OF THE POLAR SEA. 17 



of the hatchet were easily split open, when the 

 intestines might be removed in one lump. If in 

 this completely frozen state they were thawed 

 before the fire, they recovered their animation. 

 This was particularly the case with the carp, 

 and we had occasion to observe it repeatedly, as 

 Dr. Richardson occupied himself in examining 

 the structure of the different species of fish, and 

 was always, in the winter, under the necessity of 

 thawing them before he could cut them. We 

 have seen a carp recover so far as to leap about 

 with much vigour, after it had been frozen for 

 thirty-six hours. 



From the 12th to the 16th we had fine, and for 

 the season, warm weather ; and the deer, which 

 had not been seen since the 26th of October, re- 

 appeared in the neighbourhood of the house, to 

 the surprise of the Indians, who attributed their 

 return to the barren grounds, to the unusual mild- 

 ness of the season. On this occasion, by melting 

 some of our pewter cups, we managed to furnish 

 five balls to each of the hunters, but they were 

 all expended unsuccessfully, except by Akaitcho, 

 who killed two deer. 



By the middle of the .^ath Winter River was 

 firmly frozen over, except the small rapid at its 

 commencement, which remained open all the 

 winter. The ice on the lake was now nearly two 



