point, Matane, Fame Point, Cap des Rosiers, Bersemis, Point des Monts, Anticosti West point, Southwest point, Heath point, St. Pauls Is., Point Tupper, Cape Ray, Flat Point, Aspy Bay, Scatari, all no ice in sight. Cape Salmon, very little ice. Martin River, light close packed ice distant. Point Escuminac, heavy open ice distant. Pleasant Bay, narrow strip of loose ice, elsewhere no ice in sight. Pictou, Strait blocked with ice. Souris, close packed ice. Point Amour, close packed ice everywhere. Belle Isle, scattered strings of loose ice from Labrador shore, eastward no ice in sight, 4 bergs visible. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 24 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Cape Salmon, Father point, Matane, Fame Point, Cap des Rosiers, Point des Monts, Anticosti West Point, Southwest point, Heath point, St. Pauls Is., Flat point, Magdalen Is., all no ice in sight. Martin River, light close packed ice distant. Point Escuminac, heavy close packed ice everywhere. Point Tupper, heavy close packed ice N. No ice in sight S. Pictou, Strait blocked with ice. Point Amour, heavy close packed ice everywhere moving W. Belle Isle, heavy open ice along N shore; 4 bergs in sight. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 25 The off shore gale last week completely cleared the main arm of ice (Lomond) (TWS, pg. 1, Col. 6)
The ice in Humber Arm moved out last week. The ice melted down as far as Curling and on Sat. the little remaining between here and Meadows broke up. The Arm is now clear as is also the Bay and motorboats are able to move about quickly. (TWS, pg. 2, Col. 4)
Mar 25 C.G.S. “N.B. McLean”: 8 a.m. 47°11’N 58°59’W. From 10 miles N Cap des Rosiers to 11 miles NE Bird Rock to 15 miles off Cape Ray to present position no ice except few scattered pieces NW of Bird Rock. Proceeding now towards Scatari and off Cape Breton coast. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 25 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Father Point, Matane, Fame point, Cap des Rosiers, Bersemis, Anticosti West point, Southwest point, Heath Point, St. Pauls Is., Cape Ray, Flat point, Aspy Bay, Meat Cove, all no ice in sight. Martin River, some light ice distant. Point Esuminac, heavy close packed ice everywhere. Point des Monts, light close packed ice distant. Point Tupper, heavy close packed ice northward, no ice in sight southward. Souris, close packed ice. Pictou, Strait blocked with ice. Pleasant Bay, ~ half full of loose ice, no ice around Island. Point Amour, heavy close packed ice everywhere moving W. Belle Isle, heavy open ice on N shore. Elmira, ice everywhere in sight. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 26 C.G.S. “N.B. McLean”: Sydney Harbour full of broken ice. C.G.S. “Montcalm” breaking ice between North Sydney and Sydney. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 26 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Father Point, Matane, Fame Point, Cap de Rosiers, Bersemis, Point des Monts, Anticosti West Point, Southwest point, Heath point, St. Pauls Is., Sydney, Aspy Bay, Magdalen Is., Meat Cove, all no ice in sight. Martin River, some light ice distant. Point Escuminac, heavy close packed ice everywhere. Point Tupper, heavy close packed ice N. Other points no ice in sight. Pleasant Bay, half full of loose ice, no ice in sight around island. Pictou, Strait blocked with ice. Point Amour, heavy close packed ice. Belle Isle, heavy open ice on N shore. 6 bergs visible in Strait. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 27 “.. our ice patrol steamers are now on duty in Cabot Strait and Gulf of St. Lawrence and report no ice on usual steamer track and ships would have no difficulty in proceeding via Cabot Strait to Quebec and Montreal. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 27 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Father Point, Fame Point, Cap des Rosiers, Bersemis, Point des Monts, Anticosti West Point, Southwest Point, Heath Point, St Pauls’ Is., Cape Ray, Flat Point, Aspy Bay, Meat Cove, all no ice in sight. Point Tupper, heavy close packed ice northward, no ice southward. Point Amour, heavy close packed ice everywhere. Magdalens Is., no ice in sight. Narrow strip broken ice in Pleasant Bay. Souris, close packed ice. Pictou, Strait blocked with ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 28 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Father Point to Cape des Rosiers, Bersemis, Point des Monts, Anticosti West point and Southwest Point, St. Pauls Is., Cape Ray, all no ice in sight. Heath Point, open heavy ice distant. Pleasant Bay, narrow strip light broken and packed ice. Elsewhere no ice in sight. Point Tupper, heavy close packed ice northward, no ice in sight southward. Pictou, Strait blocked with ice. Souris, drift ice outside. Elmira. Heavy close packed ice on both sides. