Arctie Cruise of the U. S. S. Thetis in 1889. 189 
We looked with eagerness to the sea which stretched, appar- 
ently, to the north pole, and then headed to the southward into 
Mackenzie bay. 
After three hours’ steaming from our first anchorage we 
reached the southeast side of the island and found the two miss- 
ing whalers lying quietly at anchor, Captain Brooks giving a 
hearty and relieved cry of Sail ho!, when the vessels were seen, 
and we were all pleased to see them safe and secure. We came 
to anchor close by them and the two captains were soon on 
board. They reported that they had remained behind to watch 
for the return of whales from the northeastward, but so far 
without any success. They had determined to remain until Sep- 
tember, and contemplated the possibility of wintering at this 
place. Soon after we anchored, Eskimos who lived at the 
mouth of the Mackenzie came on board, and they looked at the 
ship with the greatest surprise and interest. They had not seen 
vessels before this summer, though the traditions concerning the 
“‘Kinterprise” and “ Investigator,” under Collinson and McClure, 
still survived. 
Sleeping soundly that night, for the first time in many days, the 
following morning boat parties were dispatched to complete the 
circumnavigation of the island and to make running surveys in 
the vicinity. 
A small, snug harbor was found and surveyed near-by our 
anchorage, capable of receiving vessels of less than 16 feet 
draught ; this was named Pauline cove. It would prove a fairly 
good place for one of the light-draught steamers going up this 
year to use as winter-quarters. 
The waters between Herschel island and the mainland were 
found after examination too full of shoals and sand- and gravel- 
bars to form a ship-channel. A rise and fall of tide of three feet 
was found, and the ship swung regularly to an ebb and flood. 
While the boats were out sounding I went ashore and, climbing 
nearly to the top of the island, had a beautiful view of the clear 
and open water of Mackenzie bay, to the east and northeast ; while 
to the southeastward were the islands clustering about the shallow 
mouth of the Mackenzie, and directly to the south were the 
British and Buckland mountains, merging gradually into the 
Rocky mountains and the great chains which form the back- 
bone of the American continent. 
