NAVIGATION 295 



The period of safe navigation for ordinary iron steamships 

 through Hudson strait and across Hudson bay to the port of 

 Churchill, may be taken to extend from the 20th of July to the 

 1st of November. This period might be increased without much 

 risk by a week in the beginning of the season and by perhaps 

 two weeks at the close. 



Ships entering Hudson strait from the Atlantic during the 

 early part of the season, when ice is present in the strait, should 

 keep in the northern half of the channel between Eesolution 

 and the Button islands. Care should be taken to keep some 

 miles from Resolution, as the strong currents close to the island 

 cause the ice to come together and open again with considerable 

 violence. The north side of the strait should be followed as far 

 as Big island, keeping at a respectful distance from the land in 

 order to avoid the pressure when the ice is pressed on the land 

 by southerly winds. There are frequently large quantities of 

 ice in the neighbourhood of Big island, with at times consider- 

 able pressure ; on this account ships should not approach close to 

 the island. From Big island the course should be so laid that 

 the ship may pass a few miles to the northward of Charles 

 island, and from there the middle channel should be followed to 

 pass between Nottingham island and Cape Wolstenholme. The 

 southern side of the channel between Mansfield and Coats is 

 usually freer of ice than the north side. 



In passing eastward through Hudson strait, advantage should 

 be taken of the favourable current on the south side, and that 

 shore followed to Charles island, where the channel to the south 

 of the island may be used, taking care to keep well away from 

 the mainland until Cape Weggs is passed. The southern half 

 of the centre channel should then be followed to beyond Big 

 island, when the mid channel across the mouth of Ungava bay 

 will probably be found clear of ice. 



The fur trade with the Indians and Eskimos living about 

 Hudson bay or along interior routes tributary to it, has for a 



