20 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. July 



Eider ducks of two species (Somateria xpectabilis, 

 and S. mollissima) were very common around Disco 

 Island. The natives brought a considerable number to 

 our ships, and we found them such good eating that a 

 larger supply would have been deemed acceptable. It 

 has been stated that eider ducks are uneatable on 

 account of their fishy taste, but we did not find that to 

 be the case. The fish obtained from the Greenlanders, 

 chiefly rock-CGd, and a species of salmon-trout, were 

 good but not plentiful. Our crews being fully employed 

 we were unable to use our own nets, or probably we 

 should have obtained a large supply, the neighbouring 

 fisheries being very rich. 



The light canvas Berthon boats, available for one 

 or two persons, proved of great service. A few of 

 the officers became rather expert in the use of the 

 kayak, but not without one very narrow escape. 

 When a kayak is overturned it becomes an air-float 

 acting in the most undesirable manner by preventing 

 the immersed man from coming to the surface ; in the 

 case referred to, the officer had the presence of mind to 

 disentangle himself from his trousers, and wriggle his 

 body, whilst under water, out of the tight-fitting aper- 

 ture of the kayak, leaving his nether garments behind. 



An endeavour was made to obtain a bearing of the 

 6 Parry Eock,' lying six or seven miles to the southward 

 of the harbour ; its existence is undoubted, and situated 

 in the fairway, if unmarked by icebergs aground, is a 

 most dangerous reef. 



On the evening of the 15th, after obtaining satis- 

 factory sights for rating our chronometers, and taking 

 on board twenty-four Eskimo dogs, the Expedition 



