Hydrographical Observations from the Danmark Expedition. 279 



No advance possible in a westerly direction. 5 p. m. the ice separated 

 a little towards N.W. 8 p. m. steered northwards through fairly- 

 passable channels between large ice-fields. Weather : clear ; wnd calm. 



Vs. Noon position obs.: 75° 56' N., 14°05'W. Steered north- 

 wards in a narrow channel between two large ice-fields until 11^4 a.m. 

 It then became impossible to advance further. The ice-fields lay 

 edge to edge and formed an impenetrable ring. Tried in vain to 

 force this and in the endeavour very nearly caught between two ice- 

 fields which screwed together. 5 — 8 p. m. Saw the ice getting a little 

 more scattered. Tried in A^'ain several times to force the ice-locks. 

 8 p. m. succeeded. Came out into fairly scattered ice in the direc- 

 tion N.W — W. N.W. 11^/2 p. m. Sighted the Greenland coast. Weather : 

 clear : wind still. 



%. Noon position obs.: 76°01'N., 14°30'W. Kept in the direc- 

 tion N.W. in somewhat scattered ice between large ice-fields till 6 a. m. 

 Held up by large ice-fields, which lay densely packed together. Turned 

 southwards to find if possible a place to slip through further south. 

 2 p.m. ice dense in all directions. Anchored to an ice-field. Weather: 

 clear; mnd S.S.E. ; strength: 1. 



% Noon position obs.: 76°03'N., 14°44'W. 1 a.m. the ice 

 scattered towards N. N.W. Steered in this direction till 4 a. m. when 

 the ice again became dense. Anchored to an ice-field. Weather : fog. 

 Wind: still. 



"/s. Noon position obs. : 76° 06' N., 15° 46 W. 12 midnight, the 

 fog lifted for a moment. Observed a passable way towards the north- 

 west. The fog thickened again. Kept north-westwards in the fog 

 till 11 a. m. It was then impossible to advance. Anchored to an 

 ice-floe. Shut in by a ring of large floes, which lay edge to edge 

 and pressed together by some large ice-fields. Made several vain 

 attempts to force the ice-lock. Weather : fog, later clear. Wind : N. E., 

 stren^h 1. 



"/s- Noon position obs.: 76°02'N., 16°14W. Lay shut in the 

 whole day. Made several fruitless attempts to get free. Weather : 

 snow. Wind: N.N.E., strength 1. 



^U. Noon position cal.: 76°11'N., 17°05'W. 8 a.m. got free 

 after several hours' work in forcing a way round a large ice-field. 

 When we got clear of this, we had passed the innermost edge of the 

 heavy drift-ice. We were in the so-called "coast-water." Soundings 

 made continually. 8 p. m. came to a land-icefield about 5 miles 

 from land (S. Koldewey Isl.). Steered first south then northwards 

 outside some large ice-fields, which lay close to the coast. Weather : 

 clear. Wind : still. 



13/3. Noon position: 76°20'N., 18°14'W. Steered northwards, 

 following the edge of the fast land-ice. 3 p. m. we reached close 

 in to land. Continued north towards Cape Bismarck through very 