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 30 Dept. Mar. & Fish: Father Point to Fame Point, Bersemis, Point des Monts, Heath Point, St. Paul’s Is., Cape Ray, Flat Point, Aspy Bay, Scatari, all no ice in sight. Point Escuminac, heavy close packed ice everywhere. Pleasant Bay, ~4 miles broken ice in shore. Outside no ice in sight. Point Tupper, heavy close packed ice. Belle Isle, light open ice everywhere, 7 bergs. Souris, close packed drift ice. Pictou, Strait blocked with ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 31 C.G.S. “Montcalm” 8 a.m. 10 miles ESE of Souris, PEI in very close packed ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 31 Dept. Mar & Fish: Father Point to Fame Point, Bersemis, Point des Monts, St. Pauls Is., Cape Ray, Flat Point, Aspy Bay, Scatari, Meat cove, all no ice in sight, Point Escuminac, heavy close packed ice everywhere. Magdalen Is., ~3 or 4 miles of broken ice in shore in Pleasant Bay, no ice in sight around island. Point Tupper, heavy close packed ice northward, other points no ice in sight.. Point Amour, heavy open ice everywhere. Souris, close packed drift ice. Elmira, heavy close packed on both sides. Pictou, Strait blocked with ice yesterday. (RG42 Vol.371)
Apr 1 Lightkeeper, East Point, PEI: Spring breakup. (CIS IC0993_2)
Apr 1 Dept. Mar & Fish: C.G.S. “McLean” at North Sydney reports first vessel entered Sydney Harbour yesterday. (RG42 Vol.371)
Apr 1 Dept. Mar & Fish: Father Point to Fame Point, Cape des Rosiers, Bersemis, Point des Monts, West Point Anticosti, and S.W. Point and Heath Point all no ice. Point Escuminac, heavy open ice. Magdalen Is: Grosse Isle and Old Harry no ice in sight; Etang du Nord and Amherst Is., heavy close packed ice as far as can be seen; Pleasant Bay, scattered ice; Point Tupper, heavy close packed ice northward, other points no ice in sight. St. Pauls Is., Cape Ray, Aspy Bay, Flat Point, Scatari, Meat Cove, all no ice in sight. Pictou, Strait blocked with ice. Souris, close packed drift outside. Elmira, PEI, heavy ice S side, N side clear. (RG42 Vol.371)
Apr 2 Dept. Mar & Fish: Gaspe Bay, fairly clear, Inner Harbour still clogged but ice in poor condition. Father Point to Fame Point, all Points Anticosti, St. Pauls Is, Cape Ray, Pictou all no ice in sight. Point Escuminac, heavy open ice. Magdalen Is: Amherst Is., open ice distant; Etang du Nord, Grosse Isle, Old Harry, all no ice in sight; Pleasant Bay, open ice in shore. (RG42 Vol.371)
Apr 2 Magdalen Islands – Islands surrounded with close drift ice up to shore around Amherst Island. Open ice at Etang du Nord and Westward. Clear water on north side from Hospital Cape easterly. Pleasant Bay loose ice distant. (HH 02/04/1931 p15#3)
Apr 4 Dept. Mar & Fish: Father Point to Cap des Rosiers, Bersemis, Point des Monts, all Points Anticosti, Cape Ray, Aspy Bay, Flat Point, Scatari, St. Pauls Is., all no ice. Point Escuminac, heavy close packed ice in shore. Magdalen Is: Amherst Is., light packed ice; Gross Isle, light open ice; Old Harry, no ice in sight; Etang du Nord, open ice as far as can be seen; Pleasant Bay, all clear of ice; Point Tupper, no ice in sight. Souris, close packed ice. Pictou, Strait packed with ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Apr 7 Dept. Mar & Fish: Magdalen Is.: Pleasant Bay and Old Harry no ice sighted; Etang du Nord, open ice to westward; Amherst Id., about 12 miles of open ice; Grosse Isle, ~½ miles broken ice in shore; Point Tupper, no ice in sight. Cape Ray, Flat Point, Aspy Bay, Scatari , St. Pauls Is., all no ice in sight. Meat Cove, open ice everywhere. Tracadie, Bay full of ice. Souris, some drift ice in sight. Port Hood, large body of ice in sight to NW of Smith Is. No ice in shore or to southward. Pictou, Strait packed with ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Apr 8 C.G.S. “Montcalm”: 8 a.m. 15 miles NE from East Point, PEI, bound Magdalen Is. From Souris to 13 miles NE of East Point, PEI no ice sighted. Then met heavy broken ice extending NW, NE and SE as far as can be seen. (RG42 Vol.371)
