i^46 ACCOUNT OF THE AKCTIC llEGIONS. 



Fields may sometimes have their origin in heavy 

 close pachSi which, being cemented together by the 

 intervention of nevi^ ice, may become one solid mass. 

 In this way, are produced such fields as exhibit a 

 rugged hiimmochy appearance. 



Fields commonly make their appearance in the 

 month of May or June, though sometimes earlier. 

 They are frequently the resort of young whales. 

 Strong north and westerly winds expose them to the 

 whalers, by driving off the loose ice. 



The invariable tendency of fields to drift to the 

 south-westward, even in calms, is the means of 

 many being yearly destroyed. They have frequent- 

 ly been observed to advance a hundred miles in this 

 direction, within the space of one month, notwith- 

 standing the occurrence of winds from every quarter. 

 On emerging from amidst the smaller ice, which 

 before sheltered them, they are soon broken up by 

 the swell, are partly dissolved, and partly converted 

 into drift-ice. The places of such, are supplied by 

 others from the north. 



The power of a swell in breaking the heaviest 

 fields, is not a little remarkable. A g?vw7i swell, 

 that is so inconsiderable as not to be observed in 

 open water, frequently breaks up the largest fields, 

 and converts them wholly into floes and drift-ice in 

 the space of a few hours ; while fields composed of 

 bay-ice or light-ice, being more flexible, endure the 

 same swell without any destructive effect. 



