The interaction of an ice cover and a fixed narrow structure was modelled by edge loading large rectangular (0.4 m × 0.5 m) plates of columnar-grained ice. The plates were set on one of the long edges and the load was applied to the opposite edge by means of indentors of widths varying between 12 and 150 mm. Ice plates 25 to 100 mm thick were used. Observations were made of the dependence of the indentation load on indentor width and ice thickness. All loading was within the range of ductile behavior of the ice. The study indicated that the indentation pressure was a function of the width of the indentor, but not of the thickness of the ice plate. The mode of deformation was observed to be primarily two dimensional. The results of this study are in contrast to observations under field conditions, from which it is concluded that the indentation pressure depends on the ratio of the width of the indentor to the thickness of the ice cover. This suggests the presence of an effect which must be given attention in the development of modelling techniques for the ice pressure problem.