34 CRUISE OF THE NEPTUNE 



and other Arctic plants on the wet ground surrounding the 

 many ponds and lakes found there. The shores and islands of 

 these lakes are the breeding grounds of a number of rare birds, 

 among which may be mentioned Sabine's Gull, Arctic Tern, 

 Whistling Swan, Hutchen's Goose, Snow Goose, Jager, Little 

 Blue Crane and Red Phalarope. 



The water is usually very shallow for two or three miles from 

 the land, and reefs of limestone extend much farther out. 

 About Cape Kendall dangerous reefs are found at least eight 

 miles from the land. 



We remained on the island a week, gradually working north- 

 ward, until we were about ten miles to the north of our original 

 landing place, or some forty miles beyond Cape Kendall. 

 Advantage was taken of a fine evening to re-cross Roes Wel- 

 come, and we started at midnight in broad daylight. Shortly 

 after leaving, a large whale came to the surface close to the boats 

 and remained in the vicinity for upwards of thirty minutes. 

 The crossing was safely made during the day, the only incident 

 being the meeting in mid-channel of an extensive mass of very 

 heavy ice, some of its pinnacles being upwards of thirty feet 

 above the water ; the natives said it was a large floe from Fox 

 channel. We were obliged to sail several miles to the north- 

 ward in order to pass this floe, and so reached the mainland a 

 few miles south of the mouth of Wager inlet, and a like distance 

 from Yellow bluff, where the Aivilliks spend the late summer. 

 Toothing of note occurred on the passage down the coast, and 

 the ship was again reached on the 2nd of July. 



Little change was apparent in the condition of the ice since 

 our departure, and the solid floe, extending a couple of miles 

 beyond the harbour, gave little hope of the ship being released 

 by the approaching high tides. The ship was now ready to 

 leave as soon as the ice would permit, but this did not happen 

 until the 18th, a marvellous change taking place daily in the 

 condition of the ice for a week previous to that date. 



