270 ACCGUXT OF THE ATICTIC REGIOTnS. 



SECT. VI. 



Changed which take place, with the advance of 

 the Season, in the Situation of the Ice, in the 

 Sea of Greenland and Davis' Strait. 



The formidable barrier before described, when it 

 occurs, is regularly encountered on the first arrival of 

 the Greenland ships in the month of April, but is 

 generally removed by natural means as tlie season 

 advances. However extensive, heavy and compact it 

 may be, it is usually found separated from the land, 

 and divided asunder by the close of the month of 

 June ; and hence it is, that however difficult and 

 laborious may have been the ingress into the fishing 

 country, the egress is commonly effected without 

 much inconvenience. 



That the ice should envelope the whole coasts 

 of Spitzbergen in the winter season, and expose the 

 western shore about the month of June ; that the 

 ocean should be almost annually navigable on the 

 meridians of 5° to 10° E., to the 80th degree of 

 north latitude, while the ice in other parts of the 

 world can rarely be penetrated beyond the 73d or 

 74th degree, are facts that appear to be worthy of 

 consideration. 



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