398 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



feet. It was one of the table-topped bergs, and appeared to be quickly disappearing, 

 for it calved in the forenoon, making a considerable commotion in the water near it. 



Considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining any satisfactory temperature 

 observations, as the thermometers, when lowered to greater depths, came up showing the 

 same result as at 50 fathoms. 



At 2.30 p.m. the trawl came up fouled, although with a few specimens. Whilst 

 trawling two pieces of drift ice were seen to the eastward ; as these were not visible 

 when sounding operations were commenced, and the ship remained stationary whilst 

 trawling, they must have drifted into view. At 3.30 p.m. sail was again made to the 

 southward. At 9 p.m. a piece of drift ice was passed about 100 feet long and 6 feet high, 

 probably the remains of an old berg. The weather during the day was cloudy, but the 

 sun was visible occasionally for a few minutes, so that the position could be ascertained ; 

 the horizon was clear and the sea moderate, and a view of 15 or 20 miles commanded 

 from the masthead. A White Petrel was seen during the first watch. The barometer 

 rising ; temperature of air, 34°"7. 



On the 12th, at 9.50 a.m., a peaked berg about 100 feet high was seen to theE.S.E., 

 and at 5.40 p.m. two others, one to the southward, and the other to the westward ; at 

 6 p.m. the ship passed close by the southward berg, which was about 60 feet high, 

 with a little drift ice in its vicinity, and of a beautiful cobalt blue colour near its base. 

 At 8 p.m. no ice was in sight. A little before midnight another berg was seen to the 

 southward. The weather during the day was overcast, with a drizzling rain, which on 

 one occasion was so thick as to necessitate laying to, for vision was limited to from a 

 quarter of a mile to 4 miles, the wind being northerly in direction and variable in strength. 

 The barometer stood at 29 '500, but fell to 28 "862 inches at midnight. No Penguins had 

 been seen since leaving Heard Island. At 11 p.m. the vessel "hove to" until daylight, 

 just in time to avoid collision with an iceberg. 



On the 13th, at 2.45 a.m. (daylight), sail was again made to the southward; two 

 icebergs in sight. In the morning watch three others were passed, in addition to several 

 pieces of wash ice. At noon, in lat. 64° 38' S., long. 80° 0' E., one berg only was in 

 sight. In the afternoon two additional bergs were sighted and passed, and at 7.40 p.m. 

 the ship passed within a cable's length of the seventeenth berg, which was a peaked one 

 about 100 feet high. Between 8.30 p.m. and 10 p.m. two more bergs were passed, and 

 at 11 p.m. the vessel ran into a quantity of brash ice, with numerous bergs to the south- 

 ward, and so hauled to the wind on the starboard tack for the night. The weather 

 on this day was fairly fine, the sun visible from noon until 3 p.m., and the horizon 

 clear. The wind moderate; the barometer steady at 2 8 "7 81 inches. Temperature 

 of the air 34°, of the sea surface 33°, but this fell to 29° - 5 when the brash ice was 

 entered. No Albatrosses seen, but numerous Cape Pigeons and Prions, and a few 

 Whales. 





