AND OTHER WATER WAVES 53 



the horizon, nothing being added for the small 

 amount by which they actually exceeded the height 

 of the eye. Thus, when observing on the lower 

 deck, I found that the waves commonly attained 

 29 feet, and from the upper deck that they occa- 

 sionally attained 43 feet. My lower platform was 

 about the same altitude as Dr. Scoresby's highest 

 position, and my estimate of the height of the 

 ordinary waves is about the same as his. I had 

 the advantage, however, of a second and higher 

 platform, which brought me on a level with the 

 highest waves. Their height as measured by me 

 from this point of vantage is practically the same 

 as that guessed by Dr. Scoresby from his lower 

 platform. The force of the wind was about the 

 same in both cases, his determination with 600 

 geographical miles sea-room, mine with 1,000 

 miles. 



Next day, December 8, 1900, the wind had 

 shifted to WNW. with force 8 (a " fresh gale ") ; 

 the waves were irregular and not so high, and again 

 on the 9th, with wind SW. of the same strength, 

 there was an irregular sea with no very high waves, 

 though they were magnificent from the tumult of 

 their headlong rush and the white fury of the broken 

 water. The sea was, indeed, covered with spume 

 and veiled in spindrift. A small schooner sighted 



