“On the morning of August 12, the fog having lifted, we weighed
under steam, and got into a position to carry a line of soundings
into Berufiord, between the islands of Papey and Kogar Point--these
soundings average about 30 fathoms, principally sand and shells. We
anchored off Djupivogr factory the same day, and it being Sunday, we
ceased operations during the afternoon. The weather that day was the
finest we had had since we left England, and the evening was truly
summer-like. During the following five days, and when not prevented by
the prevalent rain and fogs, we proceeded with the examination of the
fiord, and finding it would not be advisable to carry a cable into the
small harbour of Djupivogr, on account of many rocks in its vicinity
and its being the anchorage of the small vessels frequenting the coast,
we sought for a more suitable landing-place higher up the fiord, and
succeeded in finding an excellent bay, called Gautavik, on the north
shore, five miles from the entrance. A depth of near thirty fathoms
can be carried in from sea to within a quarter of a mile of the shore,
while the bay itself afforded good protection and anchorage for any
large ships that might be employed in the undertaking.
“High water at Djupivogr at three o’clock, full and change, rise six
feet. The tide has been known to rise six and a-half feet before the
coming of easterly gales; about the same time flood outside runs S.S.W.
(true), ebb N.N.E., between Papey Island and the main. The strongest
known stream has four knots, but the average in ordinary spring tides
is not more than two and a-half knots.
“In 1860 drift ice appeared off the coast and entered the fiord, and
again (though in very small quantities) in 1859-60. This ice, called
here Greenland ice, is the ordinary washed and decayed floe-ice, and
comes from the N.W. _No icebergs have ever been seen on the coast._ The
drift-ice appears with northerly and departs with southerly winds, and
less of it comes into Berufiord than any other fiord on the east coast
of Iceland; the residents accounting for this fact by Berufiord having
a S.W. direction, and is consequently protected by the more northerly
and projecting capes which shunt the ice off, while the local tides
keep it drifting up and down the coast. The fiord itself never freezes,
but thin ice has been known to cover the harbour off the Factory for a
day or two during the winter.
“A tolerably complete survey of the fiord from the entrance to Gautavik
was completed, but a further examination would be advisable outside, to
ascertain the proper channel in which to lay the cable. The greatest
difficulties experienced on the coast by seamen, are from the prevalent
fogs during the summer months, and with easterly winds, _and this would
render it advisable to start from this coast towards Faröes_, in laying
the cable, because making a good land fall here would be attended
with considerable uncertainty.” Finally, as to the practicability of
Berufiord, Captain Young says, “There will be no difficulties from the
sea, ice, or otherwise, and the only obstacles will be from fogs and
thick weather, but which may be overcome by selecting proper seasons,
and taking precautions in landing or embarking the telegraph cable.”