VOYAGE OP THE ' ECLIPSE.' 53 



north in whaling-ground since April 25th; on April 30th one 

 wbale was seen (exceptionally early), but no others since then. 



The North Greenland whaling-ground lies to the northward 

 of the 75th parallel, to the westward of a line running obliquely 

 north eastward, from the intersection of the latitude mentioned. 

 by the meridian of Greenwich, to Amsterdam Island off the 

 west coast of Spitzbergen. In the area whose south-eastern 

 limits have been described, the margin of the Greenland west ice 

 lies. Its sinuous outhne presents a succession of points and 

 bays, outlying " streams " and deep recesses. Among these the 

 Greenland Right Whale makes its appearance about the middle 

 of May, coming apparently from the S.W. They appear to come 

 up through the very heart of the Greenland ice, finding breathing 

 room in the lanes and open spaces of water, which are continually 

 breaking out and closing again amongst tbe floes, perchance 

 occasionally finding sporting-room in some large "polynia," 

 far removed from the sea. Diverted apparently from their 

 northern course by encountering a close barrier of ice, running 

 obliquely across their path as they advance northwards, they 

 are gradually forced to the eastwai'd, until reaching lat. 78° they 

 make their appearance at the sea edge. Here they resort during 

 a variable period, from a month to six weeks or even less, in the 

 months of May and June. Owing apparently to the opening of 

 the obstruction referred to, they leave as suddenly as they made 

 their appearance, are last seen going N.W., and the North 

 Greenland whaling is over for the season. 



After working north-eastward along the margin of the ice, on 

 the evening of the 18th our further progress northward was pre- 

 vented by a sudden alteration in the line of the ice-edge ; 

 hitherto its direction had been about N.E., now it run eastwards 

 for some distance, then taking a sweep to the S.E. it ran in upon 

 the north-west coast of Spitzbergen. The ice lying east and 

 west, forming the angle just referred to, is known as the 

 " barrier," its origin being believed to be distinct from that of the 

 west ice. Certainly its position remains almost unchanged 

 throughout the season, and northerly winds have but little 

 power in opening out its southern face. Most probably this ice 

 owes its position to an easterly current, which carries it west- 

 ward along the southern shores of Franz Joseph Land, round 



