480 Out North Land. 



dition, with open channels leading into the Strait, there would then 

 be no longer any risk in steaming into them ; and if the expressed 

 belief of those best informed be correct, there would be no obstruc- 

 tion, other than the intense cold, to a passage through Hudson's 

 Strait in mid- winter. 



The expenses of such an Expedition could be considerably within 

 the present appropriation of Parliament, viz. : $200,000 for the two 

 years. This amount would not be exceeded, and at the close of the 

 enterprise the Government would not only have the question of the 

 route fully solved, but a good substantial steam vessel in the 

 bargain. 



We may be told by those who profess to disbelieve in the practi- 

 cability of the route, that a vessel could not survive a winter in those 

 waters. My answer to this is, first, if she cannot, let her sink. The 

 cost of one vessel is not much compared with the importance of the 

 cause, and, if the question can be settled adversely by the sinking of/ 

 one ship, it will be about as inexpensive a method as can be adopted 

 to reach that or any other sound conclusion regarding it. The 

 destruction of the ship will by no means imply the loss of life. A 

 refuse station may be erected at a suitable place during the summer, 

 and stocked with supplies, and left in charge of two men, to which 

 the ship's crew may easily escape, either by water or on the ice, as 

 necessity may require, But of this calamity there is comparatively 

 no danger. In fact, I am aware that Captain Sopp, with the 

 Neptune, would not hesitate to undertake the task, and in doing so, 

 would apprehend no great risk. 



With the experience now at hand, it seems to be almost redicu- 

 lous to expend further sums of money repeating the experiences of 

 the Neptune in 1884. Each expedition will throw additional and 

 valuable light upon the question, but after all is done there will 

 still be but a partial solution of the problem. Short summer expedi- 

 tions cannot answer the question, "How long is the Strait navigable 

 each year ? " Observing stations can shed no light upon it, and, I 

 repeat, the only way it can be settled is by navigating that great 

 channel. It is navigable as long as it can be navigated, and how 

 long that is can be known only by navigating it. 



