78 CRUISE OF STEAMEE CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 



generally referred to as "the bole" east of Herald Island. The Hon. Clements Markham," in 

 a paper read before the Royal Geographical Society of London, among a number of other mis- 

 statements, says : 



Captain Hooper reports that along, open passage extends northward to the eastward of Herald Island, the 

 current setting steadily at the rate of from one to three knots per hour. He described the passage as being like an 

 ocean river running between fixed banks of ice, either frozen to the bottom or held in place by laud ou each side. He 

 believes that the Jeanuette passed far to the north in this channel. 



The Hon. Mr. Markham further says that " this theory of channel and current has beeu upset 

 by the more extended and detailed observations of the Rodgers." 



In reply to the foregoing animadversion I prefer to let the logic of facts speak for itself. We 

 now know that the Jeannette passed north in this channel, and also that the current carried her 

 northward to the spot where she was lost, so it seems hardly necessary for me to say that I only 

 reported the current as it was observed by us, and that the result of our observations has been con- 

 firmed by the drift of the Jeannette. Consequently the theory of a northerly current has not been 

 upset. In referring to this paper by the Hon. Clements Markham my only purpose is to correct its 

 inaccuracies so far as they are of geographical importance. I will therefore state that I did not 

 describe this channel as an ocean river running between fixed banks of ice ; neither lias it that 

 appearance. It is simply a place which is generally a little more open than the surrounding ice, and 

 navigable a short distance when the other ice is not. It has been stated that from the top of Herald 

 Island navigable water was seen in this lead for a distance of 100 miles. The absurdity of this 

 statement is so apparent that it needs no contradiction. From the highest point of Herald Island 

 the visible horizon would be distant less than half that number of miles owing to the curvature of 

 the earth's surface. At the time of our visit no one could have distinguished ice from water 

 at a distance of twenty miles. The ice-pack was not over (5 feet high, and supposing the condi- 

 tion of the atmosphere to be favorable, it would not be possible to distinguish ice from water more 

 than 12 or 15 miles at the farthest when looking down from an elevation. Herald Shoal lies 

 over 100 miles southeast of the island. It has 7 fathoms of water and gradually deepens to 

 10 in all directions within 5 miles, so far as known. There are no outlying dangers. It was 

 discovered by Kellett and named after his ship. Eastward of the meridian of Herald Shoal the 

 deepest water is found south of the sixty-ninth parallel of latitude, averaging about 30 fathoms, 

 while to the north as far as Point Barrow the greatest average does not exceed 20 fathoms, 

 decreasing regularly as the shore is approached, Point Hope being the only exception to this rule 

 north of Cape Prince of Wales ; the 30 fathoms' curve almost touches its shore. 



At 5 a. m. September 5th, we again got under way, shaping a course east by north and pro- 

 ceeding cautiously through the thick fog until meridian, when the weather cleared up a little and 

 we got a sight of the tops of the Mulgrave hills, distant nearly 50 miles. At 9 p. in. the water 

 shoaling to 9 fathoms off Cape Kruseustern, we came to anchor for the night. At daylight the 

 following morning we got under way, and, steaming to Hothain Inlet, we anchored in 3 fathoms, 

 about 2 miles off the native settlement. The large number of natives from all parts of the 

 coast, which were congregated here on the occasion of our last visit, had all gone, and with the 

 exception of half a dozen tents of Selawik Lake natives, catching salmon for winter use, the place 

 was deserted. The salmon frequenting this part of the Arctic Ocean (Oncorhynchus keta), kuown 

 as dog salmon, are caught in gill-nets in large numbers, and dried for winter use. The preparation 

 for drying them consists in cutting off the head, splitting the fish, and taking out the back-bone; 

 after which the flesh is cut horizontally every 2 inches, the skin only remaining uncut. It is 

 then thrown across a pole to dry. It furnishes food for both men and dogs, being eaten raw. 

 Duriug several hours spent on shore at Hotham Inlet, we learned nothing of interest from the 

 natives beyond the fact that but little whisky was sold there the present season. Probably the 

 small quantity on board the Flying Mist was all they received. Ducks and geese were found here 

 in large numbers. As the cold weather approaches, they migrate south over the land, making a 

 few miles each day and feeding upon berries as they go. In consequence they are very fat and 

 have a more delicious flavor than I have ever found elsewhere. We bought all the natives had for 

 sale, and enjoyed them very much. Returning to the vessel about 1 p. m., we got under way 

 and 6teamed to Chamisso Island where we arrived at 10 p. m. The night was clear, the moon 



