CHAPTER II 
IN THE PACK 
Sunday , December II. — The ice grew closer during the 
night, and at 6 it seemed hopeless to try and get ahead. 
The pack here is very regular ; the floes about 2 J feet 
thick and very solid. They arc pressed closely together, 
but being irregular in shape, open spaces frequently occur, 
generally triangular in shape. 
It might be noted that such ice as this occupies 
much greater space than it originally did when it formed 
a complete sheet — hence if the Ross Sea were wholly 
frozen over in the spring, the total quantity of pack to 
the north of it when it breaks out must be immense. 
This ice looks as though it must have come from the 
Ross Sea, and yet one is puzzled to account for the absence 
of pressure. 
We have lain tight in the pack all day ; the wind from 
6 a.m. strong from W. and N.W., with snow ; the wind 
has eased to-night, and for some hours the glass, which 
fell rapidly last night, has been stationary. I expect 
the wind will shift soon ; pressure on the pack has 
cased, but so far it has not opened. 
This morning Rcnnick got a sounding at 2015 fathoms 
