106 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



On the 7th of September the bark Roman, while cutting-in a whale, 

 was caught between two immense floes of ice off Sea-Horse Islands, 

 whence she had helplessly drifted, and crushed to atoms, the officers 

 and crew escaping over the ice, Saving scarcely anything but their lives. 

 The next day beheld the bark Awashonks meet a similar fate, and a 

 third fugitive crew was distributed among the remaining ships. The 

 peril was now apparent toall ; the season wasrapidlyapproaehingtheend; 

 the ice showed no signs of starting, but on the contrary the little clear 

 water that remained was rapidly tilling with ice and closing around them. 

 Frequent and serious were the consultations held by the captains of the 

 beleagured vessels. One thing at least was evident without discussion; 

 if the vessels could not be extricated the crews must be got away before 

 winter set in, or the scanty stock of provisions they had could only post- 

 pone an inevitable starvation. As a precautionary measure, pending a 

 decision on the best course to adopt, men were set to work to build up 

 the boats, that is, to raise the gunwales so as to enable them the better to 

 surmount the waves. Shoes* were also put on them to prevent, as far 

 as possible, injury from the ice. The brig Kohola was lightened in 

 order to get her over the bar at Wainwright Inlet, upon which there 

 were only 5 or 6 feet of water. Her oil and stores were transferred to 

 the deck of the Charlotte, of San Francisco, but when discharged it was 

 found that she still drew 9 feet of water, and the attempt to get her 

 over the shoal water was abandoned, t Au expedition of three boats, 

 under the command of Capt. D. R. Frazer, was uow sent down the 

 coast to ascertain how far the ice extended ; what chances there were of 

 getting through the barrier ; what vessels, if any, were outside, and 

 what relief could be relied upon. Captain Frazer returned on the 12th, 

 and reported that it was utterly impracticable to get any of the main 

 body of the fleet out; that the Arctic and another vessel were in clear 

 water below the field, which extended to the south of Blossom Shoals, 

 80 miles from the imprisoned crafts; and that five more vessels, then 

 fast in the lower edge of the ice, were likely to get out soon. He also 

 reported, what every man then probably took for granted, that these 

 free vessels would lay by to aid their distressed comrades. It is a part of 

 the whaleman's creed to stand by his mates. On hearing this reported, 

 it was decided to abandon the fleet and make the best of their way, 

 while they could, to the rescuing vessels. It was merely a question 

 whether they should leave their ships and save their lives, or stand by 

 their ships and perish with them. 



The morning of the 14th of September came, and a sad day it was to 

 the crews of the ice-bound crafts. At noon the signals, flags at the 

 mast-heads, union down, were set, which told them the time had come 



* A sheathing — in this case copper — being used. 



tThe same 4 cperimeut, with the same result, was tried by Captain Redfield, of the 

 brig Victoria. The Kohola and Victoria are rated as barks in a succeeeding page. 



