42 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
space of open water surrounded by ‘‘ pack” or broken-up ice on 
all sides. Blowing hard from the northward, with showers of 
snow, the sea torn into a sheet of foam, the short sharp waves 
breaking high along the face of the lee-ice. There were many 
Whales about, but the boats being unable to pull to windward 
we did not succeed in making any captures. As may be supposed, 
the drift of the ice under the influence of such a strong wind was 
very great, and this being so it seemed somewhat remarkable 
that while the ocean on all sides should be covered with drifting- 
ice, one small ‘space should remain open. I noticed, however, 
that the open space became smaller and smaller, until finally, 
owing to the closing of the ice, we had to quit it altogether 
and force our way northward against wind and current towards 
another open space which had in the mean time broken out. 
This open space shared a similar fate, but not before another 
and similar space had formed, also to the northward; in fact, 
a series of open spaces were forming and reforming, and being 
covered with ice. Perhaps the current was performing a vorticose 
movement, a series of vortices being formed, with the water 
welling up in the centre. 
May 26.—Lat. 78° 18’, long. 8° 15’.. Water green, but clear ; 
temperature at the surface, 29°. Many Whales about, but other- 
wise very little appearance of life. The Whales were mostly 
coming out of the “pack” ice to the southward, crossing the open 
water and entering the ice to the northward, but some of them 
seemed inclined to sport about in the open water, returning again 
to the shelter of the ice. One which we harpooned made off 
into the “pack,” but the men being able to run over the ice 
with lances, we eventually secured it after some trouble. In the 
evening we chased several other Whales, but without success ; 
the ‘Hope,’ however, made a capture. Concerning the Whale 
which we killed I took the following scanty notes :— 
Sea.—Female. 
Colour.—Sooty black, with the exception of a few feet of white extending 
backwards from the symphises along the under surface of the lower jaw. 
Measurements.—F rom tip of lower jaw to eye, 14 ft.; to umbilicus, 
20 ft. 6 in.; to anterior end of vulva, 26ft.; to posterior end of vulva, 
27 ft. 6in.; to median cleft of caudal fin, 42 ft. 6in. Thickness of 
blubber, 8 in. 
