In the Arctic Regions. 39 
The men brought supplies of moose meat from the 
hunter's tent, which is pitched near the Basquiau 
Hill, at the distance of forty or fifty miles from the 
house, and from whence the greatest part of the meat 
is procured. The residents have to send nearly the 
same distance for their fish, and on this service horse- 
sledges are used. Nets are daily set in Pine Island 
Lake, which occasionally procure some fine sturgeon, 
tittameg and trout, buf not more than sufficient to 
supply the officers’ table. 
Dec, 1.—This day was so remarkably fine, that we 
procured another set of observations for the dip of the 
needle in the open air; the instrument being placed 
firmly on a rock, the results gaye 83° 14’ 22”. The 
change produced by reversing the face of the instrument 
was 12° 50’ 55”. 
There was a determined thaw during the last three 
days, which caused the Saskatchawan River, and some 
parts of the lake, to break up, and rendered the tra- 
veling across either of them dangerous. On this ac- 
count the absence of Wilkes, one of our men, caused 
no small anxiety. He had incautiously undertaken 
the charge gf conducting a sledge and dogs, in com- 
pany with a person, going to Swampy River for fish. 
On their return, being unaccustomed to driving, he 
became fatigued, and seated himself on his sledge: in 
which situation his companion left him, presuming 
