GKEELY RELIEF EXPEDITION. 



71 



Timberland Island are not relatively put down right, but we were not 

 delayed long enough in their vicinity to accurately establish them. 

 The following soundings were taken by Lieutenant Sebree, execu- 

 tive oflB[cer of the Thetis during her cruise in the Arctic. The instru- 

 ment used was a machine of Sir William Thomson's, and, except 

 when the ship was beset in the ice, the tubes were always used. This 

 machine is of the greatest value to navigators, and when in water of 

 100 fathoms or under is the most reliable instrument of the many 

 used. The advantage of sounding while under full headway at sea 

 needs no discussion by sailors. The machine on board the Thetis 

 was poorly made and somewhat clumsy, but its principle was perfect. 

 It could be improved in several particulars which would materially 

 increase its efficiency. 



Date. 



Soundings. 



Character of bottom. 



Bemarks. 



1884. 



May 20. 

 31. 

 21. 

 21.. 

 21.. 



21.. 



27.. 



June 12.. 

 13.. 



15.. 

 18.. 



20.. 



30.. 

 30.. 



38.. 



July 1.. 

 9.. 



Fathoms. 

 80 



2? 

 18i 



54 

 50 



55 



85 



58 



80 



39 

 21 

 14 

 13 

 13 



148 



m 



Crs. Gr. S. Sh. 



Br. Sh 



...do 



Gr 



Br. Sh. Gr 



Fines. 



S. andSh 



No specimen. 



Gr. S . 



No bottom. 



One-fifth mile west Hare 

 Island. 



Vessel tied up to ice. 

 Do. 



Large berg aground 100 

 yards east of sounding. 



distant from Northumberland to Hakluyt. 



Numerous large bergs 



Blk. Gr . 



77 33 



73 35 



aground. 



These soundings were talcen between Dalrymple and Wolstenholm Islands; 

 the first sounding i mile S. by W. i W. from S. end of Dalrymple Island, 

 and the last sounding about 2 miles ESE. from the S. end of Dalrymple. 

 Bearings were taken, but as the chart was found to be incorrect they 

 were not of much use. 



No specimen . 

 S. andSh 



74 09 

 67 37 



57 

 54 



On Torsk Bank. 



It is my agreeable duty to commend to your attention the services 

 of Commander George W. Coffin, commanding the Alert; the perilous 

 and arduous duties imposed upon him, to conduct in safety his own 

 vessel and the collier, Loch Qarry, through Melville Bay, were ex- 



