Below normal -1. (M).
Owing to the WNW gales the seals were much further south than usual and the sealers were unable to get to them. (BL).
NYMR (except as noted):
January/February
Jan 18 SS “Glenfield” 48N 46W berg 500′ long and 50′ high.
Feb Issue MWR: The southernmost ice reported, field ice, noted on the 23rd in 4511’N 4856’W and the easternmost ice, field ice, observed on the 22nd in 4620’N 4640’W. No icebergs were reported during the month. On the 13th and 20th field ice was encountered off the southeast Newfoundland coast. On the 15th, 17th to 25th, and 27th field ice was reported along the east edge of the Grand Banks north of the 45th parallel.
Feb 8 Issue: Weather forecast for February “…ice season thus far has been very backward ….. .”
Feb 26 SS “Manhanset” 4604’N 4708’W a large ice floe steered south 10m to clear it.
Feb 27 Bark “Adamantine” 4(?)7N 47W abandoned after being jammed in the ice, and sinking.
March
Mar Issue MWR: The southernmost ice reported, a small rounded berg, noted on the 30th in 4435’N 5013’W and the easternmost ice observed, a lump of ice, noted on the 17th in 4555’N 4656’W. Icebergs were reported near the east edge of the Banks of Newfoundland on the 2nd, 27th and 30th. Field ice was encountered over or near the northeastern part of the Grand Banks on the 9th, 13th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 28th, and 29th. Field ice was noted near Cape Breton Is. and eastern Nova Scotia on the 5th, 8th, 19th, 22nd, 24th, and 30th.
Mar — 4545’N 4749’W to 4516’N 4346’W passed much field ice and several small bergs.
Mar 2 SS “Mareca” 4720’N 4710’W met heavy field ice, set course SSE for 35m finding clear water; Mar 3, 4550’N 5004’W a large berg.
Mar 8 Brigantine “Adamantine” from St. John’s to Liverpool sunk by ice in the North Atlantic. (PR).
Mar 9 SS “Heathfield” 4730’N 4710’W large quantities of field ice and had to steer several miles south to keep clear.
Mar 13 4640’N 48W passed on the edge of a large ice floe.
Mar 27 SS “Castlegate” from Danzig to Philadelphia crushed by ice 385 km E of C. Race. (PR).
Mar 28 4450’N 49W passed heavy field ice.
April
Apr Issue MWR: The southernmost ice reported, small patches of field ice, observed on the 21st in 4228’N 5014’W and the easternmost ice reported, small bergs, on the 26th in 4650’N 4605’W. No ice was reported during the first half of the month and that noted at intervals from the 17th to the 29th was encountered near the east edge of the Banks of Newfoundland.
Apr 17 SS “Italia” 4409’N 4923’W berg 1000′ long and 70′ high.
Apr 19 SS “Charrington” at Father Point, Quebec reports met ice about 60m SE of Cape Ray to 30m up the Gulf.
Apr 19 issue: no date – 4620’N 5710’W (more S. Atlantic ice reports than N. Atlantic ones).
Apr 27 Heavy ice off Louisburg.
Apr 28 SS “Paula” from Hamburg to Philadelphia between 4610’N 47W and 4550’N 49W passed ~15 bergs, one of which was very large, the others of moderate size.
Apr 29 SS “Marsala” from Hamburg to New York 4515’N 4769[!]’W passed 2 bergs ~50′ high.
May 3 SS “Principia” from Leith to New York 4257’N 4911’W passed a berg 50′ high.
May 4 SS “Champagne” 4343’N 5120W a berg.
May 4 SS “Charlois” from Amsterdam to New York 4243’N 4845’W passed a moderate sized berg.
May 4 SS “La Gascogne” from Havre to New York 4445’N 5015’W passed a berg 20 metres high and 70 metres long.
May 4 SS “Umbria” from Liverpool to New York 4303’N 4755’W sighted 3 bergs, one ~180′ high; 4225’N 4930’W passed a berg ~100′ high.
May 4-5 SS “Berlin” from Southampton to New York 4416’N 4426’W passed a berg 200′ long and 50′ high; 5th, 4228’N 4919’W passed another moderate sized berg.
May 6 SS “Essen” 4140’N 4610’W a berg.
May 6 SS “Gellert” at New York from Hamburg between 4340’N and 4336’N and 4824’W and 4913’W passed 4 bergs of different sizes.
May 10? SS “Bernicia” 4729’N 5021’W passed through large quantities of drift ice. Steamed 9½ hours through ice. Dangerous bergs to north up to 300′ high and 3m long.
Jul 18 Wood barque “Martha” from Chaleur Bay to Glasgow hit berg on Banks and condemned. (IIP59).
Jul 28 Mission ship “Harmony” met bergs within 90m of Hopedale, arrived 31st. (EW).
Sep Feb 15, 1894 issue records: note found in bottle at Gigha, Hebrides “September, 1893. Sinking mid Atlantic. (SS) Hornhead. Collision iceberg.”