THE JOURNAL OF JOHN BISCOE. 321 
strong and prevalent, may have prevented its forming in some parts 
more than others, but I have found such frequent calms and light airs 
with smooth water, that I see no reason why ice should not be formed to 
any extent during the winter seasons, and if, as I have before observed 
in my remarks, it could form in the month of January, in latitude 
68° S., of the substance of half an inch in one night, what might it not 
do in the month of July under the same circumstances? As to the 
icebergs being formed on shore, I do not think it possible or probable 
for this reason, their own weight would prevent their accumulating on 
any prominent part of land. It would break off at different times and 
form what is called field-ice, for should it once become so extensive a 
mass aS an iceberg, and which could only be when there was shallow 
water, it is utterly impossible it could ever separate from the land where 
it was first formed, as it is well known that ice swims at least two-thirds 
under water; indeed I have been astonished at some pieces which were 
not more than six or seven feet above the surface, that swam so deep 
I could scarcely trace their bottoms in the water; as to the ragged tops 
of icebergs, it may be accounted for in this way: after a portion of ice 
has been separated from the main body by a gale of wind, or some 
eruption, or other natural cause, its surface, as I apprehend, is always 
perfectly smooth, at least all those which appeared recently separated 
were so, while the others which were sodden with salt water had 
smooth parts in them with occasional peaks, and in other parts com- 
pletely honey-combed, which in my opinion is to be accounted for in this 
way: that as the water is generally found to be one or two degrees 
warmer than the atmosphere, together with the continual motion of the 
iceberg, which is sometimes considerable—at least the water has great 
motion near its edges, and breaks over it with great force—the lower 
part becomes sodden and undermined, and its softer parts give way to 
the force of the sea, break off and rise to the surface, which forms the 
field-ice. 
After this continual decay below has gone on for some time, the 
lower part becomes unable to sustain the weight of the upper; it 
becomes too heavy and capsizes, which shows that rugged appearance 
I have before mentioned, and should it be blown far to the northward, 
it turns over and over occasionally until it entirely dissolves, but I 
don’t think the upper parts decay. I have observed several where the 
sun at times had the power to dissolve them a little, but from a change 
of wind or other circumstances it was again frozen into an icicle, which 
had a beautiful effect when the sun was shining on it; some have 
appeared to have been a long time drifting about, as several distinct 
layers of snow were perceptible on them, and those which appeared 
to be turned over were washed in places as smooth as a vessel’s bottom, 
and sometimes not unlike the shape of one, with a smooth layer of snow 
over it, which froze as it fell, some forming arches, &c. Field-ice is 
Y 
