46 



MARION EXPEDITION TO DAVIS STIiAIT AND BAFFIN BAY 



This cave was similar to the one seen 500 miles farther northward in 

 the end of the glacier at Port Quervain. It was here in a very active 

 part of the glacier close to the north side of the fiord. On that side 

 the glacier produced numerous small icebergs and growlers. During 

 the M avion'' R stay near Ivigtut a few of the former were seen drifting 

 down the fiord toward the open sea. The bergs from Arsuk Fiord, 

 however, are so small that such as succeed in reaching Davis Strait 

 usually melt in the coastal waters off southwest Greenland before 

 getting very far. 



The active north side of the glacier was extremely rough and cre- 

 vassed, in marked contrast to the unbroken ice surface without a 

 vertical terminal wall which lay just behind the gravel fiat. Figures 

 36 and 37 show the characteristics of the two sides of the glacier. 

 These views also show evidence of recent scouring action on the rocks 



THE SOUTH SIDE OP THE GLACIER NEAR IVIGTUT IS DEAD 



FiGUKB 36. — We found a muddy stream from under the ice flowing across the gravel flat 

 at the soutli side of the head of Arsuk Fiord. The ice above the gravel flat does not 

 move appreciahly. It is easy to wallj over, though it has a few dangerous eircuhir 

 holes in it which extend down vertically to the roaring waters of tlie subglacial stream. 



just above the present ice level, which would indicate that the latter 

 may have been considerably higher quite recently. At that time the 

 glacier probably extended farther down the fiord toward Ivigtut 

 than it does to-day. 



At 12.45 p. m. the ship got under way and stood seaward past 

 waterfalls, bird rookeries, and mountains, anchoring off Ivigtut at 2 

 p. m. The weather, which had been overcast but calm and pleasant 

 all morning, became rainy and blustery during the run down the 

 fiord. Great gusts of wind began to shake the Marion at her anchor- 

 age near Ivigtut's seawall. In spite of the bad weather, a line was 

 run ashore and the Mariori's bow was hauled in close enough to per- 

 mit Diesel oil from the tank of the mining company to be pumped 

 aboard through a hose. In addition to the oil, large quantities of 

 provisions to su])plement the Marion's diminishing supplies were also 

 furnished the ship by the mining company. 



