1876 DECAY OF SALT-WATER ICE. 5 



water, now at a constant temperature of 30, is decay- 

 ing even quicker. By eating out a notch at the water- 

 line a new mushroom-shaped top is being produced 

 with a projecting spur below water. At a depth 

 below six feet, and down to the bottom in twenty- 

 seven feet, the temperature is 29'2, a rise of more 

 than half a degree since the winter. Unless the ice, 

 when in course of formation or subsequently, posesssed 

 the power to cast out a very considerable proportion 

 of its salt, this temperature would be sufficient to 

 melt it rapidly ; but owing to the comparative purity 

 of the salt-water ice it is decaying very slowly, and 

 has undergone very little change during the last three 

 weeks. 



I 2lst. To-day Markham and I, after an hour's 

 stay on the hill-top, with the atmosphere fairly clear, 

 could see no signs of the depot. Our not seeing it 

 may, however, be due to the rapid melting of the snow 

 background from behind the black stack of provisions, 

 leaving it no longer in relief. 



' A small pool of water was met with for the first 

 time on shore under a cliff with a southern aspect. 



i Now that the ration of salt meat is reduced, the 

 rough salt obtainable from the salt meat brine is not 

 sufficient for our consumption. It is a curious fact 

 that such a simple but necessary article was the only 

 thing forgotten in our ample outfit. 



' 22nd. A westerly gale which set in yesterday 

 has continued all day, with a temperature up to 35. 

 This will materially hasten the thaw. 



' The temperature of the land eighteen inches below 

 the surface is only 6. As the temperature of the air 



