206 Account of the Scientific Observations made 
On the 10th May 1820, at half past 10 A. M. Lieutenant 
Be achy observed a halo about the sun, with the arch of a second 
concave upwards, and touching the first at its vertical point, its 
centre being apparently about 40° or 50° from the point of con- 
tact. u There were two parhelia, faintly prismatic, as usual, 
but about 8° without the circle .” A drawing of this halo is gi- 
ven by Captain Parry, p. 172. 
State of the Winds at Winter Harbour. — Upon examining 
the Meteorological Tables published by Captain Parry, it ap- 
pears, that the predominating wind in these regions is that which 
blows from the North. This wind was also the coldest, which 
shews that the cold pole was to the north of Winter Harbour. 
In April, the wind from the SE. was observed to be the 
warmest. Whenever the wind rose, it invariably produced an 
increase of temperature ; but the cold, though actually diminish- 
ed in intensity, was always much more intolerable than in calm 
weather. 
The first rain was observed on the 27th May, when every 
person run on deck to see it, as an astonishing phenomenon. 
Hydrographical Observations. — Various observations were 
made on board the Hecla, upon the temperature and specific 
gravity of the sea water, both on the surface and at different 
depths, but the results which were obtained possess no peculiar 
interest. The temperature of the sea was always found to be 
colder at great depths than at the surface, which is quite the 
reverse of what was observed in the Spitzbergen Seas. See this 
Journal, vol. ii. p. 360. 
The following experiments on the Increase of Weight experi- 
enced by different Woods, were made by Mr Edwards. 
Original 
Weight on 
Weight 
Decrease 
Weight 
coming to 
Increase 
3 hours 
in these 
in grains. 
surface. 
of Weight. 
afterwards. 
3 Hours. 
Ash, 
1425 
2324 grs. 
S99 grs. 
2291 grs. 
33 grs. 
Fir, 
863 
2112 
1249 
1964 
148 
Oak, 
1421 
2252 
831 
2201 
51 
Elm, 
1220 
2209 
1079 
2201 
98 
The following 
are the general results of the observations 
made on the Tides in Winter Harbour in 1820 : 
Maximum Heig 
ht. Minimum. 
Mean. 
Feet. In. 
Feet. 
In. 
Feet. In. 
May, 
4 2 
0 
10 
2 6^ 
June, 
3 7 
1 
4 
2 7 
July, 
3 9 
1 
5 
2 8| 
