BEU.] LABRADOR COAST. 7 P D 



qucntly than those near the Labrador Coast. We entered Nachvak 

 Inlet on the 1st of August, and were informed by Mr. Skynner, "r^-ho had 

 been in charge of the observatory station tlierc since the previous year, 

 that the fixed ice of the inlot had only disappeai-ed on the 12th of July. Local ice. 

 '.Ve ailerwards learned that it had also cleared from Ashe's Inlet, (near 

 North Bluff) in Hudson's Strait on the same day. Mr. Skynner 

 informed us that the fixed ice extended only as far out as " The 

 Breaker," a rock at the entrance of the inlet. Outside of this the ice 

 was moving with the winds and currents all winter. In the months of 

 June and July, wide lanes of open water were formed between the field- 

 ice and the land. As far as could be observed, this ice was clear or free Foreign matter 

 from dust and rock-debris, as if it had been formed away from the land. °" '^ ' "^ " 

 The clear ice continued till the end of June, when foreign matter began 

 to appear upon the slowly moving floes. This, Mr. S ynner thought, 

 was due to the fact that about that time the ice began to leave the 

 adjoining shores, after having received upon its surface more or less 

 rocky debris from the crumbling cliffs and slopes, or from having had 

 earthy matter incorporated in it by freezing and by the action of high 

 tides, such as those of Ungava Bay. During the winter, he found that 

 the strong winds carried considerable quantities of dust and angular 

 fragments of rock from the high cliffs and steep and loose taluses on 

 either side of Nachvak Inlet, out upon the fixed ice, and when it broke 

 up in July, this material was borne oft' to sea. Towards the end of July, 

 all the field ice of the northern parts of the Labrador coast was dis- 

 colored or " foxy," and had a decayed appearance. The dust or mud, Decaying it-e. 

 with which it was covered, was mostly yellowish and greyish in color. 

 Gravel, angular stones, patches of stoney mud, and an angular boulder 

 were occasionally observed. 



Reference was made in my report of last year (p. 14 and 37 DD) xon-giaeiatcd 

 to the steep, serrated and non-glaciated appearance of the mountains, La°brador.' "' 

 along the northern part of the Labrador coast. Opportunities were 

 afforded me in 1884, while passing up and down the coast in the 

 " Neptune," and when ashore at a few points, of studying, sketching and 

 photographing these mountains ; and again, last year, their features 

 were well brought out under the varying quantities of snow upon them 

 in the months of June, July, August and October. The accompanying 

 view, from a photograph, looking northward, across the entrance of 

 Nachvak Inlet, is characteristic of the scenery on this part of the coast. 

 As stated in last year's report, glacial grooves are to be seen in this 

 inlet near the sea-level and parallel to the general course of the shores, 

 but no trace of them could be observed on any of the higher levels 

 which were examined. Terraces or banks of gravel and ancient shingle Elevated 

 beaches were observed on either side of the inlet at various heights up beache?. 



