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CHAPTER VI. 



Lifting of the Ship. Lateral Compression. Freezing in Bottles. 

 Snow Thermometers. Eise and Fall of Water. Blasting. Flight 

 of Birds. Letter to Captain Kellett. Proceedings of Lieutenant 

 Mecham. Captain Collinson's Records. Dealy Island. Beechey 

 Island. Proceedings of Lieutenant Hamilton. Irregularity of Tides. 

 Land Springs. Remuneration of Crews. Orders. 



MY attention during the last few days has been much 

 engaged outside of the ship ; indeed, superintending the 

 duties on the dock cutting; and I cannot but observe 

 that the peculiar lifting of the ship, added to the gaping 

 of the ice at the old floe level, induces me to offer the 

 following facts and reasons, which I leave to those whom 

 it may concern to combat. 



In October last I contemplated this lifting, and, as 

 then noticed, directed a gauge batten to be securely 

 nailed to the sternpost, so as to indicate any upheaving. 

 I now notice that this batten indicates a rise, or lift of the 

 ship, fourteen inches above the floe level of that period. 



Upon mature reflection, and viewing the undoubted 

 strain evident at the last third of her length, or the stern 

 portion, I am inclined to consider that up to midwinter 

 or beyond, as the ice gradually consolidated, its expan- 



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