Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/97

Rh Star,' bound for Hudson Strait, the former repeating her voyage of the previous season. The entrance to Hudson Strait, always very unapproachable in the spring owing to the accumulation of ice and the boisterous weather experienced at that season, was more than usually blocked by the drift of ice from Davis Strait, and the two vessels were twenty-eight days later in entering the Strait than they anticipated, even then they forced a passage with difficulty. The terrible squeezing and buffeting they experienced told severely on the 'Polar Star,' a vessel thirty years old, which, after being frequently beset, had finally to be abandoned in a sinking condition early in October, the 'Active,' which had been standing by her companion for some time taking on board her crew and saving one hundred and thirty-two Walrus hides and four Bears. The 'Active' saw very few Whales, and did not succeed in catching any, the result of her voyage being one hundred and seventy-three Walruses, thirty-four Bears, and fifty-eight Musk Ox skins, the latter obtained from the natives on the mainland to the west of Rowe's Welcome. Late in the season the weather was very wild, and on two occasions seventy-three in the one case and one hundred and nine Walruses in the other, which had been killed and left on the shore, were washed away and lost during terrific gales. An American vessel which wintered in the Strait secured eight Whales in June and July, before the 'Active' got upon the fishing ground, and when spoken had the produce of sixteen Whales on board. As it is evident the vessels despatched from Scotland must arrive too late to take full advantage of the fishery in this locality, Mr. Kinnes resolved to establish a station in Fisher Strait, on the shore of Southampton Island. For this purpose the first mate of the 'Active,' Mr. J.W. Murray, with two others, were landed, a large wooden dwelling-house and boat-shed having been taken out in sections for their use; here they contemplate remaining for three years, Whale hunting, assisted by five boats' crews of natives.

The only other vessel bringing produce from the Arctic was the carrying ship 'Alert,' of Peterhead, which brought home the produce of two Whales, 150 Walruses, and 2900 Seals, from the Cumberland Gulf stations.

Seven vessels left Dundee in the past season; one of these,