164 
VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
sunk nearly to the depth of one mile. On bringing 
it up, the enormous pressure to which it had been 
subjected was found to have crushed the vessel 
into the most irregular form, and forced the upper 
side into the lower. The estimated load of pressure 
was fifty tons, being equal to a ton upon a square 
inch. 
Having seen several seals of late, many of which 
I had shot, but lost them, as they sank the moment 
they were killed, I was induced to try another 
experiment, particularly on seeing a handsome 
young one which I was desirous to get ; I, there- 
fore, instead of shooting it with a ball through 
its head, fired a charge of small shot into its nose ; 
it sank as I expected, but soon returned to the 
surface perfectly stunned, and with ease I thus 
procured it. 
The fog having continued extremely 
August 6 . ^11 yesterday, and our progress being 
still interrupted by large floes of ice, which required 
all possible precaution to avoid, we did not advance 
far. The great prevalence of foggy weather to 
which these seas are subject, unquestionably arises, 
as Captain Scoresby considers, from the damp air 
near the surface of the sea,being chilled by coming 
in contact with the ice ; and it is singularly curious, 
that the fog frequently rests on the surface, not 
far exceeding the height of the ship’s upper masts, 
while the sky above is perfectly clear. Just at mid- 
day the horizon began to be clear, and the sea 
stream of ice became visible from the mast-head. 
