1875 DOBBIN BAY. 89 



intermediate barrier of ice. To the N.E. the ice was 

 close everywhere, but here and there in the pack a 

 few disconnected pools of water were kept open near 

 the slowly drifting icebergs. On Cape Hawks the 

 recent traces of a musk-ox or reindeer were observed. 

 We could find only the very smallest traces of vegeta- 

 tion ; indeed, any but an enthusiastic botanist would 

 call the country perfectly barren. 



On again ascending the island at 7 a.m. I found that 

 the channel by which we had advanced was tightly 

 closed. Not a pool of water was to be seen in that 

 direction ; but to the northward the ice was fairly open 

 with only a few narrow necks of ice preventing our 

 reaching Prince Imperial Island. During the forenoon, 

 as the ice in the bay was set by the ebb-tide to the 

 southward, a party was sent to clear away these necks 

 by blasting. Steaming up just before the tide turned, 

 we succeeded in forcing our way through and crossed 

 the bay without much trouble. On arriving at the east 

 side a large one season's floe was found pressing against 

 the land near Cape Hilgard. By cutting docks into its 

 northern edge the ships were secured about one mile 

 S.E. of Prince Imperial Island and the same distance 

 from the mainland. Several exploring parties im- 

 mediately landed, reporting on their return that traces 

 of hares and ptarmigan and a richer vegetation than 

 usual had been met with in the valleys. 



On each side of the bay precipitous hills, rising 

 about 1,200 feet, and the very conspicuously coloured 

 strati lication, at an uniform incline of 20°, dipping to- 

 wards the N.W., bear the most striking resemblance 

 to each other. The intermediate area appears to have 



