REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 15 



and a more favorable time for crossing Melville Bay, which was full 

 of heavy ice. The time between June Gth and 11th was spent at the 

 Duck Islands, looking in vain for an opening in the pack. Taking 

 advantage of every narrow lead the vessels fought their way through 

 the ice, now resorting to ramming and torpedoes to force a passage, 

 then tying up to the lee of a berg or to a heavy floe. By dint of labor 

 they finally came in sight of Cape York, but it was impossible to get 

 into open water before the 18th. Accompanied by two of the whalers 

 they then steamed on. The '' Bear " was signaled to push ahead and 

 send a party on shore to communicate with the natives. Nothing had 

 been heard here of Greely. Every place was searched where records 

 or people were likely to be found. The " Bear " went to the Gary 

 Islands, the "Thetis" to Conical Eock, Wolstenholme and Saunders 

 Island, to Cape Parry, and finally to Littleton Island, where a cache was 

 found, but no tidings of the party. Now the impression became gen- 

 eral that the vessels would have to i^roceed to Lady Franklin Bay. Let- 

 teis were got ready to be sent home by the " Alert," when she should 

 return in the autumn, and on the 22d, 720 rations were cached. When 

 the '' Bear" arrived at noon it was decided to laud 3,000 rations more 

 51 1 Payer Harbor, and both vessels stood across through open water to 

 Cape Sabine, where Greely and the survivors of his command were found 

 ill a starving condition. On July 17, the vessels, with the exception of 

 tbe " Alert," were at anchor again at St. John's, Newfoundland. 



Considering that the whole energy of the squadron had to be devo- 

 ted to the rescue of the Lady Franklin Bay party, the natural history 

 collections, made by the officers on various occasions, are richer than 

 might have been expected; the numerous photographs of the country, 

 of the natives, and the ice, in its various shapes and formations, will be 

 of lasting value. 



The physical observations during the course of the expedition were 

 made part of the regular routine of the vessels. The natural history 

 work, however, was i)rosecuted by the naval ensigns who had been 

 sent by the Navy Department to the Smithsonian Institution specially 

 for the purpose of being trained for such duty. Among these were 

 Messrs. C. A. Harlow, A. A. Ackerman, and C. S. McClain. These gen- 

 tlemen had all been well trained at the Institution in the methods of 

 instantaneous photography, in taxidermy, and in the collecting of min- 

 erals and fossils; and although the time occupied by the expedition — 

 thanks to the energy of its commander, CaiJtain Schley, and his associ- 

 ates — was very much less than had been anticipated, very interesting 

 and desirable collections were made by the gentlemen mentioned. 



The landings were made, for the most part, at Disco, Upernavik, 

 Duck Island, Conical Eock, Camp Clay, &c., and the gatherings con- 

 sisted of rock specimens, minerals, fossils, numerous birds, and an ac- 

 ceptable collection of fishes and marine invertebrates in alcohol. The 

 photographic plates have not yet been developed, but will no doubt 



