1917 Season
Nov 26 Crane Island: scattered ice. Matane: ice making fast. L’Islet: ice making fast. (HB 1423 Dec 6 CSS)
Nov 27 Crane Island: river covered with ice. Point Escuminac: ice making fast; heavy close packed ice inshore. (HB 1423 Dec 6 CSS)
Nov 29 Last eastbound steamer through the Strait of Belle Isle. (WBB)
Nov 30 Crane Island: light open ice. L’Islet: river covered with ice. (HB 1423 Dec 6 CSS)
Dec 2 Crane Island: light open ice. (HB 1423 Dec 6 CSS)
Dec 11 Last departure of the season from Quebec. (WBB)
Dec 19 J.A. Ward, Lightkeeper, Miscou Point, New Brunswick: Closing date. (CIS IC0756)
Jan 1 The “Northumberland” has made her last trip for the season on the Summerside – Point du Chene route. She arrived in Summerside last evening and left this morning for Charlottetown. At the time of writing, 10:45 am, she had not arrived, and as there is coating of ice all over the straits she may have some difficulty in getting in. (Pat 1 Jan p1#3)
Jan 6 The Car Ferry docked at 12:15 am today, having been delayed by heavy rafted ice in the bay. (Pat 6 Jan p8#4)
Jan 8 The “Prince Edward Island” left Pictou today for Georgetown. The “Stanley” will leave Charlottetown at 8:45 this evening. Next Sunday the time for leaving will be changed to 8:00 and retained until the close of the winter. (Pat 8 Jan p5#3)
Jan 17 The ice which formed in the Humber Arm during the cold snap of Saturday night was taken out again on Sunday. (TWS, p.2)
Jan 20 Both winter steamers, left port today at 7:00 am. Up to noon there was no report of their arrival in Pictou or Georgetown. As a snow storm developed since their departure it may be assumed that they are held up by the weather. Where they are the Lord only knows. (Pat 20 Jan p8#4)
Jan 23 A telegram from Capt. Senchbaugh of the “Stanley” via wireless received today as follows: 9 am “Stanley” about ten miles south east of Cape Bear, worked all night made no progress. Ship drifting south-east, no prospects of getting in till change of wind or assistance from Car Ferry. (Pat 23 Jan p1#3)
Jan 23 The “Stanley” docked in Georgetown at 5:20 pm yesterday and will remain over till tomorrow. The car ferry left this morning and will return tomorrow. Everything has been got ready at the capes transfer the mails there as soon as conditions justify but no change will be made as long as the steamers continue to make regular trips. (Pat 24 Jan p5#2)
Jan 24 The SS “Portia” left St. John’s on Wednesday on her regular trip on the Western route coming as far as Channel. So far as ice conditions are concerned however, there is nothing to prevent her from proceeding to Bonne Bay. (TWS,p.3).
Jan 24 Jack Frost has succeeded in bridging the Humber and on Monday people crossed over between Curling and Summerside the first time for the season. (TWS, p.3).
Jan 24 The “Sable” leaves North Sydney today for St. John’s thence to Bay of Islands, ice permitting, so Bagg Bros. were advised yesterday by Farquhar & Co. (TWS, p.3).
