472 Our North Land. 



observations should cover a period of at least three years, and should 

 be conducted by means of observatories, erected on the shores of the 

 Strait, as well as on certain places on the coasts of Hudson's Bay. 

 Cape Wolestanholme, Nottingham Island the neighbourhood of 

 North Bay, Cape Hope, Resolution Island, and one of the Button 

 Islands, have been pointed out as localities which might be selected. 

 The meteorological and astronomical phenomena, the currents, the 

 temperature of the waters, the tides, the movement and nature of 

 the ice masses, some hydrographical bearings, etc., such would be, or 

 nearly so, the work entrusted to the head men at the stations. The 

 Government would succeed, in this way, in establishing a knowledge 

 upon a number of essential points, relating to the navigation of these 

 unknown waters, and would prepare the way for capitalists desirous 

 of essaying the opening of this grand road to the North- West." 



These suggestions, and the plan afterwards adopted by the 

 Government were in accordance with the recommendations of 

 Staff-Commander Boulton, R.N., given before the Committee, and 

 contained in the first part of this volume. In concluding these 

 recommendations, Captain Boulton said : — 



" The principal object of these stationary parties is that, from 

 their commanding elevation, assisted by a good telescope, the daily 

 condition of the ice, as far as they could see, particularly at the 

 close and opening of navigation, the character of the ice, and the 

 drift and set of the ice, and so on, could be ascertained." 



In connection with this the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. 

 Joseph Royal, asked the following question and received the fol- 

 lowing reply : — 



" You have said that you would suggest that the ship should 

 arrive in the Strait about the 12th' of July. Why not sooner? — 

 My reason for suggesting that is that by going at that time she 

 would be sure to get in, and it is very necessary if the scheme is 

 carried out, that she should not have to stay off the Strait and run 

 short of her coal, and perhaps have to go back again, because, as 

 far as the opening of navigation is concerned, that would be better 

 ascertained by the landing parties in the following spring from their 

 stations." 



