5g2 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO J 742. 



tember, and the beginning of October, changed their native colour to a snowy 

 white ; and that for 6 months, in the severest part of the winter, he never saw 

 any but what were all white, except some foxes of a different sort, which were 

 grizzled, and some half red, half white. 



That lakes and standing waters, which are not above 10 or 12 feet deep, are 

 frozen to the ground in winter, and the fishes in them all perish. Yet in rivers 

 near the sea, and lakes of a greater depth than 10 or 12 feet, fishes are caught 

 all the winter, by cutting holes through the ice down to the water, and putting 

 lines and hooks in them. But if they are to be taken with nets, they cut se- 

 veral holes in a straight line the length of the net, and pass the net, with a 

 stick fastened to the head line, from hole to hole, till it reaches the utmost 

 extent ; and what fishes come to these holes for air, are entangled in the net ; 

 and these fish, as soon as brought into the open air, are instantly frozen as stiflT 

 as stock-fish. The seamen freshen their salt provisions, by cutting a large hole 

 through the ice in the stream or tide of the river, which they do at the begin- 

 ning of the winter, and keep it open all that season. In this hole they put their 

 salt meat, and the minute it is immersed under water, it becomes pliable and 

 soft, though before its immersion it was hard frozen. 



Beef, pork, mutton, and venison, that are killed at the beginning of the 

 winter, are preserved by the frost, for 6 or 7 months, entirely free from putre- 

 faction, and prove tolerably good eating. Likewise geese, partridges, and 

 other fowl, that are killed at the same time, and kept with their feathers on, 

 and guts in, require no other preservative, but the frost, to make them good 

 wholesome eating, as long as the winter continues. All kinds of fish are pre- 

 served in the like manner. 



In large lakes and rivers, the ice is sometimes broken by imprisoned vapours ; 

 and the rocks, trees, joists and rafters of our buildings, are burst with a noise 

 not less terrible than the firing of a great many guns together. The rocks 

 which are split by the frost, are heaved up in great heaps, leaving large cavities 

 behind ; which may be caused by imprisoned watery vapours, that require more 

 room, when frozen, than they occupy in their fluid state. Neither is it won- 

 derful that the frost should be able to tear up rocks and trees, and split the 

 beams of our houses, when we consider its great force and elasticity. If beer 

 or water be left in mugs, cans, bottles, or copper pots, though they were put 

 by our bed-sides, in a severe night they are surely split to pieces before morn- 

 ing, not being able to withstand the expansive force of the inclosed ice. 



The air is filled with innumerable particles of ice, very sharp and angular, 

 and plainly perceptible to the naked eye. Capt. M. several times tried to make 

 observations of some celestial bodies, particularly the emersions of Jupiter's 



