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refpe&ing the Pole, than that they muft watch the opportunity 

 when the ice lieth furtheft from the land. 



3d Query. How far to the Southward have you firft feen ice r 

 In the fpace of twenty years, I have twice known that we: 

 met with the ice in the latitude of 74° 30' North, and could not: 

 find a pafTage to the Northward till the month of July, and then; 

 got into the latitude of 7 8° with much difficulty, in running 

 through the openings of great bodies of ice ; and fome years we 

 find a paffage to the latitudes 79 and 8o° North, without much 

 difficulty from the ice. Some years I have known mips go round- 

 the North part of Spitzbergen, and fo come out between Nova* 

 Zembla and the South part of Spitzbergen ; but this paffage is 

 feldom to be found free from ice. 



4th Query. From what quarter is the wind coldeft whilrf off' 

 Spitzbergen ? 



Northerly and E. N. E. winds are moft froffy ; but mow and 

 froft we have very common with all winds, except during 

 part of June, July, and Auguft. If the winds be Southerly 

 the weather is milder, but fubjecl to fnow, fleet, and 

 thick weather.. The winds, currents, and the ice are very 

 variable. 



The opinion of the old feamen is, that we may proceed fur* 

 ther North than ever has been yet attempted ; but this muft.be 

 done with caution. An opportunity is to be watched for in thofe 

 feas. The moft likely time for fuch difcoveries to be made is 

 in the months of July and Auguft,, when the ice is moft com- 

 monly furtheft from the land ; but fome years not to be found 

 open at all from the land. And when it is open, they muft ob- 

 ferve the ice to lay a long way from the North part of Spitz- 

 bergen ; for I have known mips that made attempts to go to tlie 



Northward 3 



