478 Our North Land. 



of the whole question. During this period, with the proper staff 

 and outfit, she would accomplish a very good survey of the coasts 

 of the Strait and Bay, and of the principal islands therein ; and the 

 expedition could erect beacons at suitable points on islands in and 

 on the shores of the Bay and Strait, which would be of great value 

 to navigation. 



Port Burwell or some other suitable place should be selected as 

 a supply depot, and the recently constructed Government steamship 

 called the Landsdowne, could be sent up this year to relieve the 

 station men that have been left there, with a full cargo of coals and 

 supplies. This could be left at the point named and the steamer 

 return, the whole voyage not occupying, over six weeks. The same 

 vessel could be sent up in the early summer of 1876 with another 

 load of coals and supplies, and would be able to bring back word 

 from the permanent expedition, and, in that way, the work of 

 proving the route would be carried on most effectually and at 

 comparatively small cost. I presume either of the sealing ships I 

 have mentioned could be purchased outright by the Government to 

 greater advantage than by securing one of them under an ordinary 

 charter. 



This method of enquiry would be a great improvement over the 

 Boulton scheme which is now in operation, and which I am sure 

 will not terminate satisfactorily. If it were adopted it would be 

 unnecessary to maintain more than one or two stationary parties 

 on the shores of the Strait. The others might be abandoned the 

 coming spring and the buildings sold to traders, or the lumber used 

 in the beacons to be erected. 



There would be ample work for two years for such an expedi- 

 tion. Substantial beacons should be erected, one on the outer 

 Button Island, one on Resolution Island, one on Big Island at North 

 Bluff, one on the north-east extremity of Charles Island, and one 

 on the north-west extremity of the same, one on the eastern 

 extremity of Salisbury Island, one on the southern extremity of 

 Nottingham, one on Mansfield Island, one on Cape Churchill, etc. 

 These beacons pending the construction of lighthouses, would be of 

 great value to mariners. 



