278 ACCOUNT or the arctic regions. 



ceeded tolerably well. The prevailing wind was 

 from the north-east. 



Though ice occurred in the place usually occupied 

 by the barrier, in 'the year 1808, yet being open, 

 and in a great measure free from bay-ice, it afforded 

 shelter to the fishermen without obstructing their 

 progress. Whales being plentiful, the weather fine, 

 and the ice generally open, the fishery was uncom- 

 monly good. No difficulty was experienced by the 

 whalers on their return, until they reached the la- 

 titude of 74°, when a remarkable barrier presented 

 itself. It consisted of loosely packed ice, and was 

 found to extend from the main western ice, above 

 100 miles to the eastward, with a general breadth 

 of 10 to 20 leagues. A few ships forced their way 

 through it, but most of the fleet doubled the east- 

 ernmost extremity. 



In 1809, we had a close season. Few sliips pas- 

 sed the barrier before the end of May. Those 

 which first succeeded made a prosperous fishery. 

 At the close of the season, a free navigation led to 

 seaward in a south-westerly direction, from la- 

 titude 79° and longitude 6^ E. But near the 

 coast of Spitzbergen, a vast body of ice was accu- 

 mulated. 



The season of 1810 was similar to that of 1804. 

 Young ice cemented together the detached pieces 

 of heavy ice that lay in the passage to the north- 

 ward. A severe storm occurred on the 6th and 7th 



