32 ' ' MARION ' ' EXPEDITION TO DAVIS STRAIT AND BAFFIN BAY 



Island, which in the early morning light were transformed to purest 

 white and gold. Ice stretched as far as we could see, and the im- 

 pressiA^eness of our surroundings was further emphasized by the great 

 stillness j^revailing everywhere. It was plain that attempts to secure 

 observations near Cape Dier avouIcI have to be abandoned, for the 

 time being at least. Most of the floes that now surrounded the ship 

 consisted of heavy pack ice that extended downwards in the water 

 10 to 15 feet. We were timid about using our propellers, which, of 

 course, were quite light and very easily bent. Even at their depth 

 of 7 feet just one lick w^ould be enough to place one permanently out 



i 



A CAPTIVE IS ABOUT TO BE HAULED ABOARD 



Figure 26.- — This polar bear cub was noosed from a dory sent out among ice cakes after 

 her mother and brother were shot. She was towed alongside, secured with additional 

 lines, and placed in the forepeak after a stiff fight. She remained aboard from August 

 15, 1928, until shipped from New London, Conn., to the National Zoo at Washington, 

 D. C, over a month later. 



of commission, and two such bloAVs against cakes of ice miglit sud- 

 denly leave us helpless in a very precarious position. So we worked 

 things gently for a Avhile and finally got the ship turned offshore by 

 placing the stem against an especially heavy floe. 



By 4.07 a. m. on August 16 the ice had slackened somcAvhat and the 

 ship cautiously began AA^orking due soutliAvard. The fog cleared up 

 early and another fine calm day Avas experienced, Avith much bright 

 sunshine, especially in the afternoon. Due to the ice and cold Avater 

 about, the air temperatures remained betAveen 36° and 42° all day, 

 about 10° colder than aA^erage temperatures experienced around Disko 

 Island. 



