378 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. X. 



mises favourably for fishing with the seine. The - 

 hills on the western side are even in their outline, 

 and slope gradually to the water's edge. 



Franklin further says that the portion of the sea 

 over which he had passed, is navigable for vessels 

 of any size. The ice he met, particularly after 

 quitting Detention Harbour, would not have ar- 

 rested a strong boat. The chain of islands affords 

 shelter from all heavy seas, and there are good har- 

 bours at convenient distances. It is to be hoped, 

 however, that Captain Franklin on his present voy- 

 age may not be driven to seek shelter, with the 

 Erebus and Terror, in any part of the southern 

 coast of the Polar Sea. 



The arrangement made for returning by the way 

 he had come, Captain Franklin now perceived 

 would not be advisable. The country between 

 Cape Barrow and Copper Mine River would not 

 supply their wants ; the canoes were unfit to en- 

 counter the sea ; the bad season was rapidly advanc- 

 ing, when heavy gales were to be expected. " I de- 

 termined, therefore," he says, " to make at once for 

 Arctic Sound, where game had been found more 

 plentiful than in any other place ; and entering 

 Hood's River, to advance up it as far as navigable, 

 and then to construct small canoes out of the mate- 

 rials of the larger and damaged ones, which could 

 be carried in crossing the barren grounds to Fort 

 Enterprise." They had before them a chilling pro- 



