1875 ICEBERGS. 19 



sea, caused great commotion. The balance of the ice- 

 bergs being consequently altered, they rolled backwards 

 and forwards until equilibrium was restored and they 

 settled down to a new line of flotation or a position of 

 poise on the ground. In the latter case, the grooving 

 effect produced on the bottom by these enormous 

 masses of ice oscillating to and fro must be very great. 

 Large quantities of sea-weed (Laminaria) rising to the 

 surface, show what havoc is caused by the grounding 

 and overturning of these ice-islands, and the many dead 

 fish, chiefly Cottus, cast up on the beach of Disco Island, 

 owe their destruction no doubt to the same agency. 



The supply of fresh water having run short and 

 there being several small berg-pieces studding the 

 harbour, one was towed alongside the 'Alert' and 

 broken up, the pieces being transferred to one of the 

 water-tanks. This proved a mistake ; the cold air in 

 the tank converted it into a perfect ice-box, and it was 

 found necessary to pour hot water into the tank in 

 order to melt the ice. 



A number of sealskin over-boots were obtained, 

 which were afterwards found most comfortable for 

 wearing in a cabin with a cold draught near the floor, 

 but owing to some misunderstanding regarding my 

 wishes, the supply of sealskin soles for the travelling 

 mocassins was not so plentiful as I afterwards desired. 

 It is scarcely possible to lay in too large a stock of this 

 invaluable material, which is far more durable than 

 ordinary leather ; but a large expedition, such as ours, 

 should not expect to obtain a sufficient quantity of seal- 

 skins at the Greenland settlements unless they have 

 been ordered beforehand. 



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