1936 Season
Oct 18 51°34’N 56°05’W Berg (IIP)
Oct 18 51°27’N 56°31W Berg and pieces (IIP)
Oct 18 51°27’N 56°30’W Growler (IIP)
Oct 18 51°27’N 56°33’W Berg (IIP)
Nov Pilotage officer, Father Point: Ice starts making. (CIS IC0708_2)
Dec Very little ice was reported in the Gulf during December. The ice conditions generally for the month of December were probably about average and might be said to have been fairly good. (RG42 Vol.371)
Dec 3 Last eastbound steamer through the Strait of Belle Isle. (WBB)
Dec 6 Crane Island, light open ice. (HB #2414 Dec 11, 1935)
Dec 11 Crane Island, close packed ice. (HB #2415 Dec 18, 1935)
Dec 12 Last departure of the season from Quebec. (WBB)
Dec 13 Last inward bound vessel, coming to winter at Quebec passed Point Maquereau, Bay de Chaleur yesterday. Cape Salmon, no ice in sight; E of here no ice anywhere. (RG42 Vol.371)
Dec 13 Montreal to Quebec, light open ice. From Quebec to ~25 miles below, light ice. E of this, practically no ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Dec 14 Montreal to Quebec, very little ice. Ice from Quebec to ~25 miles below. Cape Salmon and Father Point, no ice in sight. (RG42 Vol.371)
Dec 16 Crane Island, open ice. (HB #2416 Dec 24, 1935)
Dec 17 Cape Salmon, no ice reported in sight at present. No ice reported Father Point eastward. (RG42 Vol.371)
Dec 28 The SS “Svend Pil” sailed from Souris on Thursday for Norfolk, Virginia. (Pat 4 Jan 1936 p6 c4)
Dec 29 J.A. Ward, Lightkeeper, Miscou Point, New Brunswick: Closing date. (CIS IC0756_3)
Jan 2 Rocky Point ferry “Hillsboro” is still negotiating the loose ice and lolly. (Pat 2 Jan p5 c?l)
Jan 9 Charlottetown, Jan. 9 – A single-motor plane piloted by H S Jones winged its way out of the north today bringing back seriously ill 75 year old John McLean from the Magdalens in an emergency flight. The plane’s 90 mile hop over slob ice of the Gulf of St. Lawrence established communication with the northern group of islands for the first time since the steamship “Lovat” called there more than a fortnight ago and brought back the strange tale of Didier Fougere, the man who lay dead or alive for nine days, a puzzle to medical science. (HH 10/01/1936 p3#8)
Jan 11 Picking out leads through the harbour ice, the Rocky Point ferry “Hillsboro” made two trips by 10 o’clock. Last year the route was closed on December 18th and now on the 11th of January the old side wheeler is making a record for her successor the “Fairview” to equal in years to come. (Pat 11 Jan p5 c3)
Jan 14 Louisburg, Jan 14 – Fish buyers and others who store ice are becoming anxious because owing to the mild weather only a few inches of ice have formed on the lakes and ponds. Last year the cutting and storing of ice began early in January. This year tests made a few days ago showed only a few inches of ice. However a few cold days will be sufficient to make ice thick enough to cut. (HH 15/01/1936 p12#3)
Jan 15 The Rocky Point ferry making daily although irregular trips if continued will break the record made several years ago when trips were made each month during winter. (Pat 15 Jan p8 c3)
Jan 16 Charlottetown Harbour open until Jan 16 and “Fairview” ferry made regular trips. (Pat 20 Jan 1937, p5 c5)
Jan 22 The cold snap of Sun. night formed a thin sheet of ice over Humber Arm, there being no wind at the time; but a strong breeze of easterly wind on Monday morning took it out the bay, again leaving the Arm completely free of ice. (TWS, pg. 1, Col. 6)
Jan 23 or 30 On January 30th or 23rd (not clear) the harbour of Egmont Bay was absolutely clear of ice. During the night, the NW wind filled the harbour with ice on which were a number of fishing shacks, blown across from the mainland. (Pat 31 Jan p5 c4)
Jan 24 Drift Ice Appears in Gut of Canso. Port Hawkesbury, January 24 – Drift ice made it s first appearance in the Strait of Canso on Wednesday. Shifting winds however have driven it back into Northumberland Strait. (HH 25/01/1936 p19#1)
