along the pack edge, making, however, but small progress, on account of the heavy swell, until the afternoon, when the weather became fine and the wind more moderate.
At noon we were in latitude 70° 39′ S., longitude 174° 31′ W., the magnetic dip 83° 48′ S., and the variation 38° 32′ E. We availed ourselves of the favourable weather to try the temperature of the sea at the following depths:—at 600 fathoms it was 37°.6; at 450 fathoms, 35°.8; at 300 fathoms, 35°; at 150 fathoms, 32°.1; and at the surface, 28°; the specific gravity being 1.0273 at 30°. At 6 p.m. we fetched to windward of the west point of the pack, which appeared composed of very heavy hummocky ice, and which afterwards seemed to trend to the south-west, forming a deep bight; we stood across this until we reached its next western-most point, which, not being able to weather at mitlnight, we tacked, to keep in smooth water under its lee.
By daylight we were again close with the pack,Feb. 10. and passed another heavy western point of it at 8 a.m.
The day was remarkably fine, but the westerly swell prevented us greatly, and our progress on this and the following day, during which fog and snow prevailed, was very trifling, and our labour and anxiety considerable.
On the morning of the 12th, the weather becomingFeb. 12. clear, we again stood to the southward, and at noon we were in latitude 71° 2′ S.,