1875 KENNEDY CHANNEL. 108 



evening the wind having freshened from the north- 

 ward with a heavy snowstorm, the temperature being 

 27°, Captain Stephenson and I decided to make 

 another push for the water which was in sight in the 

 middle of the strait. Accordingly at 9 p.m., nearly 

 the time of low-water, we started under steam and 

 sails, and after an hour's severe struggle succeeded in 

 forcing our way through the closest part of the pack. 

 When six miles from the land we entered water suffi- 

 ciently open to let us choose our own course. Naturally 

 everyone was in the best possible spirits at our im- 

 proved prospects ; and hopes were entertained by a few, 

 that having passed the meeting place of the northern and 

 southern tides, a sea comparatively clear of ice would 

 be found to the northward. Arriving in mid-channel, 

 the wind was blowing so strong directly down the 

 strait that in order to make any progress we w^ere 

 obliged to work the ships to windward under fore and 

 aft sails, the ice compelling us to make short boards, 

 but by tacking as the leads were observed to favour us 

 we made good way. 



The edges of the noes around showed signs of 

 having been lately exposed to a much heavier sea 

 than we were then experiencing, large fragments of 

 well washed debris ice, rounded by attrition, having 

 been thrown up on the edges of the floes like pebbles 

 on to a beach. 



During the 22nd, as we advanced up the channel, 

 there appeared to be less ice on the western than on 

 the eastern shore. Unfortunately the misty weather 

 prevented our obtaining a good view of the hill-tops. 



By noon we were fairly in Kennedy Channel and 