Jan 29 During the storm of Thur. night some slob ice made in the Humber Arm, but the high wind of Sat. broke up, giving us clear water again. (TWS, pg. 2, Col. 3)
Jan 31 Lightkeeper, East Point, PEI: Ice formed in vicinity. (CIS IC0993)
Feb Ice Conditions-Caution Mariners are warned to exercise extreme caution when navigating in the Atlantic coastal waters north of Cape Henry as due to severe ice conditions many aids to navigation have been displaced or are not functioning. (HB Feb 1936)
Feb 5 Weather keeping mild, which make it inconvenient for much hauling on the ice. (TWS, pg. 1, Col. 5)
Feb 5 Boston, Jan 28- Ice is beginning to blockade harbors all along the New England coast. (TWS, pg. 1, Col. 6)
Feb 5 The frost of Sun night covered Humber Arm with a thin coating of ice out as far as Meadows, but the wind on Mon. broke it up and cleared the Arm again so boats were able to move out with ease. (TWS, pg. 2, Col. 3)
Feb 12 Auxiliary fishing schooner “Gertrude M. Fauci” reported struck a berg 150m due E of Cape Sable and leaking badly. Crew picked up and later transferred to another vessel 60m SE of Halifax. (NYMR)
Feb 13 Five Fathom Bank.- Passed through heavy drift ice extending 15 miles north and 30 miles seaward from Five Fathoms Bank Lightship.-Everett(ss.). (HB Feb 1936)
Feb 13 Chesapeake Bay.- Ice conditions in the bay remain unchanged. The U. S. Coast Guard cutter Mohawk is working from Sandy Point to Point No Point. The U. S. (Coast Guard) cutter Seneca is working south of Point No Point. The main ship channels from Sandy Point to Baltimore are navigable during daylight hours only. All lights in the Chesapeake area have been temporarily abandoned except the following: Baltimore Light, Sandy Point, Cove Point, Point Lookout, and Wolf Trap. The structure of James Island Lighthouse is reported drifting in heavy ice east of Tangier Island to the northward of Watts Island. (HB Feb 1936)
Feb 13 Lower Chesapeake Bay.- The keeper of the .James River Bridge reports that ice is cutting away the wooden fender system. Vessels should proceed with caution when passing through to prevent damage to propellers. The Virginia pilot boat has been withdrawn from station off Capes due to ice damage, and Virginia pilots are now carried on the Maryland pilot boat on regular station off the Capes. Heavy ice is reported from Thimble Shoals Channel to Cape Charles and in the lower bay: Hampton Roads is relatively free of ice. (HB Feb 1936)
Feb 15 Lockeport this morning the fleet of small fishing craft went out as usual, but when the storm came up about noon they started to put back. Upon reaching the mouth of the harbor, eight of the boats were trapped in the stretches of the slob ice which formed a barrier across the mouth of the harbor. For some time they tried to work themselves out of the ice, but were unsuccessful. At Yarmouth sleet and hail accompanied the gale which whipped the coastline sending ships to shelter. On the other side of the province there was reported a considerable run of ice in the Strait of Canso and Chedabucto Bay but was not forming an abnormal interference with shipping. At Mulgrave the American fishing schooner “Gertrude Thiebault” bound north from Halifax was forced into port to remain overnight. The ????[steamer]ner “Caribou” reported on her arrival at North Sydney yesterday from Port aux Basques, Newfoundland, that she had passed through 25 miles of heavy slob ice. (HH 05/02/1936 p1#6,7; p4#2,3)
Feb 16 “Aurania,” which arrived at Halifax Sunday morning from Southampton reported miles of drift ice off the Nova Scotia coast. The steamer encountered the ice Saturday. (HH 17/02/1936 p12#3)
Feb 19 The drift ice can be seen from the mountain in Codroy. (TWS, pg. 1, Col. 3)
Feb 19 Caribou encounters ice in Cabot Strait – The SS “Caribou” passed through 25 miles of heavy open ice on her trip across Cabot Strait and Port aux Basques to North Sydney last Friday. The heavy slob ice was encountered shortly after leaving Port aux Basques, but it was open and the “Caribou” experienced little trouble in negotiating her way. The ship crossed again to Port aux Basques on Sun. (TWS, pg. 1, Col. 6)
