One core was attempted in the fast ice at a spot about 100 feet 

 from the edge of the ice, Tivo snow layers, each about 100 cm, in 

 thicknev'53, were penetrated before the hard ice was reached. These 

 layers were composed of well-packed, coarse-grained granules and 

 were separated by a 2-±nch ice layer. The snow was sufficiently con- 

 solidated to permit lifting it out in large blocks. Below the snow 

 layers, 5 feet of soft ice was bored through before reaching very hard 

 ice. Here, coring was terminated because of the shearing of the ice 

 auger shaft extension, A second attempt at coring was curtailed by 

 the unexpected departure of the ATlvA that evening because of a 

 threatening pack from the north. One soft ice sample taken near 

 the top of the ice core showed a salinity of only 1.70 °/oo. This 

 fact together with the accumulation of snow on the ice indicated that 

 this part of the fast ice had been in position for several years. 



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