Jan 24 Slob ice extends down the Humber nearly to Meadows, but west of Bagg Bros. wharf it is not considered safe to walk on, and yesterday Gorton-Pew’s little steamer experienced little trouble in coming up the Humber to Curling. In fact, she did remarkable work, considering her size and weight. (TWS, p.3)
Jan 27 Gloucester: Schooner “Nat A. Gorton” which arrived today from the Bay of Islands reports sailing from there Jan 26 at which time it was extremely cold with heavy easterly and northerly winds. .. When he sailed for home the bays were fast freezing up but all vessels succeeded in escaping. On Jan. 27 when 30 miles SW by S from Cape Ray, got jammed in the heavy field ice for 18 hours and came near losing the vessel by being chafed with the drift ice. After getting clear of the ice open pans were met crossing Cabot Strait and continued to be met until reaching Scatari where the ice was close in shore. W of Scatari to Green Island heavy open ice was met with, and at Canso great quantities were coming out of Chedabucto Bay, which apparently had come through the Gut of Canso. West of Canso the only ice seen was that which came out of harbours and ice close inshore. (HB #1432 Feb 7)
Jan 29 After a hard battle with the ice the “Stanley” succeeded in reaching Georgetown last night at 7:30. It has been decided to lay her up at Georgetown until further orders and the car ferry service will be maintained tri-weekly between Georgetown and Pictou. The mail train left last night for Cape Traverse and unless the storm today interferes the boats will make their first crossing for the season. (Pat 30 Jan p5#1)
Jan 31 The ice on the Humber Arm appears to be quite firm now to Meadows, while slob ice extends beyond Woods Island. (TWS, p.2)
Jan 31 A Curling Bay of Islands, Nfld, dispatch says: The first appearance of drift ice was reported near Point Rich yesterday. A stiff breeze was blowing from the northwest. (HH 31/01/1917 p9#6,7)
Feb 9 The “Stanley” left Pictou on Friday morning for Halifax but found the ice so heavy in the Gulf that she was obliged to give up the attempt. When the car ferry was on her way to Georgetown on Saturday she noticed the “Stanley” off Boughton Island apparently in difficulties and in danger of being driven on the reef. Captain Murchison at once went to her aid, cut her out, enabling her to reach Georgetown, where she now lies awaiting further orders. (Pat 12 Feb p8#3)
Feb 15-22 U.S. Coast Guard Cutter “Ossipee”, February 14, 1917, the master of the steamer “Golden Rod” [requested] that a path be broken in the ice from Castine to Belfast [Maine]. He stated that an [attempt was made to] break through the ice and that the copper had been tore off the bottom [of his boat]. … Ice and shoal water made handling of vessel difficult; 43°23’N 68°48’W. [Other reports in this file indicate that the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter “Ossipee” was engaged in icebreaking in the Belfast area Feb 15-22, 1914.] (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Archives I, Washington, D.C., Record Group 26, Part II, Entry 166 (NC-31), Copies of Reports of Assistance Rendered, 1903-1914, Report #18, p. 49) [Note, this file contains numerous other reports of icebreaking activities of U.S. Coast Guard Cutters, but time did not permit these to be collected.]
Feb 21 A number of people have tried for cod through the ice in Humber Arm the past week. We have heard of several very good fish having been taken. (TWS, p.3).
Feb 21 The Reid steamers are meeting with considerable ice crossing the Cabot Straits. (TWS, p.3)
Feb 21 Owing to the large quantities of ice in the Cabot Straits which have blocked the entry to North Sydney, the steamers “Kyle” and “Sagona” have had to go to Louisburg. (TWS, p.3)
Feb 27 SS “Lyngenfjord” 45°21’N 58°38’W saw considerable quantities of detached ice. (NYMR)
Feb 28 The schooner “Lillian O.” was driven ashore in the ice at Hr. Le Cou during the storm of last Tuesday, and became a total wreck. (TWS, p.3)
Feb 28 Halifax, enormous quantities of freight for shipment to St. John’s, Nfld., have accumulated at New York and Halifax. Cabot Strait, practically closed by ice, further accumulations must follow, which will mean a very serious matter to Newfoundland merchants and those of St. John’s in particular. (HH 28/02/1917 p9#5)
Mar 3 Halifax, the topsail schooner “Forbin,” which was towed to Halifax from Whitehead, after battling with ice for two months coming from Charlottetown, arrived at Gloucester on Wednesday. [HH?]
