VOYAGE TO THE BAY 11 



past year. The oil and bone from these, together with the oil 

 and pelts of 3,000 seals, and some bear, wolf, fox and walrus 

 skins would realize a handsome profit, and lend encouragement 

 to the continuation of the stations, which, for several years 

 previous, had not cleared expenses. 



Mr. Noble informed us that white whales are abundant at 

 the head of the gulf during the summer, where they frequent 

 the flat, muddy mouth of a river. They are driven by whale- 

 boats up the river, on the rising tide, and kept there until the 

 tide falls, when they become stranded upon the mud flats and 

 are easily killed. This fishery has only been prosecuted in a 

 desultory manner, and would probably pay if handled with 

 judgment. 



Two rivers on the north side, and one at the head of the 

 gulf, are famous for their large Arctic trout, or salmon, which 

 abound in the mouths of these streams during August. There 

 is no doubt that a profitable fishery could be prosecuted in all 

 these streams, as well as in many others along the coast to the 

 northward and southward of Cumberland gulf, but as yet no 

 attempt has been made to fish them for export. 



The station at Kekerten consists of the usual half-dozen 

 small buildings, all nicely painted, with the whaleboats ranged 

 on skids, and barrels and tanks alongside clean and ready for 

 use. 



The same evening a return was made to Blacklead, where, 

 taking on board Captain Jackson, the new master of Cape 

 Haven station, and his boat's crew of natives, we left again, 

 under a brilliant moon, for Cape Haven. The south shore of 

 the gulf was closely followed, past innumerable bays and narrow 

 channels formed by the islands and deeply indented shores of 

 that side. 



Cyrus Field bay was reached late the next afternoon, with a 

 strong northwesterly breeze. As the approach to Cape Haven is 



