1883 Season
No Northern ice at Bay of Islands this year. (GR p.88)
Dec 8 Local ice formed Bonne Bay. (GR p.85)
Jan 3 Local ice formed St. George’s Bay. (GR p.91)
Jan 8 The “Northern Light” returned to Georgetown, this morning being unable to effect a crossing to Pictou, and the mails have been returned to this city. The Captain reports that there is more ice in the Straits between Georgetown and Pictou at present then there was when the steamer stopped running last winter. We learn that the Postmaster here has ordered all mails which have been detained on the Mainland to Cape Tormentine, and that a mail will be forwarded at 4:30 this afternoon from Charlottetown, via the Capes route. Captain Irving of the ice boat at Cape Traverse informed the Postmaster that the prospect of effecting a speedy crossing with the mails to Cape Tormentine is good. We hope that so far as the mails are concerned, the route by the Capes will be adhered to for the remainder of the winter. (Pat 8 Jan p2#2)
Jan 10 SS “Edgar Stuart”, for Georgetown, PEI, has been prevented by the ice in the Gulf from reaching his destination. (LL)
Jan 12 The “Northern Light,” after ineffectual attempts for several days to get across Pictou, returned to Georgetown on Monday, and the mails have been ordered to the Cape’s route, to cross in the ice boats. The captain of the “Northern Light” states there is more ice in the straits between Georgetown to Pictou then there was when the steamer stopped running last winter. (MH 12/01/1883 p3 #1)
Jan 20 Local ice formed Bay of Islands. (GR p.88)
Jan 24 The ice in the Basin of Minas and in the bay at Canning, NS, in Jan 15 was very heavy, and vessels would experience great difficulty in getting in or out of the harbor until the coming of milder weather. (NYMR, p. 5, col. 1)
Jan ~24 Steamer “Valetta” arrived St. John’s this morning, Feb 9, from Boston completely encased in ice. She was 16 days out, having been imprisoned in an ice field off the Nova Scotian coast for 9 days. The Newfoundland coast and even the harbor of St. Johns are absolutely free from ice. (MH 07/02/1883 p3 #6)
Jan 26 Ice 40 miles outside Burgeo. (GR p.94)
Jan 26 The steamer “Alhambra” from St. John’s, Nfld., arrived Wednesday. The captain states that the steamer passed through a quantity of floating ice off the coast of Cape Breton, and off Scatterie the ice extended as far as the eye could see. (MH 26/01/1883 p3 #2)
Jan 27 Northern ice arrived Bonne Bay. (GR p.85)
Jan 29 The steamer “George Shattuck” which arrived [Halifax] Saturday morning at 8 o’clock from St. Pierre, Miq., via Cow Bay, passed through large quantities of floating ice after being 1 day out. (MH 29/01/1883 p3 #1)
Jan 29 The mails are crossing both ways today. (Pat 29 Jan p3#1)
Feb Gulf ice arrived St. George’s Bay. (GR p.91)
Feb 7 No mails crossing today from either side. (Pat 7 Feb p3#1)
Feb 10 SS “George Shattuck”, 60 miles from St. Pierre encountered vast fields of ice until she reached Whitehead. (MWR Feb 31.2)
Feb 10 Halifax, arrived, steamer “Newfoundland,” from St. John’s, NF; encountered slob ice in 57°W up to Canso, also scattered ice between Scatterie and Louisburg. (MH 12/02/1883 p3 #5)
Feb 12 The “George Shattuck” left St. Pierre, Miq., last Wednesday morning and arrived here early Saturday. When sixty miles out from St. Pierre she encountered vast fields of ice which continued till she reached Whitehead. (MH 12/02/1883 p3 #1)
Feb 13 A Halifax dispatch announces that upwards of one hundred vessels laden with potatoes are frozen in at different points in the bay, and cannot be got out before the spring. (Pat 13 Feb p1#5)
Feb 16 Mails crossing both ways today. The boats left Cape Tormentine at 7:30 am. (Pat 16 Feb p3#1)
Feb 17 The Gulf of St. Lawrence is covered with sheet ice; weather mild, wind SW. (LL).
