390 I. I. Hayes on the Passage to the North Pole. 
was found to be at 36° F., two degrees above the temperature of 
the air. The value of this observation can scarcely be over-esti- 
mated, and coming as the water did down from the north, it 
would certainly seem to indicate the existence of an area great 
or smal] within the Arctic Ocean, the influences operating upon 
which tend continually to keep the temperature of the sea eleva 
ted above the freezing point. The region is shrouded in mys- 
tery, and we know not what these influences may be, whether 
from oceanic currents or from whatever cause. But there 1s no 
vation by the Russians above Siberia, by the English and Dutch 
to the northward of Spitzbergen, and by Dr. Kane’s partes 
within Kennedy Channel, prove that it exists throughout the 
warmer half of the year. : 
The geographic pole is no longer to be considered as the point 
of maximum cold. This great centre of revolution is not the 
center of most intense frigorifie power, as is pretty clearly wet 
by the isothermal curves projected by Humboldt and continue 
by Berghaus, Dové, Maury, Schott and others. These curves 
point to the existence of two centres of cold within the arctic 
circle. ine position of these centres has not been accur ee 
determined, and it matters not for our present purpose whet iss 
f maximum 
doubt, and 
direct ob- 
servation. If the reader will take the trouble to refer to ~ 
globe, or to a chart of the Arctic Ocean, he will see that ere 
are two points about which there would be a natural accumws’ 
tion of ice by the operation of the centrifugal force alone. ©" pos 
_ points are about the Parry and New Siberian groups of mo 
Around centres not far removed from the crossing of the ade 
raliel of latitude and the 95th meridian of western longitu — 
