No ice mentioned for Gulf area in HB this year.
Oct 16 Last eastbound steamer through the Strait of Belle Isle. (WBB)
Jan 10 City and Provincial – Captain Hubley, of the Schooner “Warren W” arrived in the city yesterday from Montague, report that during their trip from Halifax, they found the straits entirely clear of ice. The only ice they encountered was a thin coating on the Montague River. (Pat 11 Jan p3#3)
Jan 15 3 schooners got adrift from Corner Brook… when the gale broke up the ice (TWS, Current Topics, Col. 5)
Bay of Islands schooner arrived… at North Sydney (TWS, Current Topics, Col. 3)
Jan 15 The Humber has not yet frozen over. The Arm today is as free of ice as in mid-summer, a condition unprecedented in the remembrance of the old inhabitants of the Bay of Islands. (TWS, Brief and Newsy, Col. 5)
Jan 29 Schooner… sailed for Boston (TWS, Current Topics, Col. 3)
Feb 5 For the first time this season the Humber Arm was completely frozen over. The ice is now strong enough for traffic between the settlements in the Bay. (TWS, Current Topics, Col. 3)
Feb 5 The Reid Nfld Co. steamer has just completed a trip to Griquet, Strait of Belle Isle. It most unusual for a steamer to get as far north this time of year (TWS, Feb 5, Current Topics, Col. 3)
Feb 12 The ice crop at Bay of Islands will be a failure this winter. (TWS, Brief and Newsy, Col. 6)
Feb 19 The “Stanley” left Tormentine at 1:40 pm yesterday and succeeded in getting within two miles of Charleston Head on her return. She was in the straits all night and at half past eight this morning Cape Tormentine reported to Mr. Lord that she was fast in the ice ten miles south of Tormentine Reef. At half past ten, Harbour Master Myers, Victoria reported that she was Southwest from Crapaud, about ten miles, still going east. There is a strong breeze blowing from the Northwest. Latest reports state that she was off Hampton, about ten miles from Cape Traverse. (Pat 20 Feb p?#2)
Feb 21 Shortly after twelve o’clock the news that the “Stanley” was coming in the harbour spread though the city. This is the earliest date in the history of winter navigation that the steamer reached Charlottetown. Owing to the large quantity of ice to the west and the continuance of northwest winds, the Captain considered it useless to force the barrier. Captain Taylor, of St. Peter’s Island, who came to town this morning, informed the PATRIOT that when he left home at 9 o’clock this morning, the “Stanley” was west, south west of St. Peter’s Island, about 7 or 8 miles off. She was then headed east, and appeared to be in a solid jam of ice. The field extended east and west as far as the eye could see. The edge of it was about a mile and a half from the shore. From the edge of that field up to the Block-House there is open water. The ice evidently dropped down the straits from the northward and was exceedingly heavy… [Sent in prior to the steamers arrival] (Pat 21 Feb p1#4)
Feb 22 Capt. Brown brought the “Stanley” into Charlottetown yesterday, for coal and shelter. He considered it impossible, on account of the ice to proceed west or east and finding an open lead from Chance Cove down past St. Peter’s Island, he after attempting to go west and discovering that the opening took him into shoal water, turned the steamer to Charlottetown, rather than remain outside in the ice all night. The fact of the “Stanley” entering our harbour would not justify the attempting of winter navigation between Charlottetown and Pictou. It is evident from Capt. Brown’s statement that neither the “Minto” or “Stanley” could reach Charlottetown from Pictou – under present condition of the straits. (Pat 22 Feb p4#2)
Feb 22 The “Stanley” which left Charlottetown on Saturday morning, arrived at the edge of the board ice off Sea Cow Head on the evening. The steamer made a capital run up the straits having on the Island side nearly all open water until within about seven miles of Summerside. Here, stretching between Sea Cow Head and the shoals was a heavy barrier of ice piled up several thicknesses and so heavy that penetration of it was an impossibility. (Pat 24 Feb p1#4)
Feb 24 Pictou, the “Minto” arrived at Georgetown at ten o’clock this morning. The “Minto” got caught in the ice off King’s Head, in sight of Pictou, on Saturday afternoon, and remained there until 7 o’clock this morning, when she got clear of the ice and proceeded to Georgetown. (HH 25/02/1902 p7 last col)
Feb 24 The “Minto” arrived in Georgetown at 10:30 this morning. She had been detained off Pictou Island by the ice driven in there by the north easterly wind. This morning a change of wind loosened the ice and released the steamer. (Pat 24 Feb p8#3)
Feb 26 Rev. Fr. Brown of Stephenville was called to Bonne Bay …having journeyed over 200 miles … reports Bonne Bay free of ice, with no drift in sight. (TWS, Current Topics, Col. 3)
Mar 1 The Strait of Canso has not only been ice blocked, but freight blocked as well. Not since the opening of the railway has there been so much trouble in the strait as a result of ice. The railway officials state that they want a jam at Cape Porcupine, but Jack Frost is not severe enough to bring this about – North Sydney Herald (Pat 1 Mar p8#3)
Mar 2 The “Minto” arrived at Georgetown at 10:30 yesterday making the trip in 3.5 hours. The southwest wind had made clear water for about three miles from Pictou, beyond that and over to Cape Bear there was a continuous barrier of heavy ice but loose enough to offer no difficulty. Between these points there was scarcely a mile of clear water. From Cape Bear to Panmure Island there was little ice to contend with. The straits towards Charlottetown, appeared full of ice. On Saturday, the steamer took five hours in crossing being obliged to go out of her course towards Cape George and making altogether 70 miles, 32 miles further than the summer route. On Saturday she met with heavy ice more solidly jammed right to Pictou. A westerly wind to clear Pictou and drive the ice past Cape George and into the Gulf will make the path clear. (Pat 3 Mar p8#3)
