1875 A HEAVY FALL OF SNOW. 137 



frozen in that I have no option left me. Doctor Moss 

 shot a fine hare last Sunday ; this is the only sign 

 of game belonging to the neighbourhood which has 

 been seen ; indeed, the undulating hills stretching 

 away for a dozen miles are, apparently, perfectly bare 

 of anything likely to attract game to visit ns ; a few 

 hollows are vegetated, but very sparingly so.' 



It was vexing to observe, as we proceeded northward 

 through Smith Sound and Eobeson Channel, that the 

 number of seal met with gradually decreased. We had 

 depended upon a supply of these animals for the sup- 

 port of our dogs, and now their total absence led 

 me reluctantly to the conclusion that we could not 

 possibly provide for all of these useful auxiliaries 

 during the winter. Nothing having the appearance of 

 meat came amiss to them, but they stedfastly refused 

 to eat the dog biscuit of which we had a small 

 quantity. 



For three days previous to the 8th we experienced 

 a heavy fall of snow. On the 2nd we had noticed how 

 snow falling on the salt water quickened 'the formation 

 of young ice. But after the ice was once formed it 

 whs noticeable how the snow tends for a time to retard 

 its increase in thickness. 



When the young ice, three to four inches thick, 

 became unable to support the accumulated weight of 

 snow two feet in depth, it was borne down until the 

 water percolating upwards had risen three inches 

 above its level. The superficial covering of snow then 

 afforded such excellent protection that although the 

 temperature of the air was 15°, the water remained 

 unfrozen, its temperature being 29°. Finding that the 



