280 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



the obstruction invariably consisted of packed ice, 

 consolidated by the intervention of bay ice into a 

 continvious sheet ; but, on this occasion, the most 

 ponderous field-ice barred the navigation. This 

 singular barrier extended from the eastern pack, 

 lying between Point-Look-out and Cherie Island, in 

 a north-western direction to the main western ice. 

 Much open drift ice covered the south-western side 

 of it, and preserved the fields and floes from being 

 destroyed by the sea. This barrier was one of the 

 most formidable that had ever been encountered. 

 All attempts to pass it before the close of the 

 month of May were attended with imminent dan- 

 ger, and v/ere generally nugatory. But after a 

 week's continuance of mild calm weather, the fields 

 and floes were released by the partial destruction 

 of the bay-ice among them, and a winding naviga- 

 tion of about sixty miles in extent, opened into a 

 clear sea adjoining the land. For some time after 

 passing the barrier, but few whales were seen ; the 

 fishery was late, and only partially successful. The 

 remarkable change which occasionally takes place in 

 the polar ice, is rarely more striking than that which 

 occurred in this season : for, notwithstanding the 

 compact, extensive, and formidable nature of the 

 barrier which opposed the entrance of the ships into 

 the northern fishing stations, yet, on their return, 

 in the month of July, they did not meet with the 



