454 APPENDIX. 



After passing longitude 140° E., or to the westward of it, we ex 

 perienced fine weather, with southeast winds and occasional snow- 

 squalls, lasting but ten or fifteen minutes, and a dry healthy atmo- 

 sphere. 



The barometer, during our stay on the coast, was always indicative 

 of wind by its depression, and was a true guide. Its mean standing 

 was 28 in. The temperature surprised me : we seldom, if ever, had 

 it above 30°, even in the sun at mid-day, and I do not think that three 

 times it was found above 35°. 



Gales come on very suddenly, and are always attended with snow, 

 sleet, and thick fogs, rendering it extremely hazardous ; for one must 

 be found, when they do come, more or less surrounded with ice- 

 islands. They sometimes last for thirty-six hours. After they set in, 

 you may calculate that they will blow strong for at least half that 

 time. The nearer you are to the land, the more violent they are, 

 though not of such long duration. Fine weather usually precedes 

 them, and we found them to happen and the weather to be more 

 changeable near the full and change, although I am no believer in the 

 lunar influences upon the weather. 



Currents. — During the whole of our stay along the icy coast, we 

 found no perceptible current by the reckoning and current log. During 

 a gale of wind I was induced to believe that some existed, from the 

 short sea that was formed, thinking there was more than was to be 

 expected. Tides on such an extent of coast there undoubtedly mus! 

 be, but of little strength, or we should have perceived them. 



In many of the icy bays we were stationary for a sufficient time to 

 perceive them if they had been of any magnitude, and where the 

 current was repeatedly tried. 



The winds have their effect upon the loose drift-ice, or that which is 

 detached from the icy barrier. Owing to a change of wind from 

 southeast to north, with a fresh breeze, the Peacock became embayed, 

 and the ice forced in upon her, which brought about the accident. 

 The northerly winds are always accompanied with a heavy swell, and 

 her escape is attributable to a rare exercise of good seamanship and 

 perseverance. If Captain Hudson's ship had been as strong as adamant 

 itself, he is of opinion she would have been ground to atoms by a longer 

 exposure ; her stem was abraded to within an inch and a half of the 

 wood-ends. 



There are places in which the barrier is within the floe-ice several 

 miles. I enclose you the mean temperature during the summer 

 months. 



You will see there is but little chance of the ice melting or disap- 



