igioj 



OPENING OF THE PACK 



27 



Series of Sea Temperatures 





A curious point is that the bottom layer is 2 tenths higher 

 on the 20th, remaining in accord with the same depth on the 

 15 th. 



Sunday, December 18. In the night it fell calm and the 

 floes opened out. There is more open water between the floes 

 around us, yet not a great deal more. 



In general what we have observed on the opening of the 

 pack means a very small increase in the open water spaces, but 

 enough to convey the impression that the floes, instead of wish- 

 ing to rub shoulders and grind against one another, desire to 

 be apart. They touch lightly where they touch at all such a 

 condition makes much difference to the ship in attempts to force 

 her through, as each floe is freer to move on being struck. 



If a pack be taken as an area bounded by open water, it is 



