ICE IN THE ARCTIC CUREENT. 447 



(455.) Many disastrous collisions have occurred with Icebergs, water- 

 tight bulkheads having alone saved the crippled vessels from foundering. 

 Doubtless the disappearance of several vessels may be laid down to 

 collision with Ice. To add to this danger the regions in which they are 

 likely to be met with is much subject to thick and foggy weather. 



(456.) Precautions. — There is no infallible method known by which the 

 presence of Icebergs may be detected at a distance in thick or foggy 

 weather; though, in addition to extreme vigilance, several aids have been 

 recommended. The safest course is to take a Southerly route, well clear of 

 the probable Ice limit. 



Lieutenant Evans, R.N., says, " There is scarcely a doubt but that most 

 of the vessels from the West Indies and America, that have been missing, 

 perished in the same manner as the Mountstone (see page 451), Icebergs 

 having been met with some degrees to the Southward of the Banks of 

 Newfoundland in June and July. The commanders of vessels, therefore, 

 ■^ho have occasion to pass between the parallels of 35° and 50° N., cannot 

 be too cautious ; a look-out man should be placed on the fore-yard during 

 the night, and in foggy or hazy weather also in the day-time. In addition 

 to these, there should be one on each bow ; and during a fog the foresail 

 should be hauled up, especially in crossing the Banks, where Icebergs 

 have been met with aground." 



The Ice Blink is a natural brightness or effulgence, caused by emission 

 of rays of light stored up or otherwise, which frequently renders a Berg 

 visible at some distance, even in the darkest night. At short distances 

 this effulgence may appear like a white cloud, extending over, or nearly 

 over, the vessel's masts. In foggy weather they are seen through the fog 

 by their apparent blackness, if such a term can be applied. 



The Temperature of the water has also been suggested as a means of 

 detecting the proximity of Ice, but much reliance must not be placed on 

 the use of the Thermometer. Naturally, close to Ice the sea temperature 

 must become lowered, but the distance to which this alteration may 

 extend is entirely problematical, as a little consideration will show. It 

 has been shown that sudden alterations in the surface temperature, ex- 

 perienced in the regions where Ice may be met with, can frequently be 

 explained by the vessel passing from the warm water of the Gulf Stream 

 to the cold water of the Arctic Current, or vice versa. 



"With regard to this, Lieutenant Evans remarks : — Careful attention, 

 too, should be paid to the thermometer, as experience has shown that to 

 be an indicator of Ice. Captain Franklin observes, that the approach to 

 Ice would be evidently pointed out in those parts of the Atlantic where 

 the surface is not continually chilled by the passing and melting of Ice, as 

 in the Arctic Sea ; and he strongly recommends a strict hourly attention 

 to the thermometrical state of the water at the surface, in all parts where 

 ships are exposed to the dangerous concussion of floating Icebergs, as a 

 principal means of security. There would be very little trouble attend- 

 ing such a point of duty ; yet, we believe, there are many masters who 

 would not undergo it, but trust to chance the safety of their vessel, their 

 own lives, and those of their crew and passengers. Many have made 

 repeated voyages across the Atlantic without having seen floating Ice, and 



