RATE OF ^[Ovr■:^rEXT of thp: ice. 217 



slowest point, near the east border, and 2.78 feet at the fastest point, near 

 the center, with an average of 1.89 feet for the whole. 



The movement of the majority of the glaciers in that region is very 

 much slower; indeed, in most cases it is obviously exceedingly slow. 

 Many of the ordinary signs of movement are absent. In front of the Fan 

 glacier there are cones of granular ice brought down by the surface 

 streams, and also cml)ankments of old snow, soiled, granulated, and half 

 solidified into ice, as thougli at least a 3'ear old, all of whicli lie banked 

 against the terminal face of the glacier without any indication of move- 

 ment on its i)art since their formation. As these lean against the face to 

 lieights of oO or 40 feet at least, it is obvious that there had been no melt- 

 ing of the base of the extremity to counteract the effects of advance. 

 Phenomena of similar im})ort were observed in several other glaciers. 

 The very firm impression was given by such i)hysical signs that the 

 average rate of movement of the glaciers of the region is very slow. At 

 the head of the gulf are a few glaciers which produce large icebergs and 

 whicli must be notable exceptions to the prevailing slowness of motion. 



Glacial Drift on abandoned Territory. 



The amount of drift on the territory once occupied but now free from 

 ice is notable rather for its scantiness than its abundance. On Disco 

 island it was found to be very limited, except along the immediate fronts 

 of the present glaciers. In the Inglefield Gulf region there are at some 

 points very considerable accumulations of drift within a mile or two of 

 the present ice-front, but at the same time much of the territory between 

 the ice-front and the sea bears a very scant covering of drift. No great 

 moraines were seen, nor any thick mantles of drift. The valleys in front 

 of the glaciers are well floored with glacial wash, but even here the rock 

 occasionally appears. Consideral)le delta-fans project into the gulf, but 

 none of them exceed half a mile in depth. 



Consonant with this scantiness of drift, the topography of the border- 

 land shows only moderate evidence of glacial subjugation. It is mildly 

 rounded, but not greatly molded. 



,Aiu-: the Glaciers advancinc; or retreating? 



Several glaciers on Herbert and Northumberland islands showed evi- 

 dences of retreat ; the terrace-like pedestals which they had formerly 

 built were in ])art abandoned. Three other glaciers showed by tlie j)re8- 

 ence of old m<jraines immediately in front that in the j)ast they liad been 

 more extended than at present. These moraines may be a few hundred 

 years old, but they offered no evidence of very great antiquity. One 



