The North Water. 105 



winter in the pack ; and only as late as last year a 

 large and powerful steam whaler, though commanded 

 by one of our best ice navigators, was unsuccessful 

 in her endeavours to penetrate the ice in Melville 

 Bay, and had reluctantly to retrace her steps and 

 seek for whales in Davis' Straits. 



The first ship that ever attempted to brave the 

 perils and difficulties of this dreaded passage was 

 the " Larkins/' of Leith, in the year 1817, followed 

 by the " Elizabeth," of Aberdeen ; since which time, 

 with very rare exceptions, the North Water has 

 been reached by the greater part of the vessels, and 

 generally by the whole of those comprising the 

 whaling fleet. In the early days of the whale 

 fishery, and before our vessels were so well adapted 

 to encounter the hard and rough usage inseparable 

 from ice navigation as they are at the present day, 

 that is between the dates 1817 and 1849, there were 

 only four years in which attempts to reach the 

 North Water were totally unsuccessful. 



The latest period at which whalers have perse- 

 vered in their attempts to make a passage through 

 Melville Bay, terminating with a successful issue, 

 was early in August. 



The time occupied in reaching the North Water 

 must necessarily vary according to the season ; for 

 we find that Parry, in 1824, was fifty-four days 

 passing through Melville Bay, whilst Sir John Ross, 

 in 1829, was only five days ! Captain Austin's 



