520 Our North Land. 



Island, on the north shore, at the mouth of Fox Channel, passing through 

 a huge ice-field that barred the mouth of the harbour. The ice here, 

 which appears to have rushed down from Fox Channel and jammed, 

 extended right across the Strait to Cape Wolstenholme on the south shore, 

 a distance of forty-five miles. Four ships were locked in this huge barrier 

 about half way across. Here the Neptune injured her screw while trying 

 to force her way through the ice. After making repairs she entered the 

 Bay where the weather was clear and the water open and free. She 

 reached Churchill on September 6th, and on the 10th proceeded to York 

 Factory, which she left on the 12th, entering the Strait on the return trip 

 on the 16th. The experiences on the home journey did not apparently 

 increase Lieut. Gordon's knowledge of the Straits, though he learned to his 

 cost that there are hundreds of sunken rocks and small islands unnoted in 

 the charts. All the observation parties left on the journey out were found 

 to be in good health and spirits, but the intention of establishing a party 

 on Resolution Island had to be abandoned owing to the difficulties encoun- 

 tered in landing there. 



The reports of the observers during the next twelve months will be 

 awaited with keen interest, but whatever may be their nature they can 

 hardly be expected to determine the point at issue. It is evident that it 

 would have been next to impossible to have shipped any large quantity of 

 wheat by this route this season, for no vessel could have made more than 

 one round trip. Next season, on the other hand, may be an open one and 

 the reports may show four months' navigation of the Strait, but that will 

 avail nothing. It is manifest that the feasibility of a route depends upon 

 the measure of practicability it possesses in the worst or most exceptional 

 season, just as the strength of a chain is measured by the resisting power 

 of its weakest link. If this be the true theory — and upon none other 

 would a prudent navigator venture to act — there does not appear, according 

 to the information now at hand, to be a future for the Hudson's Bay 

 scheme. 



The above article plainly manifests a disposition to discourage 

 the scheme ; but this fact, taken into consideration with the glaring 

 inaccuracies contained in it, leads one to think that the disposition 

 is not founded upon conviction. We are told for instance that : — 



On the 16th (Aug.) the vessel left Big Island for Prince of Wales' 

 Sound on the south shore, remaining there from the 17th until the 22nd, 

 a heavy gale with snow prevailing uninterruptedly and the sea being filled 

 with ice. 



