284 ACCOUNT OF THE AKCTIC REGIONS. 



whole, was only moderately good. In the early part 

 of the season, the prospect was excellent ; but the 

 latter fishery almost entirely failed. 



In these two seasons of 1817 and 1818, the sea 

 was more open than on any former occasion remem- 

 bered by the oldest fishermen ; an extent of sea 

 amounting to about 2000 square leagues of surface, 

 included between the parallels of 74° and 80° N. 

 being quite void of ice, which is usually covered by 

 it*. 



SECT. VIII. 



Remarks ou the Properties, peculiar Movements, 

 and Drifting of the Ice. 



1. The ice always has a tendency to separate du- 

 ring calms. This property holds, both with regard 

 to field and drift ice ; and seems to arise from a re- 

 pelling tendency between the individual masses, or 

 from the action, of a very superficial current, carry- 

 ing the light ice away faster than the heavy ice. 

 Hence it is, when a body of heavy ice is released 

 from its confinement and continuity, by the disso- 



• Plate VII. shows the particular position of the Greenland 

 ice, in the seasons of 1817 and 1818, as well as its general out- 

 line in close and open seasons. 



