218 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. January 



vations. The direction of the wind on the night of 

 the 9th could be alone determined by afterwards 

 observing the direction of the sastrugi. 



It is noticeable that although the readings of the 

 barometers at Floeberg Beach and Discovery Bay agree 

 precisely together, none of these squalls at any time 

 reached the ' Discovery ' in her sheltered position ; 

 neither were the fluctuations in the temperature so 

 great there as at the more northern station. For thirty- 

 six hours, on the 8th and 9th, when the temperature 

 at Discovery Bay was steady at minus 44°, at Floeberg 

 Beach it was only minus 8°, a difference of thirty-six 

 degrees in favour of the northern station. I can only 

 conclude that the ice must have been then in motion 

 in Eobeson Channel, and that there were water-pools 

 to windward of the ' Alert's ' position. 



' 10th. — During the late gales the drifted snow has 

 raised a bank about five feet in height on the western 

 side of the ship which reaches to the embankment 

 at the bow and stern. In consequence of the increased 

 weight the floe in the immediate neighbourhood of 

 the vessel has sunk considerably ; the water has oozed 

 up and now flows over the ice. On the starboard 

 quarter, near the troublesome floeberg, it is at least two 

 feet in depth. 



6 Owing to the weight of the snow bearing down 

 the ice, the ship tore herself free from the floe last 

 night, rising suddenly about a foot. This has disturbed 

 the tidal register considerably ; and unfortunately, when 

 taking down the ship's awning for repair, the register- 

 ing wire was removed before I obtained the necessary 

 correction. When held down by the ice the effect 



