



CHAPTER XIX. 



An Exciting Polar Bear Hunt. 



from york to cape digges — a pleasant voyage across the 

 bay — establishment of an observing station at digges — 

 a glance at cape wolstenholme — capture of three polar 

 bears — departure from digges — arrival at de boucher- 

 ville — weather notes. 



^feUR ship steamed away from the mouth of the Nelson and 

 the Hayes, at eight o'clock on the evening of Friday the 

 12th of September. The course was taken toward Cape 

 Wolstenholme, where Lieutenant Gordon had decided to 

 establish an observing station, in lieu of. Mansfield Island. As I 

 have stated, a landing could not be made on Mansfield, on account of 

 the shoals which prevail along its shores. Moreover, an examination 

 of its position demonstrated that a station there would not serve the 

 objects of the Expedition as well as at the Cape opposite the station 

 on Nottingham. The distance from Nottingham to the south main 

 shore is not over thirty-five or forty miles, so that the two stations 

 will be able to determine in a measure to what extent navigation is 

 obstructed by ice in that channel. 



The voyage from York to Digges Islands occupied four nights 

 and three days. We enjoyed delightful weather the whole of the 

 way, except that on Sunday there was a light fog until the middle 

 of the afternoon, and on Monday a thick fog until about the same 

 hour. There was also a light rain during most of Monday night 

 There were no heavy winds, the temperature was compara- 

 tively high, and the Neptune bowled along in smooth water for the 

 whole distance. On Monday afternoon we were off the south coast 

 of Mansfield Island, in ten fathoms of water, and were compelled to 



