ntributed to this, mainly in
consequence of the often snow-covered cracks, which
crossed the ice-sheet in their neighbourhood. One of the
_torosses_ was ten metres high. The size of the blocks of
ice, which were here heaped on each other, showed how
powerful the forces were which had caused the formation of
the _torosses_. These ice ramparts now afford a much
needed protection to the _Vegas_ winter haven. About
halfway between the open water and the vessel the way was
crossed by cracks running from east to west, and clearly
indicating that the opening in the ice would have extended
to the distance of a kilometre from the vessel, if the
violent storm in December had lasted twelve hours longer.
The _Vega_ would thereby have been in great danger. The
edge of the ice towards the open water was evenly cut, as
with an immense knife, and was so strong that one could
walk along it as on a rock. Even from the top of a
five-metre-high ice-rampart no boundary of the open water
could be seen to the north-east or north. Partly from
this, partly from the extension of the water-sky in this
direction, I draw the conclusion that the breadth of the
open water was at least thirty-five kilometres. The
"clearing" was bounded on the east by an ice-rampart
running north, which at a distance of nine or ten
kilometres appeared to bend to the east. Possibly farther
to the east beyond this ice-rampart there was another open
water basin. The depth at the edge of the ice was
twenty-one metres, the temperature of the water 2 deg.
C. The water ran at a considerable speed right out from
the coast (_i.e._ from S.S.E.) As it ran here nearly in a
straight line, the current may have been a tidal one. The
open water swarmed with seals, according to Johnsen both
bearded and rough. Neither Polar bears, walrusses, nor
birds were seen."

Lieut. Bove's report confirmed me in my supposition that the open
water, as towards the end of January 1873 at Mussel Bay, might
possibly extend as far as our anchorage and open for us the way to
Behring's Straits, in which case we could not refrain from
continuing our voyage, however unpleasant and dangerous it might be
at this season of the year. The Chukches also declared repeatedly
that the open water in January would continue for a considerable
time, and in expectation of this got their