20 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



rature of the water fell to 39.5°, when we 

 were near it, but was at 41°, when at the 

 distance of half a mile. The thermometer 

 in the air remained steadily at 40°. Thus 

 the proximity of this ice was not so deci- 

 dedly indicated by the decrease of the tem- 

 perature of either the air or water, as I have 

 before witnessed, which was probably owing 

 to the recent arrival of the stream at this 

 point, and its passing at too quick a rate 

 for the effectual diffusion of its chilling in- 

 fluence beyond a short distance. Still the 

 decrease in both cases was sufficient to have 

 given timely warning for a ship's perform- 

 ing any evolution that would have pre- 

 vented the coming in contact with it, had 

 the thickness of the weather precluded a 

 distant view of the danger. 



The approach to ice would be more evi- 

 dently pointed out in the Atlantic, or where- 

 ever the surface is not so continually chilled 

 by the passing and the melting of ice as in 

 this sea ; and I should strongly recommend 

 a strict hourly attention to the themome- 

 trical state of the water at the surface, in 



