

240 \()VA(iE TO THE POLAR SEA. InnRFAR 



From the look-out cairn the Greenland hills are to be 

 seen rising above the mist, the upper surface of which 

 is perfectly level. 



' I have experienced trouble in obtaining the accu- 

 rate temperature of the sea, in consequence of the ther- 

 mometer becoming coated with ice immediately it was 

 taken out of the water and exposed to the air. The 

 first time the thermometer was lowered, it registered a 

 temperature of 28°*5, but each time subsequently, 

 when it was coated with ice, it ranged between 28° 

 and 28°'2. To-day the thermometer was placed in 

 warm water between each observation, to insure all 

 the ice being removed, and not lowered before it 

 registered a temperature of about 40°. The mean of 

 seven observations then gave the temperature at the 

 bottom in forty- two feet of water as 28°'54. At a 

 depth of two feet below the surface it was the same, 

 and with the bulb of the thermometer placed in the 

 freezing sludge, it marked 28° ; which may be taken 

 as the temperature at which the sea-water was chang- 

 ing into ice. The instant that any part of the glass 

 bulb was exposed above the sludge the temperature fell 

 considerably. The ice which collected on the lowering 

 rope when out of the water, became thawed and fell 

 off' when put back into the water at a temperature of 

 28°-5. 



' During the winter several weakly dogs have died 

 from fits, or have been shot, leaving one strong team 

 of nine dogs, as many as we can possibly feed on the 

 ship's ration. Yesterday they commenced exercising, 

 preparatory to a trip to Discovery Bay early in March. 

 Eawson and Egerton with Frederick took them beyond 



