276 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



SECT. VII. 



Situation of the Ice in the Region visited by the 

 Greenland Ships, with Observations on the Al- 

 terations which have occurred during a Series 

 of Sixteen Years. 



What has hitherto heen advanced on the situa- 

 tion of the polar ice, refers to its most general and 

 permanent characters. It will now be my object to 

 give a sketch of the most prominent appearances 

 which have annually marked the ice in the region 

 visited by the Spitzbergen or Greenland whale- 

 fishers, during a period of sixteen years. 



The year 1803 was an cypen season. So early 

 as the middle of April, there was no obstruction to 

 the navigation to the 81st degree of north latitude ; 

 that is, on a meridian about 5° east of Greenwich. 

 The weather was tempestuous ; the most prevailing 

 winds from the north-east. No particular change 

 took place in the ice during the stay of the whalers. 

 The egress was consequently without obstruction. 

 The fishery, on the whole, was unsuccessful. 



In 1804, the entrance into the northern fishing 

 stations, was obstructed by a barrier composed of 

 open drift-ice, consolidated by bay-ice of peculiar 

 tenacity and strength. The bay-ice was broken up 

 and dispersed on the 12th of May, and a sufficient 



