GLOSSARY OF ARCTIC TERMS. XV11 



by constant increase from the summer thaws become at length 

 too heavy to be supported by cohesion to the land mass, and then 

 cttlre, or split off from the glacier. They are termed by the 

 GreeiJand authorities (vide Graah, p. 24) Ice Blinks. 

 lee Blink : this term, as understood by our Greenland whalers, does 

 not bear the same meaning as that given by the Danes. With us 

 "blink" indicates the reflection in the atmosphere over the object. 

 The term in the English dictionary defines it, " to glisten, show 

 white," etc. If the atmosphere immediately over the object be 

 charged with vapour, its image may be perfectly reflected or re- 

 presented, or, when very distant, a whitish auroral divergence of 

 rays constitutes the blink, seen long before the object itself can be 

 distinguished ; it is comparative with our " loom of land." 

 Ice Chisels, large socket chisels, into which poles are inserted, used 

 to cut holes in the ice. 



Ice Hooks, or Claics, similar to timber claws ; a double hook, with 

 rectangular pointed claws to hold on by abrupt ice or cracks. 



Ice Master, or Ice Quartermaster, a whaling captain or mate, selected 

 for his experience in the whale-fishery, to afford advice to the offi- 

 cers commanding. He usually pilots the vessel either from the 

 Crow's-nest, or spike plank, when amongst the ice. 



Ice Plak, or Spike Plank, a platform projecting across the vessel 

 seven or eight feet above deck and beyond the sides, to enable 

 the pilot to run from side to side, to pilot the vessel clear of ice. 



Ice Sates, huge saws made from half-inch plates of iron, and varying 

 in length from ten to twenty-four feet. 



Ice Sludge, smaller comminuted ice, or bay ice broken up by the 

 wind. 



Lane, any open cracks, or separations of floe, offering navigation. 

 Lead, similar to Lane. 



Nip : when two floes are in motion and approaching each other, the 

 residt generally is a grinding action in passing or until their im- 

 petus is expended, which destroys the opposed surfaces, raising 

 long ridges of curled or thrown-up ice. When a vessel unhappily 

 has not time to dock, or becomes entrapped between the opposed 

 bodies, she becomes nipped, or, in many rases, the Hoc, which is 

 weakest, rises over and overwhelms her entirely, to use the 

 whaler's term, "walks clean over her." 



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