446 OBSERVATIONS ON THE CURRENTS. 



absent. As a general rule, the Ice first appears near North Cape, and its 

 drift depends on the winds and currents. Navigation is open near Nord- 

 land early in June ; the Ice, however, has been known to remain so late 

 as August 23rd. 



Lieutenant Wandel is of opinion that the limits of the navigable season, 

 especially for Nordland and Osterland, are April 1st and October 15th. 

 Vessels trying to make Nordland or Osterland in March often have to 

 wait a month for the Ice to move, and are exposed to violent storms. 

 Many vessels have also been lost in the fearful storms of October and 

 November. 



The Ice encountered around Iceland comes either from Greenland or 

 Spitzbergen ; that from Greenland consists of great level floes over 30 feet 

 thick, and that from Spitzbergen is exclusively in the form of Bergs, 

 which often ground in depths of 60 to 70 fathoms. On September 22nd, 

 1877, Lieutenant Wandel encountered a Berg off Skagestrand Bay, 66^ ft. 

 high, and at least 2,000 ft. in circumference, while two others were seen 

 stranded. 



Mr. T. Thoroddsen's researches show that around Iceland the Drift Ice 

 often appears as early as January, and lasts till autumn ; generally there 

 is very little during September, October, November, and December.* 



(452.) On the South Coast of Greenland, the settlers and others remark 

 that the Polar Ice always appears in May, June, and July, but there is 

 none in November, December, January, and February. Commander 

 Robinson states that in the month of June sealing vessels visit the Ice 

 Southward and Eastward of Cape Farewell, from which it extends 

 50 to 80 miles to the Southward, moving Westward 8 to 10 miles a day. 

 In February it is noticed 100 to 160 miles Southward from the cape, 

 terminating in a crook or cape. 



Rounding Cape Farewell this stream of Ice continues to the Westward 

 and North- Westward, moving 8 to 10 miles a day, part keeping along the 

 coast as far North as Godthaab, when it bears off to the Westward and 

 joins the main stream flowing Southward from BafiBn's Bay. 



(453.) Icebergs sometimes ground in Belle Isle Strait, but those able to 

 pass through drift up the Gulf, and disappear to the Northward of 

 Anticosti ; very few pass out again by Cabot Strait. Bergs drifting to 

 the Westward of Cape Race, usually pass between Green Bank and 

 St. Pierre Bank, but they rarely pass to the Westward of St. Pierre. 



(454.) Newfoundland Banks, &c. — We have thus traced the course of 

 the drift of the Arctic Ice down to the latitudes in which at some seasons 

 it becomes a great source of danger to the Northern Transatlantic naviga- 

 tion. Icebergs owe their drift almost entirely to current, and may some- 

 times be seen ploughing their way through Field Ice drifting in the oppo- 

 site direction with the wind (445). Vessels sometimes take advantage 

 of this, by means of an ice-anchor and strong tow-line, to get through 

 these Fields, but care is necessary. Many vessels have been damaged by 

 sunken projecting ledges, or by the Bergs suddenly breaking up or turning 

 over, owing to change in their centre of gravity. 



«« Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society," October, 1884, page 573. 



