102 DIRECTION OF THE EAST GREENLAND CURRENT. 



Cape Farewell, continues its course along the western coast of Green- 

 land to the N., and transports in this manner the masses of ice 

 from the ocean around Spitzbergen into Davis Strait. 



If the current existed, which the before-named writers state to 

 run in a direct line from East Greenland to the banks of New- 

 foundland, then the ice would likewise be carried with that current 

 from East Greenland : if it were a submarine current, the deeply- 

 immersed icebergs would be transported by it; if it were only a 

 surface-current, the immense extent of field-ice would indicate its 

 course, 1 and vessels would consequently cross these ice-drifts at 

 whatever distance they passed to the southward of Cape Farewell. 

 But this is not the case : experience has taught that vessels coming 

 from the eastward, steering their course about 2° (120 nautic m.) 

 to the southward of Cape Farewell, seldom or ever fall in with ice 

 befure they have rounded Cape Farewell and got into Davis Strait, 

 which is a certain proof that there does not exist even a branch of the 

 Arctic current which runs directly from East Greenland towards the 

 banks of Neiofoundland. 



Along the e. coast, and around the southern and south-western 

 coast of Greenland, the district of Julianshaab, there is generally a 

 much greater accumulation of ice 2 than is the case more northerly, 

 on the w. coast, or farther out in Davis Strait, where the ice generally 

 is found more spread, and consequently it frequently happens that 

 vessels bound to Julianshaab from Copenhagen are obliged first to 

 put into some harbour more to the northward, and wait there until 

 the ice is so much dispersed round the s. coast that they can continue 

 their voyage to Julianshaab. 



In the warmer season, when the ice and snow melt ashore, the 

 waters from the different fiords or inlets move towards the sea, and 

 drive the ice off the coast in such a manner that there is clear 

 water close in shore, through which vessels may be navigated. 

 However, continuing gales, according to their direction to or from 

 shore, have an influence on the situation of the ice. 



Another proof that the current from East Greenland does not 



1 An observation which it is interesting to mention here, and which gives a 

 proof of the very little difference between the temperature of the surface and that 

 at some depth, is mentioned in the Voyage of Captain Graah, p. 21. He says, 

 " The 5th of May, 1828, in lat. 57° 35' N., and 36° 36' w., Gr., tbe temperature of 

 the surface was found 6°-3 (46°-2 Fahr.), and at a depth of 660 feet 5°5 + K. (44°-5 

 Fahr.)." This proves that there is no cold submarine current in the place alluded 

 to to the s.e. of Cape Farewell. A still more conclusive experiment is recorded 

 by Sir Edward Parry in the account of his first voyage, June 13, 1819 : in lat. 

 57° 51' n., long. 41° 5', with a very slight southerly current, the surface tempera- 

 ture was 40J° Fahr. ; and at 235 fathoms 39°, a difference of only 1J°. — Ed. 



2 Captain Graah, pp. 10, 12, 22, 57, &c, English translation. 



