POLAR ICE. — SITUATION OF. 269 



times frozen over until the middle or end of the 

 month of May, but not unfrequently free of ice. 

 The barrier here opposed to the fisher, usually con- 

 sists of a body of ice from 20 to 30 or 40 leagues 

 iicross, in the shortest diameter. It is generally com- 

 posed of packed ice, and often cemented into a con- 

 tinuous field by the interference of bay ice, which 

 incredibly augments the difficulty of navigating 

 among it. 



As the time that can be devoted to the whale- 

 fishery is, by the nature of the climate, limited to 

 three or four months in the year, it is of importance 

 to pass this barrier of ice as early as possible in the 

 season. The fisher here avails himself of every 

 power within his command. The sails are expand- 

 ed in favourable winds, and withdrawn in contrary 

 breezes. The ship is urged forward amongst drift- 

 ice by the force of the wind, assisted with ropes 

 and saws. Whenever a vein of water appears in 

 the required direction, it is if possible attained. It 

 always affords a temporary relief, and sometimes a 

 permanent release, by extending itself through in- 

 tricate mazes, amidst ice of various descriptions, un- 

 til at length it opens into the desired place, void of 

 obstruction, constituting the usual retreat of the 

 whales. 



