This winter, they [Gloucester fishermen] met none [ice] of any consequence in the gulf. (HB #23 Feb 7)
Jan 3 The harbour is still open and the ferry boat plying between the city and Southport this third day of January. (Pat 3 Jan p3#1)
Jan 5 Bridgewater, Nova Scotia- The river here is absolutely free from ice, an almost unprecedented condition at this time of year. (NYMR, p.2, col.3)
Jan 7 Pictou Harbour is free from ice. It is open later than known for many years. (Pat 7 Jan p3#1)
Jan 10 The ice in the harbour is all broken up and no appearance of ice can be seen outside. (Pat 10 Jan p3#1)
Jan 22 Captain Angrove of the “St. Pierre” which arrived last evening from St. Pierre reports having encountered field ice at seven o’clock on Tuesday night, which he did not clear of until two o’clock in the morning. (MH 28/02/1889 p3 #2)
Feb ? Schooner “Hermann Babion”, 80m W½S of St.Pierre encountered heavy drift ice, which extended all the way to Scatari. (MWR).
Feb ? Schooner “Cecil H. Low”, 20m SW from Scatari, heavy field ice. (MWR).
Feb 21 SS “St.Pierre” encountered field ice between St.Pierre and Halifax. (NYMR)
Mar Small quantities of field and drift ice have been seen near the Newfoundland and Nova Scotian coasts. A report from St. Ignace, Quebec, 25 inst., states that the ice had broken up and was moving down the St. Lawrence. (PCNAO Apr)
Mar 14 Port Mulgrave, Strait full of ice. (MH 15/03/1889 p3 #4)
Mar 25 Low Point CB, signaled off yesterday, brigt “Lillian,” May, St. Johns, NF, for Sydney; could not get in for ice proceeded to Glace Bay to-day. Ice light and open; wind north east. (MH 26/03/1889 p3 #5)
Mar 27 The harbor of Sydney, CB, is open. Some loose ice off the coast. (NYMR, p.2, col.4).
Mar 27 The Kennebee River is now open to navigation. Vessels arrived at Gardiner Mar. 25. (NYMR, p.2, col.3)
Mar 31 North Sydney, CB, the wind for the past two days has been from the southwest, which has nearly cleared the coast of drift ice. There has been no heavy ice on the coast this spring, except some light in the St. Lawrence. The harbors are all clear of ice and the mines are working and ready for shipping. The brigt “Jeanne Drac” French, two days out from St. Pierre, arrived this afternoon and reports no ice. (MH 01/04/1889 p3 #3)
Apr 1 The steamer “Princess” left Pictou at 2 o’clock, local time, yesterday and arrived here at 10 o’clock this morning. When the steamer reached Point Prim about 6 o’clock yesterday evening, Captain Cameron discovered that the ice had been blown out of Orwell Bay and extended from Point Prim to St. Peter’s Island, completely cutting off communication with this harbour. He was therefore obliged to anchor to the southward of Point Prim where the steamer lay to until 8 o’clock this morning. The snow storm commenced about 3 o’clock this morning, but lightened up somewhat at 8 when an entrance was found through the ice and the steamer proceeded to this port. (Pat 2 Apr p3#1)
Apr 6 Low Point, CB, wind strong northeast, some light ice coming in. (MH 06/04/1889 p3 #4)
Apr 6 Souris Notes – SS “Beaver” arrived at Souris on Saturday, the 6th inst. with freight and passengers. She started for Magdalen Islands, but had to put back to Souris on account of heavy ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. (Pat 8 Apr p3#1)
Apr 8 Low Point, CB- Ice light and open as far as can be seen from here. (NYMR, p.2, col.2)
Apr 8 Port Mulgrave, wind south, no ice. Low Point, ice light and open as far as can be seen from here. (MH 09/04/1889 p3 #5)
Apr 8 Port Hawkesbury, CB, the wind is about south to-day and no ice to be seen for some days. The Am schr “Flash” passed north Sunday a.m. for Cape North, so that we now do not expect any more ice this season, everyone preparing for business, a prosperous year anticipated. (MH 10/04/1889 p3 #3)
Apr 9 The steamer “Carroll” is not coming through to the Island this week. Reports from the Gut are unfavourable, stating the passage is blocked with ice. (Pat 9 Apr p3#1)
Apr 13 A telegram was received from Souris, PEI, on Saturday, stating that the SS “Beaver” with the mails was still there awaiting a chance to cross to the Magdalen Islands. She had been unable to do so on account of the ice. (MH 15/04/1889 p3 #1)
Apr 16 North Bay is full of ice again unfortunately, as we had anticipated an early spring and were preparing for same. Believe next southerly wind we bid adieu to the ice. (MH 16/04/1889 p3 #4)
Apr 16 Arrived at Port Hawkesbury, CB, str “Carroll”, Boston, delayed here on account of ice will proceed to Charlottetown first chance. (MH 18/04/1889 p3 #4)
Apr 16 Low Point, CB, some light ice north, distant 3 miles; schrs off for Sydney. (MH 17/04/1889 p3#4)
Apr 17 Low Point, CB, ice light and distant; wind South West. (MH 18/04/1889 p3 #4)
Apr 19 Low Point, CB, ice light open; water outside, distant about eight miles from here. (MH 11/04/1889 p3 #4)
Apr 23 SS “Glenrath” 46°N 59°32’W field ice ~5m by 1m in extent. (MWR)
Apr 25 Port Mulgrave, no ice in the Strait. Steamer “Carroll” and quite a fleet of sailing vessels went north Monday and did not return, believed they succeeded in getting to P E Island as reported. No ice from Cape George to Georgetown although strait is full. Wind south today, ice beginning to leave. (MH 26/04/1889 p3 #5)
Apr 27 SS “Lake Superior” off Bird Rocks, several narrow strips of ice. (MWR)
Apr 27 About 60 sail of Nova Scotian and American bankers arrived here yesterday. They report being unable to reach the Magdalen Islands, where some of them were bound for bait, on account of ice which is packed solid from East Point to Cape Breton. There is none this side of East Point. On account of the blockade the steamer “Beaver” had not yet been able to reach the Magdalen Islands. The brigts “Sirius” and “Esquilla” arrived this morning via Straits of Canso. (MH 29/04/1889 p3 #4)
Jun 16 SS “Montreal” from 51°52’N 55°25’W westward through the Straits of Belle Isle, no icebergs or field ice seen. (MWR Jun.142.2)