Feb 18 Stmr “Newfoundland” (Br.), at Halifax, NS, Feb 22, from St. John’s NF, reported having past a field of ice extending from St. John’s to Whitehead, being visible as far as the eye could see. (NYMR, p. 4, col. 5)
Feb 18 Lunenburg, NS, harbor was free of ice on Feb 17. (NYMR, p. 4, col. 5)
Feb 19 SS “Violet”, 40 miles east of Louisburg encountered heavy drift ice. The vessel drifted about the ice field for 11 days, during which time a hole, about 6’ long, was knocked in her starboard bow. Arrived Halifax Mar 4. (MWR Feb 31.2)
Feb 20 Ice arrived Burgeo (heavy) and Gaultois. (GR p.35,94&99)
Feb 21 Local ice formed at La Poile. (GR p.92)
Feb 22 The Halifax Chronicle of the 23rd says, “The steamer “Newfoundland” arrived last evening from St. John’s, Newfoundland. She reports having encountered large quantities of heavy ice on the passage. The ice extended from St. John’s to Whitehead, and as far as the eye could see. On Wednesday, a French brig was observed in the ice on St. Peter’s bank, making for St. Peter’s.” (Pat 26 Feb p3#1)
Feb 23 Steamer “Newfoundland” arrived last evening from St. John’s, Nfld., reports that heavy Northern ice had already been seen to the Eastward of Cape Race. The steamer left St. John’s on Monday afternoon and encountered red ice from that port to Whitehead, also passed through 150 miles of Gulf ice from abreast of St. Peter’s Bank to Louisburg. (MH 23/02/1883 p3 #1)
Feb 25 Ice arrived Ramea. (GR p.35&97)
Feb 27 Gulf ice arrived Harbour Breton. (GR p.35&100)
Mar 3 The steamer “George Shattuck” hence, arrived at St. Pierre, Miq., at 10 o’clock Thursday morning, having passed through large quantities of heavy drift ice. (MH 03/03/1883 p3 #1)
Mar 4 SS “Newcastle City” 40m south of Sambro, NS got into a field of ice and was detained in it 8 hours. (MWR).
Mar 5 Gulf ice arrived St. Pierre. Left March 28. (GR P.29&35)
Mar 5 Ice at Cape Ray. (GR p.32)
Mar 6 The steamer “Violet” Capt. Storm, from New Orleans, via Louisburg, CB, bound to Bremen, arrived at this port [Halifax] yesterday, having had her bow stove by ice. After leaving Louisburg, 17 days ago, the steamer encountered heavy drift ice, 40 miles east of that place and was in it for eleven days. Her starboard was stove, and her collision department is full of water. The ship is tight otherwise. (MH 06/03/1883 p3 #1)
Mar 6 We have been requested to publish the following letter which appeared in the St. John’s, Nfld., “Mercury” of the 8th inst: – St. John’s, March 6th, 1883. To the Editor Evening Mercury : Dear sir, – Permit us to intrude upon your columns for the purpose of dispelling some wrong ideas which appear to prevail with regard to the steamer “Newfoundland.” We were among her passengers on her late passage from Halifax to this port, and notwithstanding she had to force her way through four hundred and fifty miles of ice – so heavy and solid at places as to render her progress extremely difficult, we experienced a feeling of perfect security during the entire voyage. (MH 28/03/1883 p3 #2)
Mar 12 The Allan steamer “Newfoundland” arrived [Halifax] yesterday morning from St. John’s NF. She encountered ice from that port to the Nova Scotia and had the four blades of her propeller broken by the ice. (MH 12/03/1883 p3 #1)
Mar 13 SS “Newfoundland” arrived Halifax 10th, had to make her way through ice the whole passage and for a whole day was frozen up. (Newf.)
