208 



THE SEA. 



Felix, Rear-Admiral Sir John Ross. The whole of these entered the Arctic regions from 

 the Atlantic side, and either met at various times or were in company. Osborn has 

 recorded many facts and incidents concerning them, from which we shall only cull a few 

 of the more interesting. 



Describing the feat of cutting docks in the ice, to partially avoid the pressure of the 

 floes when they come crashing together, he says: "Smart things are done in the navy, 

 but I do not think anything could excel the alacrity with which the floe was suddenly 



CUTTING ICE DOCKS. 



peopled by about 300 men (crews of whalers chiefly), triangles rigged, and the long saws, 

 called ice-saws, manned. 



" A hundred songs from hoarse throats resounded through the gale, the sharp chipping 

 of the saws told that the work was flying, and the laugh and broad witticisms of the 

 crews mingled with the words of command and encouragement to exertion given by the 

 officers. 



"The pencil of a Wilkie could hardly convey the characteristics of such a scene, and 

 it is far beyond my humble pen to tell of the stirring animation exhibited by twenty ships' 

 companies, who knew that on their own exertions depended the safety of their vessels and 

 the success of their voyage. The ice was of an average thickness of three feet, and to cut 

 this., saws of ten feet long were used, the length of stroke being about as far as the men 



