LATELY PREPARED. 253 



that those winds, continuing to blow during the winter, must 

 produce that great field of ice which extends across the 

 frozen seas properly so denominated. 



On the contrary, by referring to the observations of both 

 the above-mentioned writers, it will be found that westerly 

 or southerly winds produce an increased temperature in 

 the air, which leads to a solution of the ice in the early 

 summer months, more especially in Davis's Strait ; and the 

 record in my Journal is additional evidence of this fact. 

 So that on those extremities of the icy plain, the first open 

 spaces must evidently occur on the south-western side. 



Now the influence of the sun, as the summer advances, 

 taking effect upon the ice, disposes it to split ; and the first 

 wind that agitates the surface of the sea, causes a swell, by 

 means of which the whole is broken up. Subsequently, the 

 solution of the ice helps to swell the current, and it only 

 requires the action of a northerly or easterly wind, to drive 

 the broken ice into packs, which are afterwards carried 

 do^vn to the southward or westward, and there finally 

 dissolved. 



The importance of considering the state of the winds in 

 the northern seas, and their effects, both in the winter and 

 summer seasons, appeared very great, for the following 

 reasons : 



In the first place, no vessel can navigate those seas in 



