230 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



fishers distinguish it into two kinds, accordingly as 

 it affords water that is potable, or the contrary ; 

 and accordingly as it appears to have been the pro- 

 duct of fresh or saft water. 



What is considered as salt-water ice, appears 

 blackish in the water, but in the air, is of a white or 

 grey colour, porous, and in a great measure opaque, 

 (except when in very thin pieces), yet transmits the 

 rays of light with a blue or bluish-green shade. 

 When dissolved, it produces water sometimes per- 

 fectly fresh, and sometimes saltish ; this depends in 

 a great measure on the situation from whence it is 

 taken : such parts as are raised above the surface of 

 the sea in the form of hummocks, or which, though 

 below the surface, have been long frozen, appear to 

 gain solidity, and are Qovn-mov^y fresh, whilst those 

 pieces taken out of the sea, that have been recently 

 frozen, are somewhat salt. Although I have never 

 been able to obtain, from the water of the ocean, by 

 experiment, an ice either compact, transparent, or 

 fresh, yet it is very probable that the retention of 

 salt in ice, may arise from the sea-water contained 

 in its pores ; and, in confu-mation of this opinion, it 

 may be stated, that if the newest and most porous 

 ice be removed into the air, allowed to drain for 

 some time in a temperature of 32°, or upwards, and 

 then be washed in fresh v^ater, it will be found to be 

 nearly quite free from salt, and the water produced 

 from it may be drunk. And tliat sea-water has a 



