236 Thirty Years 



son's Bay is rendered more probable from the same 

 kind of fish abounding on the coasts we visited, and 

 on those to the north of Churchill Kiver. I allude 

 more particularly to the Capelin or Salmo Arcticus, 

 which we found in large shoals in Bathurst's Inlet, 

 and which not only abounds, as Augustus told us, in 

 the bays in his country, but swarms in the Greenland 

 firths. The portion of the sea over which we passed 

 is navigable for vessels of any size ; the ice we met, 

 particularly after quitting Detention Harbor, would 

 not have arrested a strong boat. The chain of islands 

 affords shelter from all heavy seas, and there are good 

 harbors at convenient distances. I entertain indeed, 

 sanguine hopes that the skill and exertions of my 

 friend Captain Parry will soon render this question no 

 longer problematical. His task is doubtless an 

 arduousone, and, if ultimately successful, may occupy 

 two and perhaps three seasons; but coniiding as I do, 

 from personal knowledge, in his perseverance and 

 talent for surmounting difficulties, the strength of his 

 ships, and the abundance of provisions with which 

 they are Btored, I have very little apprehension of his 

 safety. As 1 understand his object was Id keep the 

 dl' America eh.se on board, lie will find in the 

 spring of the year, before the breaking up of the Lee 

 can permit him to pursue his voyage, herds of deer 

 ug in abundance t" all parts of the coast, \\ bich 

 may be procured without difficulty ; and, even later 



