380 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



The constant light of the sun during the summer, 

 prevents the stars from being seen ; and this, together 

 with the frequency of cloudy or foggy weather, rare- 

 ly admits a sight of the moon. Hence the longi- 

 tude, which is of such essential importance in navi- 

 gation, can seldom be determined by lunar observa- 

 tions. Chronometers, therefore, though but little 

 used by the whale-fishers, become of enhanced va- 

 lue : and even a good watch, well regulated, will, 

 where the degrees of longitude are so very contract- 

 ed, point out the meridional situation of the ship for 

 short intervals, with a very tolerable degree of accu- 

 racy. 



Though the air, in the Arctic Seas, is generally 

 in a state of dampness, approaching to complete sa- 

 turation, yet, the absolute quantity of moisture can- 

 not, when the cold is excessive, be very considerable. 

 It is remarked by Ellis, in his voyage to Hudson's 

 Bay, that metals are less apt to rust here than in 

 any other climate. This observation, if we consider 

 the relative humidity of the atmosphere, as indicat- 

 ed by a hygrometer, is certainly correct. Perhaps 

 the lowness of the temperature, which, I should 

 think, is not favourable to oxidization, and the small 

 absolute quantity of moisture in the air, may be the 

 occasion of this circumstance. The relative degree 

 of dryness of the atmosphere near Spitzbergen, was 

 ascertained by Professor Leslie's hygrometer, in the 

 summer of the year 1817. The greatest dryness 



