Notes on the sea-ice along the east coast of Greenland. 201 
between Shannon Island and the mainland, until once more forced out 
toward the main current by the obstruction which Sabine and Pendulum 
Islands place in its way. 
The existence of this branch can be inferred by the following facts: 
that the bay between Koldewey Island and Shannon Island is al- 
ways full of heavy pack-ice, making navigation between these 
two islands difficult and often impossible, even when there is 
open coastwater to the north and south of it, 
that open water is found to the south of Koldewey Island, while 
the pack-ice is forced as a compact mass against the north 
shore of Shannon Island, even with southerly winds. 
that the strait between Shannon Island and the mainland is as 
rule open every summer and perfectly free of drift-ice, which 
is kept in check at the northern end of the strait by stranded 
icebergs, 
that a rather large amount of drift-wood is found along the shores 
of this strait, and finally 
that all through the year there is a permanent outward set of the 
water from the south end of the strait, as explained above. 
This current which is thus supposed to sweep down between Shan- 
non Island and the mainland, thereby encircling Shannon Island, will 
cause the stretch of open water to the south of this island and explain 
its annual existence. 
From the general description of the conditions of the ice in the 
vicinity of Shannon Island it will be seen that there is another, rather 
permanent opening off land, which however cannot be considered in 
connection with the coastwater, but must owe its origin to some other 
source. 
This opening is the large body of water seen to the east and ESE 
off Cape Philip Broke on several occasions. 
1910. No information regarding it. 
1911. March 23rd. After northerly gale. Closes up after calm 
weather in the early part of April. 
June 6th open water seen upon the return from a sledge-trip. 
July 9th all other openings closed up before a northerly wind 
save the one in the east, but this one also closed up a 
few days later. 
August 11th. Water-sky in the same direction. 
1912. February ist. No ice in sight east of Cape Philip Broke. 
Indications of open water in this direction seen on several 
occasions from the top of Bass Rock and Pendulum 
Island. 
This area of open water stretching almost from the coast and beyond 
the horizon seems as a rule to form during the spring, before the drift 
