280 DISCOVERIES 01^ 1741* 



Indians, who have been often at the mine, say it 

 is upon a navigable arm of the sea of great depth, 

 leading to the south-west, where are great numbers 

 of large black fish spouting water, which confirms 

 the opinion, that all the whales seen between 

 Whale Cove and Wager River all come there from 

 the Western Ocean, since none are seen any where 

 else in Hudson's Bay or Strait."* 



It is rather singular that, after expressing so 

 strong an opinion against the Company, he should 

 have entered into a correspondence with Captain 

 Middleton, who had for many years been in their 

 service, and, as would appear, not disposed to go 

 against their interests. The facts, however, which 

 he obtained from this gentleman confirmed his 

 former opinions, and rendered in his mind the 

 existence of a passage into the Pacific quite con- 

 clusive. On the strength of these facts he pre- 

 vailed on the Lords of the Admiralty to appropriate 



'* An Account of the Countries adjoining to Hudson's Bay. By 

 Arthur Dobbs, Esq. p. 48. — There can be little doubt that the 

 Hudson's Bay Company were for a long time exceedingly jealous 

 of their monopoly ; and that they not only discouraged all 

 attempts at northern discovery, but withheld what little informa- 

 tion came to their knowledge; but of late years the governors of 

 this Company have liberally communicated whatever information 

 may have been sent to them respecting the geography and hy- 

 drography of Hudson's sea and lands adjoining, as Mr. Arrow- 

 smith can testify. That their servants have not been very active 

 in collecting information is quite true ; but the fault is rathjer to 

 be ascribed to the individuals than to the Company. 



