240 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



of the waves, they are broken into very small pieces, 

 scarcely three inches in diameter. As they strength- 

 en, many of them coalesce, and form a larger mass. 

 The undulations of the sea still continuing, these 

 enlarged pieces strike each other on every side, 

 whereby they become rounded, and their edges turn- 

 ed up, whence they obtain the name oi cakes or pan- 

 cakes ; several of these again unite, and thereby 

 continue to increase, forming larger flakes, until 

 they become, perhaps, a foot in thickness, and many 

 yards in circumference. Every large flake retains 

 on its surface, the impression of the smaller flakes 

 of which it is composed ; so that, when, by the dis- 

 continuance of the swell, the whole is permitted to 

 freeze into an extensive sheet, it sometimes assumes 

 the appearance of a pavement. 



But when the sea is perfectly smooth, the freez- 

 ing process goes on more regularly, and probably 

 more rapidly. The commencement is similar to that 

 just described ; it is afterwards continued by con- 

 stant additions to its under surface. During 

 twenty-four hours keen frost, it will have become 

 an inch or two in thickness ; and in less than forty- 

 eight hours time, capable of sustaining the weight 

 of a man. Both this kind and cake-ice, are termed 

 bay-ice. 



It is generally allowed, that all that is necessary 

 in low temperatures for the formation of ice, is still 

 water : Now, this is easily obtained independent of 



