94 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



fast to an iceberg close to the settlement, and shortly after- 

 wards the Fox, Captain McClintock, came alongside. 

 He remained with us three days. We provided him with 

 ten tons of coal, some beef, blocks, cordage, wheelbarrows, 

 and baskets, which we had on board to spare. The latter 

 articles with which we supplied him were taken out by the 

 Emma in 1855, when they intended to winter in Niatlik, for 

 the purpose of laying a broad track of gravel on the ice 

 from the ship towards the outside, to weaken it and to keep 

 the men in exercise ; for instance, if a rope yarn be laid on 

 the ice twenty-four hours its weight will sink it half-an-inch. 

 During the last two days the weather was calm, and the ice 

 began to open in all directions. Away steamed the Fox 

 on her risky mission in search of Sir John Franklin. All 

 was now bustle and activity the ships casting off from their 

 respective bergs and towing with their boats. The little 

 Fox soon steamed out of sight. While we were detained 

 here I was generally away shooting-birds or anything eatable 

 for a treat. The eider duck and loom are the principal 

 birds. The latter are more numerous. Their flesh is very 

 sweet, especially when made into sea pies. This bird 

 differs from those caught at Flambro' Head, which have a 

 very fishy taste. Those in Davis's Straits are free from such 

 an objectionable flavour. They are not plucked like other 

 birds, but skinned, which is soon done. There is another 

 pretty little bird called the dovekie, about the size of a 

 young pigeon. It is jet black, with the exception of a small 

 patch of white on each wing and bright red legs. They are 

 so quick that they will dive before the shot reaches them. 

 The auk is generally called " loom," and Sanderson's Hope 

 is the largest loomery on the east side of Davis's Straits. 

 There is also the little auk, called " roaches," exactly like the 

 loom, but it is only the size of a sparrow, and their breeding- 

 place is at the Crimson Cliffs, near to Cape York. They 

 fly in large flocks. I have brought down thirty-five with 



