SOUTHERN FISHING-STATION. 67 
May 21.—Having a brisk breeze from the 
north, with fine weather, w f e proceeded under all 
sails along the western edge of the ice, where we 
had a free navigation and open sea, towards the 
south-west. At mid-day, observed in latitude 
77° 42' ; longitude by account 2 a ‘E. 
The following morning, the wind falling, and 
veering to the westward; we tacked, to get in 
with the ice. At 10 a. m. we were oil the skirts 
of an impervious pack, and observed a number of 
narwals: one of them, a very small specimen; we 
killed. It was of a much darker colour than the 
full grown animal, anil much less variegated, and 
inferior in beauty. Though a male, it was with¬ 
out a horn ; it had not yet protruded through the 
skin. At the same time, we picked up, and 
hoisted on board, a block of “ fresh-water ice,” 
weighing between two and three tons, and re¬ 
markable for its purity and transparency. A 
small lens of this ice, constructed with little care, 
readily ignited inflammable substances, by the 
concentration of the sun’s rays. An observation, 
this day, gave the latitude 76° 24'; the next noon 
we were in 75° 43' iS T . 
Being now in the parallel where I proposed to 
renew the searcli for whales, we entered the ice, 
which was here skirted by detached streams, and 
proceeded beating to the north-west or west until 
