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The general distribution and number density of icebergs in the Antarctic is known from the work of Shil'nikov (2) and Nazarov (7). More recent studies of iceberg size distributions by Romanov (3) and Dmitrash (10) allow the volume distributions to be calculated. Assuming a steady state the flux of ice into the ocean from the Antarctic ice sheet implies a melt rate of the coastal icebergs. Further from the coast recent results from the EOLE-iceberg programme (Tchernia (4))allows the northward drift rates of icebergs to be estimated which together with a steady state distribution enables the average melt rates to be calculated. The temperature data of the Antarctic waters from Gordon and Goldberg (5) allows the calculated iceberg melt rates to be interpreted in terms of the temperature, time and currents at various distances from the Antarctic coast. The implications regarding the expected melt-rates of icebergs under tow to lower latitudes is investigated.