VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
127 
tion to their course appeared to them to have pro- 
ceeded in a great measure, from a compact body 
of ice which extended from the island of Jan Mayne 
to the west-land, and thereby stopping up that out- 
let, prevented the ice from going by its usual 
channel to be broken up, or dissolved by the tem- 
perature of a milder climate. They made some 
curious remarks on the difference in the quantity 
of the ice, observed during this season from that 
which is generally seen ; but particularly in compa- 
rison of what they had found in visiting this country 
last year, when so great a decrease had taken place 
as to admit ships very near to the west land. This 
observation was confirmed by Captain Scoresby 
with the remark, that he was strongly inclined to 
believe from what he had seen this voyage, that 
from Point Look-out, to Cape Farewell, the space of 
ice had augmented by an amount equal to the 
superficial content of Great Britain. 
The masters of the vessels just mentioned were 
principally induced to come on board for the pur- 
pose of requesting to see the means proposed by 
me for an improvement in the whale fishery ; and I 
was much pleased thus to find that the design of my 
voyage had publicity among the navigators, now in 
Greenland. It was no less gratifying to hear the 
very warm approbation which, on inspecting my 
implements, they bestowed upon them generally; 
and more particularly upon my hand harpoon. Of 
the advantages likely to be derived from this entirely 
new principle, by which it is impossible for a whale 
