150 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



Off Black Hook we spoke the s.s. Narwhal, of Dundee, 

 which had brought us a strong, new propeller. We were 

 now well provided, having two spare ones. We steamed in 

 company with her, and reaching Melville Bay, the weather 

 being calm, we made fast to a large floe, during a dense fog. 

 When it cleared up we steamed into the Bay among large 

 floes, occasionally ramming at necks of ice which barred our 

 progress. Then we came in sight of Cape York, and got 

 into the open north water off Cape Dudley Digges. We 

 were only twenty-six hours getting through the Bay, 

 whereas a sailing ship would have thought it a quick 

 passage in fourteen days. Not an hour's loss of rest was 

 experienced by the crew, but the captain was at the mast- 

 head most of the time. This shows what an easy time 

 sailors have on board a steamer, compared with those in 

 a sailing vessel. We lost no time in steaming to Pond's 

 Bay, and sighted the land on the north side. Many large 

 floes lay in our path before we came to the land floe, which 

 extended about twelve miles. There was a favourable 

 bight in the open of the Bay, and we steamed in that 

 direction, but a large floe impeded our progress. We 

 charged the opening at full speed. To all appearance it 

 was only two and a half feet thick, but judge our surprise 

 when we struck it. The shock made the pitch fly out of 

 the seams of the deck, those who were on deck were 

 thrown down by the concussion, and the ship trembled 

 and rolled as though she had been at sea; we found it 

 about five feet thick instead of two and a half. 



I have often thought it strange, when I have read of 

 Atlantic liners running into large icebergs at such great 

 speed, that they do not receive more damage. Our speed 

 was not more than seven knots per hour, and this was 

 only a floe which split at our bows, but an iceberg would 

 not have moved an inch. However, we steamed to the 

 north part of the bight, and making fast, sent two boats on 



