332 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



water spilt on the table froze, and, indeed, conge- 

 lation took place in one situation, at the distance of 

 only two feet from the stove. Hoar-frost also ap- 

 peared in the sailors bed cabins, arising from their 

 breath, and was deposited upon their blankets. 



Under a temperature such as this, the effects of 

 which have just been described, the whale-fishery 

 could not be prosecuted ; for nature could not sus- 

 tain any continued exposure to the pungent force of 

 the wind. With a calm atmosphere, however, the 

 sensible effects of cold are singularly diminished ; 

 the cold of zero then becomes equally supportable 

 with the temperature of 10, 15, or even 20 degrees, 

 when impressed by a brisk wind ; hence, the sensa- 

 tions produced on the body, become a very equivocal 

 criterion for estimating the degree of cold. 



The effect of cold in preventing the traversing of 

 compasses exposed to its influence, has been noticed 

 by some navigators. Ellis, in his voyage to Hud- 

 son's Bay, in conclusion of some remarks on this 

 subject, states, as a remedy against this inconveni- 

 ence, the propriety of removing the compasses into 

 a warm place, by which the needles speedily resume 

 their activity. 



It does not appear, from experiments made on 

 this subject, that the inferior activity of a com- 

 pass when exposed to a cold atmosphere, arises 

 from any diminution in the magnetic energy, but 

 rather from some peculiar effect produced in the 

 needle, or in the centre on which it turns. For nei- 



