of one hundred and fifty fathoms, and found progressively to increase from the surface to the greatest depth.
On the next day the wind changed to the southward,Jan. 4. and freshened to a strong gale; we found ourselves drifting with the pack fast back to the northward, so that at noon on the 5th our latitudeJan. 5. was 66º 15′ S. All this day we continued to drift along with the ice; but towards midnight we observed some holes of water opening out amongst it to the southward, and the wind changing to the eastward soon after noon, we cast off from the floe,Jan. 6. and regained eight or ten miles of our lost ground before we were again stopped by the close pack, which extended to the southward. We kept the ships free by beating about in the largest hole of water we could find, but not without much difficulty, owing to thick snow coming on, and preventing our seeing to any distance.
Early the next day the breeze freshened rapidly,Jan. 7. and a gale came on from the westward, but it only lasted about twelve hours, and was followed by a strong southerly breeze. During the gale our ships received some very heavy blows, but I was anxious to prevent them getting beset; and although the labour of tacking or wearing every quarter of an hour, with our decks and rigging encumbered with ice and snow, was great, and required the unceasing exertions of the officers and crew, the work was continued with cheerfulness and alacrity throughout this and the two following days; whilst a