8 
the Southern Hemisphere during the six months of November, December, 
January, February, March and April. I have not the record of a single 
iceberg having been sighted in the midwinter months of June and July, 
and they have been seldom reported in the months of May and August. 
Fifthly. Eastward of the Horn there is a space bordering on both the 
outward and homeward track, which may be regarded as dangerous from 
ice. In the accompanying chart this region is distinguished by being 
surrounded by shaded lines and in the subjoined catalogue all ice that has 
been reported within its limits is distinguished by an asterisk. (*) From 
November, 1854, to April, 1855, this part of the Southern Ocean was so 
crowded with ice that no ship entered it without incurring serious risk ; 
and generally we have more reports of ice in this area than in any other 
region of the Southern Hemisphere, although, in consequence of a caution 
extensively circulated, most Australian ships avoid entering this locality. 
It was here that the “Golden Era” was entangled in September, 1854; 
in August of the same year the “ Red Jacket ” lost four days amongst the 
ice in this region ; in the same locality the “ Champion of the Seas ” 
spoiled her homeward passage in March, 1855 ; in the same month the 
“ Guiding Star ” was lost with all hands, on her outward passage, and 
we have before observed that it was amongst the same ice that the 
“ Cambridge ” and “ Salem ” incurred very serious risk. Under these 
circumstances, I have hesitated whether it might not have been desirable 
to modify the outward composite track now generally adopted, by delaying 
to cross the fortieth parallel till the longitude of 10° E. is attained. If it 
were not from the belief that the season 1854-1855 was an exceptional 
one, I should have certainly exerted my influence thus to have altered 
the outward composite route, although by so doing less favourable currents 
would be obtained, and there would be a greater risk of encountering un- 
favourable winds. Since April, 1855, however, the only report of icebergs 
sighted in this part of the outward composite route which would have been 
avoided if this suggested modification had been adopted, was in May, 
1855, latitude 49° S., longitude between 6° E. and 12° E., and also in 
March, 1850, in latitude 40° 50' S. and longitude 3° 11' E. We therefore 
do not, at present, feel ourselves called on to press this alteration.* 
As far howover as the homeward passage is affected by the consideration 
See also in remarks on Catalogue and Chart. 
