170 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC HEGIONS. 



CHAPTER HI. 



HYDROGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF THE GREEN- 

 LAND SEA. 



SECT. I. 



Situation and Extent^ — Colour and Degree of 

 Trans'parencyi — Quality, Specific Gravity, and 

 Saltness of the Greenland Sea. 



Of all the substances which contribute to the com- 

 position of the surface of the globe, there is none 

 so uniform in appearance, or so similar in reality, — 

 none more important in its application, or so gene- 

 ral in its distribution, as the water of the ocean. 

 In all parallels, and on all meridians, it consists of 

 one kind of liquid, known by the general name of 

 sea-water. From the Tropics to the Arctic Circle, 

 its composition and its saltness, as far as yet exa- 

 mined, appear to be pretty nearly the same. 



