Aug. 1858. FLOOD TIDE FEOM THE WEST. 183 



Strait fully accounts for tlie spaces of open 

 water seen by Mr. Kennedy* when lie travelled 

 through, early in April. The strait runs very 

 nearly east and west, but its eastern entrance 

 is well masked by Long Island ; when half-way 

 through both seas are visible. As in Green- 

 land, the night tides are much higher than the 

 day tides ; last night it was high water at about 

 half-past eleven ; as nearly as we can estimate, 

 the tide runs through to the west, from two 

 hours before high water until four hours after 

 it ; that is, the flood- tide comes from the west ! 

 Such is also the case in Hecla and Fury Strait ; 

 in both places the tide from the west is much 

 the strongest. I am not suflSciently informed 

 to discuss this subject, but infer the existence 

 of a channel between Yictoria and Prince of 

 "Wales' Land. The rise and fall is much less 

 upon the western side of the Isthmus of Boothia 

 than upon the east, and it likewise decreases, 

 we know, in Barrow Strait, as we advance 

 westward. 



23rd, — Yesterday Bellot Strait was again 

 examined, but the five miles of close pack 

 occupied precisely the same position as if 



heaped together by contending tides ; consider- 



* Mr. Kennedy discovere4 this important passage when ia command 

 of the ' Prince Albert ' in 1851, 



