36 



NEW LAND. 



that we found it impossible to make out the channels close under 

 land, and in all probability those we saw lay about midway. 



If only the wind would blow steadily from the south for a 

 little while, the ice near us would drift, probably far away, but at 

 any rate some distance from land. 



Towards the end of the dredging-time in the sound we went 

 once or twice to East Cape, and from the top of it had a splendid 

 view both east and west along the shore. Near South Cape a great 



THE OBSEliVATORY IN HAVSEFJORD. 



deal of open water was visible, and looking west we saw the 

 most unmistakable water-sky we could desire. The same too was 

 the case south-westward, in the direction of Cobourg Island. 



At the end of July and beginning of August we had just out- 

 side Havnefjord what I am convinced were the largest masses of 

 ice to be found in the whole of Jones Sound. I think, in fact I 

 am prepared to state, that of all the fjords in the vicinity, Havne- 

 fjord is the one which during the greatest number of years is the 

 latest to become navigable. I do not mean by this that the fjord itself 

 was covered with ice; quite the contrary, the ice on it thawed sooner 