Mar 14 Stmr “Geo. Shattuck” at Halifax March 8 from St. Pierre, Miq., reported passing through heavy fields of ice nearly the whole passage, getting clear of it only off Sheet Harbor, NS. (NYMR, p. 5, col. 1)
Mar 18 Halifax, arrived, steamer “Rauzani,” bound to Louisburg, CB but found the ice too heavy. (MH 19/03/1883 p3 #7)
Mar 19 Channel blocked, ice rafted up several feet. (GR p.32)
Mar 20 The steamer “Newfoundland” which arrived Saturday night encountered much ice on the way here and was jammed for 16 hours. (MH 23/03/1883 p3 #6)
Mar 20 Brigt “Nellie Crosby,” of Yarmouth, NS, arrived at St. John’s, NB, from Exeter, Eng., via Shelburne, NS. The Captain reports that he met with severe weather the first part of the passage. On the 20th ult., he ran into a lot of field ice on Banquereau Bank and was in and about the ice for three nights and two days, without sustaining any damage save a slight chafing. (MH 13/04/1883 p3#5)
Mar 24 Ice Cape Ray. (GR p.32)
Mar 27 Ice departed Gaultois. (GR p.35&99)
Mar 28 Gulf ice left St. Pierre. (GR p.29&35)
Mar 28 “Nimrod” beset off Rose Blanche. (GR p.32)
Mar 28 Ice arrived La Poile. (GR p.35)
Mar 28 Local ice cleared La Poile, Gulf ice arrived. (GR p.92)
Mar 28 Ice departed Harbour Breton. (GR p.35&100)
Mar 28 Northern ice departed Bonne Bay. (GR p.85)
Mar 31 Ice departed Ramea. (GR p.35&97)
Apr 2 “Kite” and “Nimrod” clear gone up Gulf, a very cold winter in the Gulf. (GR p.32)
Apr 4 North Sydney, CB, harbor open to navigation April 2. (NYMR, p. 5, col. 2)
Apr 4 The ice, we hear is fast breaking up about Montague Bridge and wharves. The mud-diggers have all been hauled ashore. (Pat 4 Apr p3#1)
Apr 5 Ice departed La Poile. (GR p.35&92)
Apr 7 Ice departed Burgeo. (GR p.35&94)
Apr 8 Magdalen Islands, the ice disappeared on the 8th inst., on which date the sealing schooner left for the Gulf seal fishery. No reports had been received from them since, but it is feared they will not meet with much success as the ice is a solid block and very heavy between the north-east of the Magdalens and Straits of Belle Isle, through which vessels cannot navigate. The “Beaver” encountered no ice between P E Island and the Magdalen Islands. (MH 28/04/1883 p3 #1)
Apr 9 No approach to Channel; ice rafted up 20 feet. (GR p.32)
Apr 9 Cabot Strait not mentioned [in Newfoundland papers] after this date. (GR p.31)
Apr 9 Vessels arriving at various Atlantic ports report having encountered very large fields of ice on the Grand Banks and around St. Pierre and Newfoundland. (Pat 9 Apr p3#1)
Apr 10 Gulf ice departed St. George’s Bay. (GR p.91)
Apr 12 There had been solid pack ice in the Gulf all the spring, such as the most powerful ships could not penetrate. (MH 16/04/1883 p3 #5)
Apr 16 The ice is breaking up around the wharves and a channel is open as far out as the three tides. The Island steamboats are undergoing repairs and there is a good prospect of navigation opening in a few days. (Pat 16 Apr p3#1)
Apr 17 Crossing in the ferry is very dangerous owing to the breaking up of the ice. There would be no trouble in running the ferry steamers at present if the Government had made an effort to have them ready in time. (Pat 17 Apr p3#1)
Apr 17 A St. John’s, Newfoundland, telegram of the 12 inst says “Advices from the Channel state that the Gulf seal fishery is a failure. The steamer “Kite” is on her way home, short of coal and without any seals. It is reported that the steamers “Nimrod” and “Leopard” are empty. There has been solid pack ice in the Gulf all the spring, such as the most powerful ships could not penetrate. The steamer “Panther” arrived from the Straits of Belle Isle this afternoon in a leaky condition. She got jammed in the ice of Isle [Îslet] au Bois and was compelled to put back for repairs.” (Pat 17 Apr p3#1)
