1854.] RISE AND FALL OF WATER. 181 



dicated no less than twenty-one feet eight inches amid- 

 ships. The tide fell one foot within the hour; fully 

 proving, as the ship fell with it, that she is ice- as well as 

 water-borne. 



This remark requires further comment. The rise and 

 fall of tide is apparent, not only on the tide-pole, but 

 also on the ice ; proving that until the floe becomes en- 

 tirely free from the shore, it does not rise and fall to the 

 extent to which the water indicates it should. Thus, in 

 addition to the rise and fall as exhibited by the true in- 

 dex (the tide gauge secured to the bottom), we notice a 

 rise and fall between shelf cakes of ice deposited at high 

 and low water, a distance of eighteen inches, fully proving 

 a resistance in rising due to floatation if free. This is 

 specially evident at the in -shore cracks, where the com- 

 munication is impeded at high water by thin sludgy ice 

 and water. Although the ice immediately about the after 

 parts of the ship does not gauge above seven feet in thick- 

 ness, we find that it increases rapidly towards the bows, 

 being fourteen feet at the stem and twenty-four feet at 

 twelve feet ahead. The water now begins to incommode 

 our labourers at the dock, flowing up by every crevice 

 of the disjointed pack. The crew have been transferred 

 to the 'Pioneer,' in order to purify and paint the ship 

 between decks. 



May 15. The accumulation of medical officers and 

 invalids at Beechey Island rendering it prudent to place 

 the senior medical officer there, I despatched Dr. Lyall 

 by the mail sledge (Lieutenant May) today, with the ne- 

 cessary powers to take charge of the hospital, returning 

 Mr. Ricards to do duty here. 