Mar 7 Owing to delays by ice to the steamers plying on Cabot Straits, the trains from the west have been somewhat irregular reaching here of late. (TWS, p.3)
Mar 7 Halifax, heavy ice in the Cabot Strait is seriously interfering with the steamers “Kyle” and “Sagona” on the service from Louisburg to Port aux Basques. (HH 07/03/1917 p7#6)
Mar 12 The car ferry met with very heavy ice yesterday and did not reach Pictou until 11:45 pm. (Pat 13 Mar p8#3)
Mar 14 Halifax, the warmer weather of the past few days has resulted in partly opening up to navigation several harbors to the eastward and westward of Halifax, which have been frozen up tight since the first of the year. Several coastwise vessels have already been released from their winter quarters and are being made ready for service in the Halifax trade. Another fortnight of warm weather should witness a revival of shipping business all along the coast. (HH 14/03/1917 p9#2)
Mar 17 The ice in the Cabot Strait is exceptionally heavy which is seriously delaying traffic between Newfoundland and Cape Breton. (HH 17/03/1917 p11#2)
Mar 18-19 Large quantities of ice in Cabot Strait. (NYMR)
Mar 29 Halifax, DGS “Stanley,” which damaged her propeller and rudder in the ice after leaving North Sydney for the Magdalen Islands, will come to Halifax after effecting temporary repairs at North Sydney. (HH 29/03/1917 p9#7)
Apr 3 DG “Stanley” arrived yesterday from Louisburg convoyed from that port by the “Lady Laurier.” The “Stanley” damaged her steel rudder so badly in the ice while trying to reach the Magdalen Islands with the mails from North Sydney, that she will require a new one. (HH 03/04/1917 p9#6)
Apr 3-4 Between Cape Breton and Sable Island, a large field. A steamer was in it 2 days. She reported that 3 steamers put back into port with bows stove in. (HB #1442 Apr 18)
Apr 9 A dispatch from Amherst Harbor says that there is no change in the condition of the ice in the gulf and around the Magdalens. The dispatch adds that there is quite enough of it and east winds are prevailing. (HH 09/04/1917 p9#6)
Apr 11 Magdalen Islands, light open ice everywhere. Cape Ray, no ice. Flat Point, heavy open distant. Money Point, light open distant. St. Paul’s Island, light close packed everywhere. Scatarie, heavy close packed, stationary. (HH 13/04/1917 p9#6)
Apr 13 J.A. Ward, Lightkeeper, Miscou Point, New Brunswick: Opening date. (CIS IC0756)
Apr 14 Souris, light drift ice Cape Bear to East Point; north coast clear, no herring. Queensport, Three hundred herring at a boat today, no ice in bay. Amherst Harbor, Ice conditions reported are as follows: Ice everywhere around the island, except to the south of Amherst Island seems to be an opening; Pleasant Bay, mass of ice. (HH 16/04/1917 p9#7)
Apr 20 Steamer “Corunna” arrived back from her work carrying coal from Sydney and Louisburg to St. John’s, Nfld. About every trip down there she encountered ice and terrific weather. (HH 20/04/1917 p9#7)
Apr 20 South Point, Heath Point, St. Paul’ Island, Flat Point, Cape Tormentine, Magdalen Islands, Cape Bear, open ice everywhere. Money Point, open ice inshore. Scatarie, foggy; Cape Ray, no ice; Point Tupper, clear; River Quebec to Montreal, expect to be clear Tuesday next. (HH 23/04/1917 p11#7)
Apr 22 Halifax, steamship “Benin,” coal laden from Louisburg for up the St. Lawrence reported that her propeller had gone and she needed immediate assistance. The “Benin” is the first steamer from Louisburg this season to attempt the trip up the St. Lawrence and there is still a considerable quantity of ice in the gulf and river. (HH 23/04/1917 p11#6)
Apr 23 Montreal to Quebec, river clear since yesterday; eastward to Fame Point, no ice; Caprosiers, South Point, close packed in shore. Heath Point, open ice distant. Cape Bear, scattered ice. Point Tupper, strait clear; Cape Race, Scatarie, no ice; Money Point, light open ice inshore; Magdalen Islands, St. Paul’ Island, dense fog; Flat Point, heavy open ice distant, northward. (HH 25/04/1917 p11#6)
Apr 28 Queensport, no ice in bay. Souris, heavy drift ice on north coast, clear from East Point to Cape Bear. Amherst Harbor, Ice reported around the islands, none in sight expect on Amherst Harbor side, small strips broken up will go first change of wind. (HH 30/04/1917 p7#6)
May 12 46°27’N 58°16’W, a large iceberg. (NYMR, p.12, col.2)
Jun 30 First Westbound steamer through the strait of Belle Isle. (WBB)