P aching of the Ice. 119 



more than eight feet above the summer level of the river. At 

 the taking of the ice, the usual rise of the water of course 

 inundated the lower story, and the whole building becoming 

 surrounded by a frozen sheet, a general expectation was entertain- 

 ed that it would be prostrated by the first movement. But the 

 proprietor had taken a very simple and effectual precaution to 

 prevent this. Just before the rise of the waters he securely laid 

 against three sides of the building, at an angle of less than 45°, a 

 nuinher of stout oak logs a few feet asunder. When the move- 

 ment came the sheet of ice was broken and pushed up the wooden 

 inclined plane thus formed, at the top of which meeting the wall 

 of the building, it was reflected into a vertical position, and 

 falling back, m this manner such an enormous rampart of ice was 

 in a few minutes placed in front of the warehouse as completely 

 shielded it from all possible danger. In some years the ice has 

 piled up nearly as high as the roof of this building. Another 

 gentleman, encouraged by the security which this warehouse ap- 

 parently enjoyed, erected one of great strength and equal magni- 

 tude on the next water lot, but he omitted to protect it in the 

 same way. The result might have been anticipated. A move- 

 ment of the ice occurring, the great sheet struck the walls at right 

 angles, and pushed over the building as if it had been a house of 

 cards. Both positions are now secured by the revetement wall. 

 Several movements of the grand order just mentioned occur 

 before the final setting of the ice, and each is immediately pre- 

 ceded by a sudden rise of the river. Sometimes several days and 

 occasionally but a few hours will intervene between them ; and it 

 is fortunate that there is a criterion by which the inhabitants are 

 made aware when the ice may be considered at rest for the 

 season, and vhen it has therefore become safe for them to cut 

 their winter roads across its rough and pinnacled surface. This 

 is never the case until a longitudinal opening of considerable 

 •extent appears in some part of St. Mary's Current. It has em- 

 barrassed many to give a satisfactory reason why this rule, derived 

 from the experience of the peasantry, should be depended on. 

 But the explanation is extremely simple. The opening is merely 

 an indication that a free sub-glacial passage has been made for 

 itself by the water, through the combined iutiuence of erosion and 

 temperature, the effect of which, where the current is strongest, 

 has been sufficient to wear through to the surface. The forma- 

 tion of this passage shows the cessation of a supply of submerged 



