312. I. I. Hayes on the Practicability 
unusual; five feet one inch was thought by Crantz to be a fair 
average, The Smith’s Strait Hsquimaux reach frequently to five 
feet six inches; several measured by me gave five feet seven 
inches, and one, five feet eight anda half inches, These facts are 
valuable if we accept the theory that races deteriorate as removed 
from the parallel of their nativity, and if they inhabit the lands 
to the north of Smith’s Strait, there is there continual open water, 
for they, like the birds, draw their subsistence entirely therefrom, 
and like them too, supply their wants from day to day, thro 
summer and winter. 
But the most important fact, which we have to consider, are of 
direct determination—I mean the observed water temperatures 
and their known influence. The facts in our possession, although 
few, and confined to an extremely limited number of observers, 
are nevertheless conclusive as to this one point, viz.: that the 
great body of the waters of the Polar Basin have a temperature con- 
siderably removed from the freezing point; and to the immense 
frigorific influence acting continually upon them, there is evidently 
a calorific force antagonistically operating. That the latter holds 
sway during the summer, and clears the greater part of the Basin 
from ice during that period, there can be no doubt. How far its 
influence is felt during the period of the year when the atmos 
pheric temperature sinks below the freezing point of mercury, 
we have, as already stated, little positive information. There are 
gete oneeEN eens however upon this point which have interest 
wet their clothes ;” and according to Mr. Tooke, at 
ld diminishes during the severest weather with the northerly 
Islands, though I should observe that this only relates to 
summer. 
_ Sir Edward Parry, upon whose observations we may always 
properly rely, found at Winter Harbor, Melville Island, that the 
‘north winds were often warm. The same fact was noted by Dr. 
ane at Rensselagr Harbor, and although the north and north: 
winds were frequently cold during the winter, yet the su 
winds from that direction brought sometimes warm and 
azhout the year a most curious phenom 
north horizon. A heavy mist bank 
and, “mist bank on the north 
. 
y in our 
Tigges at 
