GREENLAND OR. POLAR ICE* 807 



the same cause, it is, that ice, which with strong 

 winds is formed into compact streams or patches, 

 and allows a safe and commodious passage amidst 

 these large aggregations, — on the occurrence of 

 one or two days of calm weather, will be dis- 

 seminated into every opening, and seem to fili 

 every space, allowing only a troublesome and si- 

 nuous navigation. In this case, the dispersion is 

 so general, that scarcely any two pieces can be 

 said to touch each other. 



Openings m packs, and amidst fields, frequent- 

 ly break out or disappear without any apparent 

 cause. It is often of importance to the fisher to 

 determine, whether any space be in the course of 

 diminishing or enlarging. The freezing of the 

 water generally affords an intimation of its co- 

 arcting, as it rarely occurs on the extension of the 

 bounding ice. The birds likewise instinctively 

 leave the closing spaces, and fly in search of such 

 as are in the course of opening. 



2. The amazing changes which take place in 

 the most compact ice, are often unaccountable. 

 They astonish even those who are accustomed to 

 their occurrence. Thus, ships immovably fixed 

 with regard to the ice, have been known to per- 

 form a complete revolution in a few hours ; and 

 two ships beset a few furlongs apart, witb^n the 



* The word heset, is by the whale-fishers invarixiblv used to 

 indicate the state of a ship when fixed immovably by the ice. 



