70 
FIRST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
nation, in places where impediments may occur, must be left 
entirely to your discretion, in the exercise of which we rely upon 
your zeal and skill in your profession, for the accomplishment, 
as far as it can be accomplished of the service on which you are 
employed; not doubting that every exertion will be made on your 
part, and on *hat of your officers, while at the same time, no 
precaution will be omitted, that prudence may dictate to avoid 
accidents, on an enterprise of so arduous a nature as that of 
conducting ships in safety, through fields of ice in unknown seas. 
It may not however be amiss to suggest, as a general observation, 
that a passage through fields of ice is more likely to be found 
where the sea is deepest, and least connected with land, as there 
is reason to suppose ice is found to be more abundant near the 
shores of the continent, and islands, in narrow straits and deep 
bays, and it may also be expected, that the sea will be most clear 
of ice where the currents are strongest, as the stream of a river 
will continue open long after the sides are frozen up. 
From the best information we have been able to obtain, it 
would appear that a current of some force runs from the north¬ 
ward, towards the upper part of Davis’ Strait, during the summer 
season, and perhaps for some part of the winter also, bringing 
with it fields of ice in the spring and icebergs in the summer. 
This current if it be considerable, can scarcely be altogether 
supplied by streams from the land, or the melting of ice. There 
would therefore seem reason to suppose, that it may be derived 
from an open sea; in which case Baffin’s Bay cannot be bounded 
by land, as our charts generally represent it, but must communi¬ 
cate with the Arctic Ocean. 
In passing up the strait, if such a current should be discovered, 
it will be of the greatest importance to you in pointing out that 
part of the strait, which is likely to be the least encumbered 
with ice, as well as leading you direct to the opening, by w hich 
it maybe supposed to pass from the Arctic Sea into Davis’ Strait 
In tracing this current, you will soon discover whether it takes its 
origin in the north east or nortn west quarter, if in the former,, 
you will of course abandon all pursuit of it further, but if it shou’o 
come from the north west or west, it will prove the best guide 
