SCHOONER CHANCE 73 



Position Nearing Hamilton Inlet 

 Monday, September 6th <( Weather Clear 



Wind Almost none 



OUR drift has now become very much slower. I should say that 

 during the whole day the current did not average over }4 a 

 knot. Until three in the afternoon there was not a "breath." As 

 there were many birds and several whales playing around, OUy's 

 pistol was in almost constant use. It is very good practice. The water 

 is warm here (8°) and the ice. is not so thick. I can well see now that 

 we picked a very poor place to take current readings. The current 

 strikes Cape Makkovick and is thrown out and must be 1 5 miles off 

 shore at this point. A little ice drifts in and grounds because of NE 

 winds. 



From three o'clock until supper time we made about 2 knots an 

 hour with a light southeaster. The wind then hauled to SW and we 

 had to tack off shore to clear the islands which extend seaward from 

 the north side of Hamilton Inlet. For a while we did 4 knots and I 

 went to sleep expecting a good run, having given elaborate instruc- 

 tions as to how to cross Hamilton Inlet. At one o'clock we passed 

 the "Quaker's Hat." After daylight we beat up to Cutthroat Tec- 

 kle, as I was resolved to send a telegram no m.atter how much time 

 it took. 



It was interesting to see in the early morning a lot of bergs 

 grounded on a bank ten miles out and none drifted down in behind 

 the way we came. This supports very nicely my theory of the Labra- 

 dor Current being well off shore in the neighborhood of Hamilton 

 Inlet. 



At four o'clock we passed some fishermen jigging way off shore. 

 The fishing with traps must have been very poor for them to be re- 

 duced to such a method. 



