1852.] FIND PIECES OF WHITE WHALE. 81 



' North Star' to lie secure, even at its mouth ; no shelter 

 from the ice of the strait ; and, from the thinness of the 

 floe, it would inevitably break up with the first breeze, 

 leaving her quite exposed to the driving pack. It was 

 therefore decided to cut into Erebus and Terror Bay, 

 where very strong ice still prevailed, notwithstanding 

 some of its outer lines were constantly breaking away. 

 As we neared our ships, I noticed that something un- 

 usual was taking place, as the mollyrnoks and gulls were 

 dashing at pieces of floating matter, with which they 

 were gorging themselves in a most excited manner. I 

 determined therefore to ascertain the object of so much 

 contention, and, much to my astonishment, found the 

 floating pieces to be the outer (or blubber) parts of the 

 white whale, cut into pieces of eighteen inches to two 

 feet square, and evidently by some sharp instrument. 

 Two pieces were taken on board, to be reported on by 

 the ice-quartermasters (whaling-mates), who pronounced 

 them " to have been cut by some sharp instrument, and 

 that they were recent and sound." I could therefore 

 only attribute them to some visit of the ' Prince Albert.'* 



The ' Pioneer' having returned, and Lieutenant Osborn 

 reporting that he had been unable to find the provisions 

 at Navy Board Inlet, every effort was made to complete 

 her coal from the ' North Star' that evening. 



On the afternoon of the 14th of August the ' Intrepid' 

 also returned, her Commander reporting "open water as 

 far as he had been able to examine, but patches of ice in 

 several directions in our route." The leading officers dined 

 with me, and after reading over the several instructions 



* This question has never been cleared up. 

 VOL. I. G 