Apr 8 Dept. Mar & Fish: Quebec to Cap des Rosiers, no ice. Point Escuminac, heavy close packed ice everywhere. Anticosti, no ice. Magdalen Is., St. Pauls Is., Point Tupper, Cape Ray, Scatari, Flat Point, all no ice in sight today. Tracadie, bay full of ice. Meat Cove, CB, some strips of ice in sight of shore. Pictou, Strait packed with ice. Port Hood, large body of ice in shore. Another report dated same day gives Point Escuminac, Tracadie, Port Hood with no ice in sight. (RG42 Vol.371)
Apr 8 Georgetown – ferry running April 8th (Pat 7 Apr 1934, p7 c7)
Apr 10 Lightkeeper, East Point, PEI: Clear of ice. (CIS IC0993_3)
Apr 10 Dept. Mar & Fish: Bay de Chaleur: Dalhousie, bay clear of ice; New Carlisle, bay full of broken ice; Retel [?]Bay, full of ice; Carleton, bay all clear; Restigouche, clear; Port Daniel, bay full of ice, going and coming according to wind; Bathurst, harbour full of floating ice, bar ice on Chaleur Bay still solid. Richebucto, NB, channel open in places, river still solid. Shediac, harbour full of ice. Cape Tormentine, heavy close packed ice. Tracadie, bay full of ice. Pictou, Strait packed with ice. Souris, some drift ice. Tignish, ice packed on shore E and N side. Borden, Strait full of ice. Scatari, Flat Point, Point Tupper, St. Pauls Is., Anticosti, Magdalen Is., Cape Ray, all no ice in sight. (RG42 Vol.371)
Apr 10 North Sydney, the schooner “Ronald George.” is in port. She came up the harbor before a spanking breeze yesterday afternoon, and reported not a clamper of ice between here and St. Pierre banks. Owing to ice conditions along the North Victoria County coast, the schooner “Susie Benetta,” Capt. Peter Dixon, has been forced back here without a chance to unload her freight cargo for northern ports. (HH 11/04/1931 p3#2)
Apr 11 C.G.S. “Montcalm”: 8 a.m. 7 miles S of East Point, PEI. No ice in George Bay yesterday. And general ice conditions between Cape George, Cape Breton and SE side PEI heavy broken ice well open with occasional open leads of water. (RG42 Vol.371)
Apr 11 Dept. Mar & Fish: Quebec to Anticosti, no ice. Magdalen Islands, St. Pauls Is., Cape Ray, Tracadie, Souris, Point Tupper, all no ice in sight. Meat Cove, ice in sight off shore. Tignish, PEI, heavy ice W and E side. Pictou, Strait packed with ice. Cheticamp, some light ice in sight. (RG42 Vol.371)
Apr 14 First arrival of season at Quebec. (WBB)
Apr 14 Magdalen Islands – No ice in sight. Pleasant Bay all clear. (HH 14/04/1931 p13#2)
Apr 15 There is open water between the Newfoundland coast and the port of Montreal, according to reports from the Canadian Government icebreakers “Mikula” and “N B McLean,” on ice patrol in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. “Mikula’s” report: North Sydney, Fame Point, Magdalen Islands, no ice. St. Paul’s Island, field loose ice to south and east. The “N B McLean” reports passage through field and scattered ice in 46°51’N 60°10’W. Ships entering the Gulf should pass at least 10 miles east of St. Paul Island to avoid this ice field. Cape Race to Burgo Bank to Cape Ray to Bird Rock via Fame Point to Montreal, no ice sighted. (HH 16/04/1931 p15#4)
Apr 22 Mulgrave, the drift ice which disappeared from the Strait of Canso about two weeks ago, has drifted back and now is packed in the strait, making navigation difficult. Last week the strait was clear and a Port Hawkesbury motor ferry was able to navigate every day between Port Hawkesbury and this town. (HH 23/04/1931 p15#5)
May 1 PEI car ferry reports very little ice in straits do not think steamer should have difficulty getting into Charlottetown. (RG42 Vol.371)
May 1 Magdalen Islands – Drift ice in sight about 10 miles off West Points, Amherst Island. None in sight elsewhere. Pleasant Bay all clear. (HH 01/05/1931 p13#3)
May 8 Norwegian steamer “America” passed Belle Isle east bound noon today first vessel reported that route this season. Reports only met field ice 18 miles E of Belle Isle. This route was navigable 41 days earlier than last year and 17 days earlier than on record. (RG42 Vol.371)
May 9 The Straits of Belle Isle, that stormy and often ice bound bit of sea between the northern tip of Newfoundland and the coast of Labrador, was negotiated for the first time this spring by the freighter “American,” on her way to Norway from the port of Montreal. The achievement is a distinct record as the Straits are not usually passable till the middle of June and sometimes later in the year. Captain R S Guttormsen reported loose ice, but with reduced speed and careful navigating he managed the passage. From the various ports have come rumors that vessels are preparing to follow his trail in the near future. (HH 11/05/1931 p15#7,8)
Jun 7 First Westbound steamer through the strait of Belle Isle. (WBB)