In the intervals betAveen boating off fresh water and dumping oil 

 into the bnnkers from the drums on deck, much information was 

 obtained about the hard life of the people who live in Labrador 

 throughout the year. Some of the natives had distinct Eskimo fea- 

 tures, others showed traces of Indian blood, while still others were 

 apparently pure white. All talked in an old-fashioned English 

 dialect. 



The people lived in tiny houses and shacks set back a short distance 

 from a few small Avharves that were built mostly of poles. In sheds 

 on the Avharves the summer's catch of fish was salted and piled like 

 cordwood. There were numerous Eskimo dogs about, groups of 

 which from time to time engaged in howling choruses. The weird 

 howling could be heard out at the ship's anchorage above the noises 

 of the wind. Some of the better houses had near them garden patches 

 from 20 to 30 feet square. These gardens were always fenced off 

 with poles brought out from the forests of the interior to protect 

 them from being torn up by the dogs. In them we saw nothing 

 but a miserable growth of cabbagelike greens. 



By 2 p. m. on Sunday, Jnly 22, the gale had blown itself out, per- 

 mitting the Marlon to get under way. A stop was made just seaward 

 of the mottled black and white rocks of Spotted Island where an 

 oceanographic station was occupied. Until the 25th the ship was 

 engaged off Labrador taking two lines of oceanographic stations 

 located more or less at right angles to the general trend of the coast. 

 The first line extended seaward 120 miles from Spotted Island, while 

 the second was taken from a point 120 miles off Bulldog Island to 

 a point 2 miles off the same. In general, fine weather prevailed 

 throughout this time. In making the coast about Bulldog Island 

 we were thi'own upon our own resources, as very few aids to naviga- 

 tion, like buoys, lighthouses, and beacons are maintained north of 

 the Strait of Belle Isle. The best aids available consisted of prom- 

 inent landmarks such as mountain peaks, small islands, and reefs 

 aAvash. 



We Avere somewhat apprehensive as to the behavior of the Mcurion 

 in " laying to " while the deep-sea observations were being made. It 

 is quite important not only for the accuracy of the observations but 

 also for the reliable operation of the Avater bottles that the wire to 

 which the instruments are clamped remain as nearly A^ertical as pos- 

 sible. When it is bloAving Avith any great strength, most ships, espe- 

 cially if high sided, Avith a deckhouse, experience considerable drift 

 to leeAvard and also forge ahead. On the United States Coast Guard 

 cutters used on the international ice patrol service this drifting off 

 causes such a bad slant to the sounding Avire that the station Avork 

 often has to be abandoned until the wind moderates. Naturally it 

 Avas very pleasing to find that on the Marion we Avere able to keep 

 the Avire and instruments perpendicular throughout the station Avork 

 under all sorts of Aveather conditions. A kick ahead, first on one 

 motor and then on the other, as she fell off on either side of the eye 

 of the Avind did the trick, even in a strong breeze and high sea. The 

 fact that the Marion possessed tAvin scrcAvs made such maneuvering 

 possible, and this handiness, by the Avay, was only one of the fine 

 qualities to be displayed by the little craft throughout the entire 

 expedition. 