Feb 19 Teams crossed the Humber over the ice last week for the first time this season. The SS “Risanger” and the SS “Sagona” took the key of navigation. They passed out the Humber Arm last Tuesday morning. This is the latest date in the memory of the present generation if shipping on the Humber. (TWS, pg. 1, Col. 5)
Feb 23 Cape Cod Canal and Buzzards Bay.- Ship to make passage unassisted by keeping to northern shore Hunk Station. Reports western entrance to Buzzards Bay clear. Is considerable drift Ice in western entrance to Vineya. Several steamers are having difficulty in heavy ice about NNE of Quicks Hole. New Bedford Harbor and Western are navigable. Cuttyhunk Harbor is closed. (HB Mar 1936)
Feb 24 Upper Cheasapeake Bay. Ice conditions have slowed, but head of bay and secondary channels are still closed. River is closed above Maryland Point. Ice Jams occur from time in Craighill and Cut off Channel, which require the ice breakers to clear. (HB Mar 1936)
Feb 26 Ice breaking in the St. Lawrence started this week- Ottawa, Feb 20- Ice-breaking operations to open the St. Lawrence ship channel from the Gulf to Montreal started this week, a week earlier than usual, it was learned today. Only 3 boats will be used instead of 4 which have customarily been engaged in this task. (TWS, pg. 1, Col. 6)
Feb 26 The frost following the rain last Wed. made good skating on Humber Arm until the snow fall of Sat. evening. The ice in Humber Arm extends to Halfway Point on the south side and to Gillams on the north side. But it is not very heavy and at outer part it is not fit to put a team on. (TWS, pg. 2, Col. 3)
Mar 1 Pilotage officer, Father Point: River clear of ice. (CIS IC0707)
Mar 4 The harbor is open again and motor boats are playing between Sandy Point and here. Owing to their being no harbor ice, it is unlikely there will be a local horse race on the Harbor this season (St. George’s). (TWS, pg. 1, Col. 2)
Mar 4 The drift ice came to land yesterday (Parson’s Pond). (TWS, pg. 1, Col. 2)
Mar 11 There is talk of a local horse race if the ice keeps in good condition (Codroy). (TWS, pg. 1, Col. 3)
Mar 11 The rain on Fri., followed by colder weather, gave a good sheet of ice on the Humber Arm on Sat., which was taken advantage of by the skaters. (TWS, pg. 2, Col. 3)
Mar 13 Lightkeeper, East Point, PEI: Spring breakup. (CIS IC0993_2)
Mar 16 Lightkeeper, SW Light, St. Pauls Island: Spring breakup. [earliest in 10? year record] (CIS IC1007)
Mar 17 C.G.S. “Montcalm”: 9 am. Approximate position 47°43’N 60°51’W. Working through close packed broken ice. From NE of St. Pauls to here broken ice with many pressure ridges and few rotten pans. From Sydney to here much lighter than last year. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 18 An ice boat was on the Arm on Mon. morning, no doubt for the last time this season. S. Childs of Lark Hr. was a visitor in Curling yesterday. He reports not a sign of drift ice to be seen in the outer reaches of the Bay. (TWS, pg. 2, Col. 4)
Mar 19 C.G.S. “Montcalm”: 9 am. 47°58’N 61°55’W. Working through light sheet ice. From Pleasant Bay via Amherst and Dead Man yesterday in clear water to 6 miles N Dead Man. From there to present position strings and sheets soft ice. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 20 C.G.S. “Montcalm”: Noon; 48°35’N 61°11’W. Soft sheet and broken ice in all directions. Have seen no really heavy ice since leaving Sydney. S wind, rain and fog for the last 8 days melting ice fast. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 22 Brule: The ice on Brule Harbor broke up last Tuesday and the harbor is now wide open with the exception of some ice pans packed about the wharf. The ice has been cracking up for the past week and on Tuesday an ever widening split appeared towards the Strait and shortly afterwards the harbor was clear of ice. A year ago the ice broke up unusually late on April 21. Lawrence McLellan, the mail courier on route No 1 crossed the harbour ice with team on April 11, 1935. (HH 23/03/1936 p13#7)
