CHAPTER IV 



WALRUS-CATCHING IN RICE STRAIT. 



ON Sunday. August 21, Baumann, Fosheim, Schei, Simmons, and 

 last, but not least, Bay, went ptarmigan-shooting on Butherford 

 Peninsula, where they greatly enjoyed themselves and experienced 

 several small casualties. Bad going and a tendency to stoutness 

 do not always quite harmonize, but on this subject I will say 

 no more. 



On Monday a breeze sprang up from the north, and during 

 the night we found it necessary again to take refuge in Bice 

 Strait, in the northern part of which we found a little sheltered 

 bay, which was subsequently our winter quarters for the first year. 

 We named it ' Frams Havn,' or ' Fram's Haven.' 



When it was proved beyond a doubt that it was impossible for 

 us to proceed farther that year, we .set seriously to work walrus- 

 catching, in order to provide food for the dogs ; and for a long 

 time two boats were out every day, sometimes in Bice Strait, 

 sometimes in the direction of Cocked Hat Island. There is a 

 good deal of excitement connected with this sport, and we were all 

 very keen about it. Even the scientific men, particularly Bay, 

 threw themselves into it heart and soul, when they could do so 

 without neglecting their scientific work, which now consisted 

 chiefly of dredging. We kept at it as long as there was open 

 water, and when Frams Havn was frozen over, walrus-catching 

 being still practicable, though it was impossible to convey our 

 booty back to the ship at once, we started a depot on the northern- 

 most point of Pirn Island, which we named the ' Meat-heap ' 

 (' Kjothaugen '). When the ice was strong enough, we packed 



the meat on sledges, and drove it on board. 



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