Apr 18 The first schooner outward from Quebec started down the St. Lawrence River on April 14. (NYMR, p. 5, col. 3)
Apr 18 The ice in the harbour is completely broken up. (Pat 18 Apr p3#1)
Apr 18 Montague Notes – The snow is about all gone in this section. The ice still holds between this place and Georgetown although it is all open water above and for some distance below the bridge. (Pat 18 Apr p4#1)
Apr 20 Local ice cleared out Bay of Islands. (GR p.88)
Apr 21 Local ice cleared St. George’s Bay. (GR p.91)
Apr 21 The steamers “Princess of Wales” and “St. Lawrence” crossed yesterday to Pictou. The latter left Pictou at 3 o’clock but having met with ice did not arrive here until this morning. (Pat 21 Apr p3#1)
Apr 23 The ice has disappeared. (Pat 23 Apr p3#1)
Apr 27 Cow Bay, CB., brigt “OK” [?] from Boston for St. Pierre, Miq., put in on account of ice. (MH 04/05/1883 p3 #5)
May “The southern limit [of icebergs] extended from Cape Breton Island southeastward to 40°30’N. No ice-fields were reported in the Atlantic ice region during the month, but much ice was observed in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.” None of the conditions which affected the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Nova Scotian coast last May were experienced this May. (MWR May 104.2)
May 2 Local ice cleared Bonne Bay. (GR p.85)
May 2 River St. Lawrence navigation- Montreal, April 28- Navigation now open here, several river steamers having arrived in port. (NYMR, p. 4, col. 3)
May 2 Magdalens, the SS “Beaver” arrived at Georgetown yesterday, May 2nd from the Magdalen Islands. There is no ice to be seen. (MH 07/05/1883 p3 #5)
May 5 Ship “Zambezi” when 16m off Scatari, CB, struck heavy ice; stove in bows and sank in 20 minutes. (HR & MWR May 105.1)
May 5 The American schooner “Commodore Foot” arrived this afternoon with Captain Thompson and crew of the British barque “Zambesi” which foundered at sea on the 5th inst. The captain reports that he sailed from for Quebec. On the 5th, at 9 p.m. about sixteen miles east of Scatarie struck heavy ice which stove in the bow. The ship foundered in about twenty minutes. The captain and crew took to the boats and were out about twelve hours when they were picked up by the schooner that brought them into port. (MH 08/05/1883 p3 #2)
May 6 Paspelias [Paspebiac?]Bay on May 6 was clear of ice and vessels were daily expected to arrive from European ports. (NYMR 16 May p. 5, col. 2)
May 7 North Sydney, the steamer “Nettlesworth” which sailed for Quebec on the 4th, returned to day for repairs with starboard bow stove. The captain reports that he came in contact with ice on Saturday, about 15 miles NNE of Bird Rocks. Kept steering around the edge of it and on Sunday became surrounded and about noon found starboard bow stove in, caused by the underswell. (MH 08/05/1883 p3 #2)
May 8-11 Ship “Festina Lente” near Bird Rock and Magden Islands, encountered much ice. (MWR May 105.1)
May 9 Minas basin in now clear of ice, and vessels are arriving there for to load plaster. (NYMR, p. 5, col. 3)
May 10 Caraquet, NB, May 12- Navigation opened here on the 10th, some 8 days earlier than last year. (NYMR, p. 4, col. 4)
May 12 “Leopard” beset off Bonne Bay. (GR p.32)
Jun Newfoundland coast blocked until June. (GR p.31)
Jun 7 St. John’s: 30 sealing schooners are reported fast in the heavy field-ice in the northern part of Gulf of St. Lawrence. (MWR Jun.131.1)
Jun 8 Bonne Bay coast blocked. (GR p.30)
Jun 8 Bay of Islands and 12 miles off Cow Head packed with ice to the Strait of Belle Isle. (GR p.32)
Jun 9 Port au Choix was blocked until 9 June. The gulf rafted from Wood Island to St. Barbe, and from Port au Choix to Shecatica [Ile Checatica]. (GR p.31)
Jul 17 SS “Barcelona” collided with berg 100m E of Anticosti. (HR).