Mar 23 C.G.S. “Montcalm”: Patrolled from 48°29’N 61°09’W through broken ice and slob to 18 miles 86°T from Bird Rock. Thence to St. Pauls clear water on course but owing to dense fog could not see. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 24 Lightkeeper, East Point, PEI: Clear of ice. (CIS IC0993_3)
Mar 24 C.G.S. “Montcalm”: Arrived Sydney this morning. No ice sighted since last report. Cabot Straits clear at present Cape North to Cape Ray or S of here. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 25 L.J. Shea, Lightkeeper, North Point, PEI: In 1936, very heavy ice, spring breakup early – no ice to be seen Mar.25. The W side of North point clears first. Ice stays in the bend of the island on E side of reef longer. (CIS IC0808)
Mar 27 C.G.S. “Montcalm”: 5 miles E of White Point bound Cape North. Sydney Harbour full of drift ice out to Cranberry Head. Clear water from there to present position. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 28 The ice situation in the St. Lawrence is very good for this time of year and the river should be completely clear of ice between Montreal and Quebec in about a week. (RG42 Vol.371)
Mar 28 St. John’s: The seal kill ended abruptly by an early break-up of the northern ice pack, the sealer “Eagle” returning to her home port today with 23,500 pelts, a desultory catch that left her far from “log-loaded.” … The old sailing ship “Ranger,” only boat to kill in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, was already on her way home with 18,000 pelts. (HH 30/03/1936 p12#8)
J. Boucher, Master, SS “New Northland”, “In the last three years, (1935,’36,’37) when returning from the south, about the 28th April, the first year (1935) I had to go outside Sable Island, then nearly over to St. Pierre, Miquelon, from there to Cape Ray, then Bird Rock, then Fame Point, but in the last two years, I have met no sign of ice. (CIS IC0904)
W.J. Balcom, Master, C.G.S. “N.B.McLean”: In 1936 all ice in the Gulf south of a line from Heath Point to Cape St. George, Newfoundland, had passed out of the Gulf on April 10th, but with the aid of patrol ships, shipping is able to pass through the Gulf from Cape Ray via Heath point to Father Point by April 10th, and ice is usually all out of the Gulf by May 10th. (CIS IC0719)
Apr The Canadian Ice Patrol in the Gulf of St. Lawrence was inaugurated on April 5 but, apparently due to lack of sufficient ice to warrant its continuance, it was stopped on Apr 14. (IIP p2)
Apr No reports of St. Lawrence ice were received. (IIP p5)
Apr 1 J.A. Ward, Lightkeeper, Miscou Point, New Brunswick: Opening date. (CIS IC0756_3)
Apr 2 C.G.S. “N.B. McLean”: 9 am. Approaching Ellis Bay. Except for a few strings between Matane and Cap Chat saw no ice to W. Point. Have just sighted ice to NW and N of W. Point Light. (RG42 Vol.371)
Apr 2 C.G.S. “Montcalm”: Left Sydney 3 am. Landing operator St. Pauls. No ice sighted. (RG42 Vol.371)
Apr 2 The new ferry “Fairview” is now operating on a regular schedule between Charlottetown and Rocky Point. (Pat 2 Apr p5 c2)
Apr 3 J.J. Timmins, Lightkeeper, Cape St. Lawrence, N.S.: Earliest breaking up [range?]. (CIS IC0814)
Apr 3 Montreal: Government signal service officials announced today that the Saint Lawrence river was clear of ice from Montreal to Quebec. (HH 04/04/1936 p12#2)
Apr 4 Georgetown – The Newport and Lower Montague ferries are now running. (Pat 4 Apr p6 c5)
Apr 5 The first boat of the season entered Summerside on April 5th from Lynn, Mass. and will load potatoes. (Pat 6 Apr p4 c8)
