The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-18
ARCTIC ICE LIMITS.

ARCllC lie LIMITS
DIR. BEssEL, OF THE HALL EXPEDITION, RE-
cAPITULATEs THE RECORD OF THE SOUTHERN
ICE LIMIT FOR CENTURY IN THE SEA
NORTH OF BEHRING strata HOPEFUL
OUTLOOK.
WASHINGTON, Oct. II, 1870.
Dr. Emil Dessel the Arctic explorer, who Is now
in Washington has revived his interest researches
in tho Arctic region and is now in correspondence
with Professor Nordenskj0ld. Before the departure
of the Jeanette from San Francisco he had several
long interviews with Lieutenant Do Long and ex-
pressed the greatest faith in the success of the
petition via Behring Strait Since the departure of
the Jeanette he has been to the pains Of carefully
examining all the records known Of expeditions
which have entered Arctic waters via Behring Strait
and from letter Of DR.. Bessel have been per-
mitted make the following extract. giving his
for his faith in the Of the expedition
now sailing northward under command of Lieuten-
ant De Long. He says:-
The prospects of the Jeannctte are certainly very
from the region into which the vessel has sailed.
The sOuthermost limit OF tho pack seems to have
receded more tnan Tor good many years which, Of
northern waters. have compiled from the records
an account of the condition OF the Arctic waters
running back century, and find that the condi-
tions almost invariably point to an open sea after
reaching certain latitude. beyond which am con-
hdent the Jeanette will be able to pass. The fol-
lowing synopsis OF the condition OF the ice In
Behring Strait will sustain in my predictions
ICE LIMITS FOR A CENTURY.
In August, ITS. the great navigator Cook reached
latitude 70 deg A mn in longitude 161 deg 80 min.
west The equatorial limit of drift ice wasfound to
be in latitude 81 deg IL min the 18th of August.
while two days later the limit of the pack was
eountered in latitude 70 deg a min. longitude 100
the following year was attained in July, when he
advanced to latitude 70 deg. so min. in longitude
<1no xs,txS hal Il Ir11xy Al
southernmost limit OF the drift ice met in lat
itude 67 deg north Later in July the southernmost
limit of the pack in latitude go deg 30 min and
later further to the south. In 1887 Portlock
aud Dixon found the coast of Northern siberia
there was scarcely sny Ice to be seep and two
years later Mackenzie found the mouth of the
river named after him completely blocked as
late as July In 1894 Vancouver found Cook sound
completely blocked. and the 26th OF June he met
the equatorial limit of drift ice in latitude 50 deg 80
min. kotzobue. In the Russian' exploring expedi-
ton in 1916, found Behring Strait free of ice in
August. and the next year he met the equatorial
limit OF drift ice in latitude Go deg. July H. while
st. Lawrence Island entirely surrounded by 1t.
The russian brig Bagonamjerenny in 1870 met the
on the eth Of July. Later in the same month tho
limit OF tho pack was encountered in latitude 90 deg
80 min. INC west coast OF st. lawrence Island was
Sound. The latter opened on the 22d of July.
The year following in 1921. the same vessel
the ice was found to be impassabIe. This
happened ON the 18th Of August. and large
50 deg. In April OF the year Lieutenant Anjou.
of the Russian navy. on his sledge journey. found
east from the eastern coast OF Kotelnoi, and was
prevented from attaining high latitude the ice.
In tho same month Lieutenant wrsngel found the
between Kolyma and Indigiuka, and was likewise
forced to turn back In 1872 this explorer met the
open water 160 miles north Of the Siberian coast,
while Anjou, his companion, struck the open
only TWENTY-FIVE miles north Of the Siberian coast,
and about Gfty miles east OF the New Siberian
Islands. In April OF tho following year the
open ifty-nine miles east Of Siberia and ninety
miles north of the mouth of the Koyms In 1926 the
limit of the pack was found in August in latitude
II deg. 30 mn in the meridian of Point Barrow this
rom Sound the pack
in streaks. through which 1T was possible to sail
with ease. and at Point Barrow tho ice was entirely
mpenetrable In July, lS42 large fields of ice made
their appearance about seventy miles south of st.
Lawrence Island the to tho northward, however,
was open. On the Sd OF this month tho southern
limit OF drift ice found in latitude 63 deg. % min.
Tho following year Norton Sound opened a. early
of the pack was in latitude ~ deg MIN, longitude
lG4 deg. 10 min. and Captain Keett r. N. sailed in
to Chamisso Island The year following. on the I'd
of August, the pack extended far south lati-
tude 70 deg min. north. longitude 1G6 deg. II min.
west, trending in direction from east northeast to
west-southwest. In tho month following the same
line was about degree and half further to the
20 min. The eastern side OF the Prince Of Wales
strait blocked with ice. while the west side
entirely free. This strait in tho year following
opened on the I'd of July. while the Prince Royal
Islands were ut the same time still blocked and con-
tinued until the middle of August The following
year. 1884, the conditions were less favorable
the pack in longitude 167 deg 40 min. extended far
reached Dease Strait by coasting and returned from
there In August. Toward the end of September the
sea was frozen. Captain Mcguire, the 18th
OF August. 1858. reached Point Borrow and found
the sea to be open from east-nortleast to west
southwest. In 1884 Captain Colinson reported that
on the Attn Of june tho drift extended to LATITUDE 81
dog. II min., and In August the equatorial limit OF
the pack was met in latitude 65 deg. 80 min. Accord
ing to the Pacific Commercial Advertiser the American
whaleship Santiago beset in latitude G2 degrees
and drifted for thirty days. .rn
The Of 1867 was an uncommonly favorable
one. Captain Long, tho American whaer, sighted
and discovered Wrangel Land, which IL expected TO
serve as tho base OF operation for tho Jeannette.
Behring Sea and the water between Herald Island
and Wrangel Land were perfectly Free American
east OF Point Barrow, aud stayed In Behring strait
till the 10th OF October, one OF them reaching latitude
70 deg. 10 mn and could have penetrated much fur.
Their IL IL had been necessary. The season OF 1911
formed strong contrast to the one Just mentioned
1t will be that during that year thirty
three whacrs beset and partially lost IN tho ice
between Capo Bccher and Wainwright Island
A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. .
IL would lead too far to state In detail the condi-
tons of the ice OF Bchring Sea and tho strait be-
tween then and now. Many whaIcrs approached
Wrangcl Land without landing, tor the reason that
tho object OF their cruise did not lead them to do go
Nordenskjod reports the season an uncommonly
favorable one. and high hopes may DO entertained
that the Jeanette will be successful. 1t Is only to
be regretted that the Secretary of tho Navy did not.
as was expected send transport to carry the stores
OF the Jeannotc which latter SO deeply loaded that
1 tHN