LABRADOR II 



route threading between the numerous islands. The inshore route 

 is open long before the outer route, but the inshore route was 

 only very sketchily charted in 1932, the charts being so much 

 in error along some parts of the coast as to be unrecognisable. 

 Challenger^ s instructions for her work in Labrador were to survey 

 a route inside the islands from Indian Harbour in the south to 

 Cape Chidley in the north, touching at each port of call, and 

 with passages to seaward at selected intervals. 



But first Challenger must navigate northwards along this un- 

 surveyed coast route to reach Nain, where it had been decided 

 to commence surveying operations. The pack ice to seaward denied 

 the use of that route until later in the season and the work must 

 be started at the earliest opportunity. 



On Thursday, 7th July, the ship, loaded with stores and fresh 

 provisions, and with the mails for northern Labrador, sailed for 

 Hopedale. By nightfall the following day the ship was off Belle 

 Isle, icebergs and growlers having been sighted during the day, 

 which had been fine and clear, with a cloudless sky. Sailing 

 northwards off the coast an increasing number of bergs were 

 seen, between 2^ and ^o being in view at any one time. Captain 

 Clarke, the pilot, said that this number was usual along this part 

 of the coast at this time of year. He had been navigating these 

 waters as a fisherman, as a master of sealers and ice breakers and, 

 finally, of the Newfoundland Government steamers, for over 40 

 years and was now 60 years of age, although he looked far 

 younger. He spoke with the Irish brogue common to Newfound- 

 landers, although he was of English stock and had never been to 

 Ireland. At times his brogue was so broad that he was difficult 

 to follow. 



Bergs were by now becoming so numerous that navigation after 

 dark was hazardous and the ship anchored for the night of 

 Saturday, 9th July, in Webeck Harbour, passing into the anchor- 

 age between two icebergs grounded in the entrance. Inside were 

 two fishing schooners, frequently met with along this coast during 

 the summer when they fished for cod, which was salted and sent 

 to the European market. 



At dawn the ship weighed and stood over to the south side of 

 Ragged Islands, passing between them and a small double island, 

 thence past Black Bear Island and north-eastward of Mortimer 



3 