Mar 5 Reports from Anticosti state that the gulf of St. Lawrence is as free of ice …as in the summer (TWS, Current Topics, Col. 3)
Mar 5 Pictou, The steamer “Minto” left Charlottetown this morning at seven o’clock and arrived here at eleven. She reports lot of ice. (HH 06/03/1902 p7#2 bottom)
Mar 7 Pictou. Pictou, the steamer “Minto” left Charlottetown at 7 a.m. to-day and arrived here at 11:30 a.m. Reports lots of ice in the gulf. (HH 08/03/1902 p4#4)
Mar 8-17 Low Point, NS: Ice was first observed on March 8th last year [1902] and disappeared March 17th, the coast remaining clear afterwards. (Pat 28 Jan 1903 p1#6)
Mar 12 The Humber Arm is now entirely free of ice (TWS, Here and There, Col. 3)
Mar 12 There is no drift in sight between Port-aux-Basques and Bonne Bay (TWS, Here and There, Col. 3)
Mar 12 Sealing Reports state very little ice, some drifting east (Blanc Saumon [Blanc Sablon?]) (TWS, Sealing News, Col. 2)
Mar 18 In 1902 the schooner “Belle J. Neal” sailed from Summerside, Bay of Islands, for Boston. The vessel completed the trip and returned to Curling again on 18th March without encountering any ice during the voyage. Not until the first week of February that year was the Humber Arm solidly frozen over, and a month later it was completely free of ice. (TWS 30 Jan 1929 p.2)
Mar 19 Large bodies of ice were passed through in the Cabot Strait on the last [?] 3 trips the “Bruce” made across (TWS, Current Topics, Col. 3)
Mar 22 Meat Cove, last Thursday a strip of gulf ice struck St. Paul’s Island and the people landed seventy seals from it. Yesterday some ice came in at East Point, Magdalens and about 500 seals were landed there. The schooners “William Albert” and “Formosa” arrived at House Harbor to-day from the gulf. They report very light ice in the gulf. (HH 24/03/1902 p1#5)
Mar 26 Ice flowing out of Grand Bay a few miles east of Port-aux-Basques carried out one railway trestle. (TWS, Current Topics, Col. 3)
Mar 27 Quebec:- All the signal service stations in the Gulf and lower St. Lawrence, with the exception of Belle Isle, report no ice in sight. At Belle Isle, heavy loose packed ice is reported as far as the eye can see. (NYMR 2 Apr p. 9, col. 5 & HB #657 Apr 2)
Mar 28 Sydney Light: the coast of eastern Nova Scotia and Gulf of St.Lawrence continue clear and vessels arriving from Newfoundland report bays and harbours on southwest coast free of ice. (NYMR)
Mar 28 Sydney Light, NS:- [continued from entry] A small field remains stationary in vicinity of Prince Edward Island. This, however has been considerably broken up during the past week, and should it spread out in the Gulf is not of sufficient quantity or size to interrupt navigation. (NYMR 2 Apr p. 9, col. 5)
Mar 31 Navigation on the St. Lawrence River. (NYMR 2 Apr p. 9, col. 2)
Mar 31 Montreal, the St. Lawrence is Clear and Navigation is About Open. The ice has all gone out of the river and the Richelieu and Ontario Navigation company are expected to open navigation on Thursday or Friday. The first arrival from the sea is not expected until about the first of May. (HH 01/04/1902 p1#2)
Apr 2 The schooner “Sea Lark” of Fortune Bay arrived at North Sydney… She was the first sailing vessel to arrive at that port this season. (TWS, Current Topics, Col. 3)
Apr 2 Navigation from the Lakes to the Atlantic via the St. Lawrence is expected to open about April 10. (NYMR 2 Apr p. 9, col. 2)
Apr 4 The SS “Harlaw’s” Report. (St. John’s, Nfld. Paper) The SS “Harlaw” arrived from the Gulf by way of Channel at 7 o’clock yesterday evening. The “Harlaw” struck the seals on the 4th, NW of the Magdalens Islands. The men took a few Friday night and on Saturday morning turned out for real business, and under great difficulties as regards the condition of the ice, but over a thousand old and young were put on board that day. Next day being Sunday they took no seals. On Monday St. Patrick’ day, 1,230 old and young hoods were stowed on board. Heavy undertow now began to work with more effect among the ice and broke it up into small pieces. Next day, Tuesday, the work was very difficult and only 150 seals were secured. It was almost impossible to get about over the ice and there were very few large pans. Next day, Wednesday, Captain Scott steamed around to the Magdalens and about 20 miles south of the island came across a patch of young harps. (HH 05/04/1902 p10#5)
Apr 16 Advertisements- Vessels requiring ice at St. Georges will find it convenient to take some from the undersigned who has a large quantity stored at Stephenville Beach – Ice for sale. Between 4 and 5 hundred tons. For sale cheap at Burgeo. (TWS, Col. 3)
Apr 16 The SS “Bruce” reports no ice in the Cabot Strait. (TWS, Current Topics, Col. 3)
Apr 23 The SS “Douro” which as returned to Quebec from her first trip of the season to the Labrador coast reports that during the voyage not a particle of ice was met and that the river below was as clear as in mid-summer (TWS, Current Topics, Col. 3)
Apr 25 The Ferry steamer makes her last trip from this side at 7 pm. (Pat 25 Apr p8#3)
May 14 There is no ice in the Strait of Belle Isle (TWS, Current Topics, Col. 3)
May 23 Anticosti, South Point – Cloudy north, no ice.
July 24 First Westbound steamer through the strait of Belle Isle. (WBB)