70 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. July 



compact ice the dust-line was in all cases below the 

 lowest line of columns. All the ice of this and a similar 

 nature in the neighbourhood of Floeberg Beach melted 

 quickly immediately the thaw had removed the upper 

 stratum of snow. But in the Polar pack where the 

 snow does not all melt during the summer, the same 

 formation,* if protected, may outlast the season. 



6 17 th. — From the summit of Cape Eawson we can 

 observe three cracks in the ice extending from the 

 shore to a distance of about four miles towards the 

 north-east, where they are lost to sight. This indicates 

 a decided movement in the ice, and we are wondering 

 whether the final break-up will come from the south- 

 ward up Eobeson Channel or from the eastward round 

 the north of Greenland. 



* There is very little snow left unmelted on the 

 hillsides facing Eobeson Channel, and the ravines are 

 running much slower. Charr have been discovered in 

 the lake at Cape Sheridan. They are feeding on black 

 midges which are lying on the surface of the water in 

 such large numbers that the fish will not rise to any 

 other bait. Feilden and Parr returned from a shooting 

 excursion to the north-west. The former has made a 

 rich collection, but has not succeeded in finding the 

 wished-for nest of the knot. A considerable quan- 

 tity of drift-wood has been met with on the beaches of 

 each bay open towards the north-west, as we expected 

 would be the case. 



' 18th. — Our invalids are improving fast ; there are 

 now only twenty-two under Dr. Colan's care, eight of 

 whom are confined to bed. A large party of con- 

 valescents hauled the seine in the Cape Sheridan Lake, 



