THE MIDDLE ICE. 77 
caster, Prince Regent, and Wellington Sounds, and the 
indentations of the northwestern coast of Baffin's Bay. 
The vessels which have succeeded in penetrating this 
intervening ice-barrier before August are sure of a full 
cargo ; but after this time all efforts are Useless. The 
" fleet" is spoken of as "baffled," and is obliged to seek 
other "grounds" to the south and west. It is, in fact, 
a great lottery, the caprices of the ice controlling the 
efforts of the most daring; and, for the last two years 
or "seasons" before our arrival, the whalers had com- 
pletely failed in effecting a passage. 
I have been surprised that this region has been so 
little attended to by the very able English hydrogra- 
phers who have visited these seas. The valuable 
"wind and current" generalizations of Lieutenant 
Maury would be especially applicable to ice naviga- 
tion, and their application to the fishing grounds of 
Baffin's Bay would be a matter of large utilitarian in- 
terest. The commanders of the whaling ships are an 
intelligent set of men, and they have acquired, by dint 
of long and sometimes dearly bought experience, a 
valuable tact in the navigation of this intricate region. 
It is surely to be regretted that the materials which 
they could furnish have not yet been made a subject 
of scientific record and comparison. Since the year 
1819, from which we may date the opening of Mel- 
ville Bay, no less than 210 vessels have been destroy-, 
ed in attempting its passage ! 
MIDDLE PACK. 
