OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 
269 
Lancaster’s Sound southwards, might one day become an important station 1820. 
for our whalers, I determined to keep as close to that shore, during our pas- 
sage down, as the ice and the wind would permit ; and as the experience of 
the former voyage had led us to suppose that this coast would be almost clear 
of ice during the whole of September, I thought that this month could not 
be better employed than in the examination of its numerous bays and inlets. 
Such an examination appeared to me the more desirable, from the hope of 
finding- some new outlet into the Polar Sea in a lower latitude than that of 
Sir James Lancaster’s Sound, a discovery which would be of infinite impor- 
tance towards the accomplishment of the North-West Passage. 
Previously to commencing this survey, it was my wish to have landed at 
Possession Bay, of which the longitude had been accurately determined on two 
former occasions, in order to compare our chronometers with the time found 
there, as an intermediate station between Winter Harbour and England ; but, 
as this would have detained us a whole night, with a fair wind, and with the 
chance of the following day being after all unfavourable for observations, I 
gave up my intention, and made all sail along shore to the southward. 
This was, however, the less to be regretted, as the few observations obtained 
during our quick return from Melville Island, had confirmed the accuracy of 
the rates assigned to the chronometers on leaving Winter Harbour. 
Annexed is an abstract of the Meteorological Observations made on board 
the ships during the twelve calendar months that the Expedition remained 
between the parallels of 74° and 75° north latitude. 
ABSTRACT of the METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL kept on board His Majesty’s Ship Hecla, for Twelve 
j Calendar Months ; during which period, she was between the parallels of 74° and 75° North Latitude. 
Months. 
Temperature of Air in Shade. 
Barometer. 
REMARKS. 
Maxi- 
mum. 
Mini- 
mum. 
Range. 
Mean. 
Maxi- 
mum. 
Mini- 
mum. 
Mean. 
1819. September . 
October . . . 
j November . 
' December . 
1820. January . . 
| February . . 
March . . . 
I April . . . . 
May 
June] . . . . 
! July.' . . . . 
August . . . 
o 
+ 37 
+ 17.5 
+ 6 
+ 6 
- 2 
-17 
+ G 
+ 32 
4 47 
+ 51 
+ G0 
+45 
0 
- 1 
-28 
-47 
-43 
-47 
-50 
-40 
-32 
- 4 
+ 28 
+ 32 
+ 22 
o 
38 
45.5 
53 
49 
45 
33 
46 
64 
51 
23 
28 
23 
+ 22.54 
- 3.46 
-20.60 
-21.79 
-30.00 
-32.19 
-18.10 
— 8.37 
+ 16.66 
+ 36.24 
+ 42.41 
+ 32.68 
inches. 
30.42 
30.32 
30.32 
30.755 
30.77 
30.15 
30.2G 
30.86 
30.48 
30.13 
30.01 
30.03 
inches. 
29.36 
29.10 
29.63 
29.10 
29.59 
29.32 
29.00 
29.40 
29.25 
29.50 
29.13 
29.46 
inches. 
29.005 
29.81 
29.945 
29.865 
30.078 
29,769 
29.803 
29.978 
30.109 
29.823 
29.668 
29.734 
The thermometer when placed on shore, 
or on the ice at a distance from the ship, in- 
variably stood from 3° to 4° or 5«, and even, 
on some occasions, 7° lower than that regis- 
tered on board : the mean temperature for 
the year may therefore be fairly consi- 
dered as - 2°. The lowest temperature, 
registered on the ice, was - 55° ; it did not 
rise above — 54°, for seventeen hours, on the 
14th and 15th of February, 1820. 
+ 60 
-50 
110 
+ 1.33 
30.86 
29.00 
29.874 
