DESCRIPTION OF CIIOW'S NEST. 203 



and prepare a passage to it as safe and convenient 

 as possible. 



The crow's nest is an apparatus placed on the 

 main-top-mast, or top-gallant-mast head, as a kind of 

 watch-tower, for the use of the master, or officer of the 

 watch, in the fishing seas, for sheltering him from 

 the wind, when engaged in piloting the ship through 

 crowded ice, or for obtaining a more extensive view of 

 the sea around, when looking out for whales. When 

 sailing amongst much heavy drift ice, as seen from 

 the deck, it seems at a small distance impervious, 

 although it may happen that scarcely any two 

 pieces are connected ; but, from the mast head, 

 the relative position of almost every piece may 

 be distinctly seen, and an opinion may be formed, 

 by the experienced observer, of the probable and 

 actual movements of such pieces as the ship is re- 

 quired to pass. This is an object of the greatest 

 importance; because the varied movements of the 

 different pieces, occasion such an alteration in the 

 channel pursued, that were it not for a constant, 

 attentive, and judicious watch by the master, *or an 

 able officer, a ship could not pass through any 

 crowded collection of drift ice, without the immi- 

 nent risk of being stove. Now, in difficult situa- 

 tions, a master's presence at the mast head, is some- 

 times required for many hours in succession, when 

 the temperature of the air is from 10* to 20° below 

 the freezing pointy or more. It is therefore neces- 