Apr 6 North Sydney: The St. Lawrence River was “practically” clear of ice and “conditions are very good in the Gulf” East Coast Radio signal service reported today. Between Cap Des Rosiers and Bird Rock, there was a large number of strings and cache of soft ice easily navigable while south of parallel 48 and eastward from the New Brunswick coast, including George Bay, Cabot Strait and St. Pierre and Scatarie, shipping lanes were practically free of ice, the wireless stated. The route via the Gulf, Canso and East Point, PEI, was navigable with little ice reported in Northumberland Strait. (HH 07/04/1936 p13#8)
Apr 7 N. Stanley, Lightkeeper, Paddy Shoal [nr. Whitehead, NS?]: Outer harbour ice breaks up between Apr.1st to Apr. 20th. Inner harbour ice breaks up between Apr. 25th and May 2nd. The spring of 1936 was an exception to the above, as the outer bay was hardly frozen over at any time and the inner bay ice went out on Apr. 7th. (CIS IC0767)
Apr 8 Pictou: The shipping season was opened in Pictou nearly a month ahead of last year, when the Collector of Customs, C Lester Andrews, issued clearance papers to Captain James S Murphy, who sailed for Charlottetown with his motor vessel, the “Mary J Arthur” and to Captain Pacquet, skipper of the smack “Maripec” who also sailed for Prince Edward Island. The SS “Lovat,” cleared yesterday for the Magdalen Islands, and will sail today on her first trip of the year. Last year the first trip was made on May 1. (HH 09/04/1936 p13#6)
Apr 9 First coal steamer bound Montreal left Sydney 5 am. First ocean steamer sailed from Louisburg for Montreal. (RG42 Vol.371)
Apr 9 The Charlottetown shipping season was officially opened April 9th when the SS “Lawrence W. Hanson” arrived from Summerside. (Pat 11 Apr p5 c5)
Apr 10 Georgetown – The ferry boat Montague took up service on the 10th. (Pat 27 Apr 1937 p5 c3)
Apr 10 W.J. Balcom, Master, C.G.S. “N.B. McLean”: In 1936 all ice in the Gulf S of a line from Heath Point to Cape St. George, Nfld. Has passed out of the Gulf on Apr. 10th but with the aid of patrol ships shipping is able to pass through the Gulf from Cape Ray via Heath Point to Father Point by April 10th, and ice is usually all out of the Gulf by May 10th. (CIS IC0785)
Apr 10 C.G.S. “N.B. McLean”: 9 am. Docked at North Sydney. No ice. Conditions good over all route. (RG42 Vol.371)
Apr 11 C.G.S. “N.B. McLean”: 9 am. At North Sydney. Except for small patch of ice near Bird Rock, no ice reported in river or gulf.
Apr 12 First arrival of season at Quebec. (WBB)
Apr 14 Halifax: Owing to absence of ice in the St. Lawrence River and the gulf, ice patrol is now being discontinued, East Coast Radio signal service reported today. The message stated: The river and gulf are now practically free of ice and ships may steer their usual course to all ports in the river and gulf. Caution should be used during fog or darkness. (HH 15/04/1936 p13#6)
Apr 15 C.G.S. “N.B. McLean”, 4 miles S of Southwest Point, Magdalens, no ice in sight. (HB #2433 Apr 22)
Apr 16 Point Amour, light close packed ice everywhere. Shippegan, Miscou and bay clear of ice; harbour is full yet. (HB #2433 Apr 22)
Apr 22 Making her first call at Halifax this season in the ice patrol service, the United States Coast Guard cutter “Champlain” came into port yesterday, her officers reporting that any existing ice in the North Atlantic was still a long way from the regular shipping lanes. There did not appear to be as much ice as last year and it was not drifting southward as fast as last season. About a dozen bergs were sighted by the “Champlain.” Most of the bergs were small, it was said. The ice was reported a considerable distance north of Saint [sic] John’s. (HH 02/04/1936 p18#8)
Apr 24 Point Amour, heavy open ice distant, a few bergs in sight. (HB #2434 Apr 29)
May 8 Point Amour, 3 bergs in sight. (HB #2436 May 13)
May 13 The SS “Sagona” completed her first trip on the northwest coast route this season and arrived back at Curling Mon. afternoon. The ship made all the ports to Battle Harbor. No ice was encountered going north, but north of Battle Harbor there was a “solid jam”. (TWS, pg. 2, Col. 1)
May 26 First Westbound steamer through the strait of Belle Isle. (WBB)