TO THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 1838 
the same manner as oil does when poured on a 
turbulent sea. It appears to me then, that ice may 
by formed in an open sea, even in the most boisterous 
weather, provided the temperature is as low, as we 
have reason to expect it to be, in these regions in the 
winter ; there may be also another requisite, which 
is, that the water should be, as in these seas, not very 
deep. 
But as future experience may enable us to speak 
with more certainty on this subject, I shall avoid 
saying any thing more about it at present. And to 
finish my account of the occurrences of the day, I 
have only to add, that between seven and eight 
o’clock in the evening we brought to, about two 
miles to the eastward of the place, where we let go 
the first anchor, on the 5th instant. 
Thursday, 23d. — We got under weigh this morn- 
ing, and ran in within three-quarters of a mile of the 
entrance of Coppermine Harbour, where we anchored 
again about noon, in hopes that when the boat 
which was then away sounding, returned, we should 
immediately prepare to get into the harbour. But 
when the crew came on board, we learnt that the 
greatest depth of water at the entrance of it was 
fourteen feet, which is less than either of the ships 
draw. Between twoand three miles to the westward 
however, they found another harbour, or rather a 
small bay, which is in some measure secured to sea- 
ward, by a reef of rocks that runs in a slanting 
direction, across part of the entrance, in such a 
manner as to prevent any large floes of ice from 
being driven into it. It is not, perhaps, a place that 
k 3 
