VOYAGE TO THE BAY 3 



Neptune at Halifax, where suitable Welsh coal and a fine steam 

 launch, on his recommendation, were supplied by the 

 Admiralty. 



To Captain George Comer, of the American whaler Era, 

 special thanks are due for his uniform kindness and courtesy 

 during our long winter together, and for the valuable assistance 

 rendered, by advice, information and services, to the expedition 

 and to myself, personally. 



The writer gratefully acknowledges a large amount of 

 interesting details relating to the natives, whaling industry, 

 geography and natural history obtained from the Rev. Mr. 

 Peck, and from the Scottish whaling Captains Milne, Adams, 

 Guy and Murray. 



PRELIMINARIES TO AND PREPARATIONS FOR THE .VOYAGE. 



The Dominion government, in the spring of 1903, decided 

 to send a cruiser to patrol the waters of Hudson bay and those 

 adjacent to the eastern Arctic islands ; also to aid in the estab- 

 lishment, on the adjoining shores, of permanent stations for 

 the collection of customs, the administration of justice and the 

 enforcement of the law as in other parts of the Dominion. 



To perform these last duties, Major J. D. Moodie, of the 

 Northwest Mounted Police, was appointed Acting Commis- 

 sioner of the unorganized Northeastern Territories. Under his 

 command were placed a non-commissioned officer and four con- 

 stables of the Northwest Mounted Police, as a nucleus of the 

 force that in the future would reside at these stations. 



The Neptune, the largest and most powerful ship of the 

 Newfoundland sealing fleet, was chartered as the most suitable 

 vessel for the cruiser work. The Neptune is a stout wooden 

 ship, built entirely of British oak, sheathed with ' iron-bark ' 

 and greenheart. Although built in 1873, she is quite sound 



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