OF THE POLAR SEA. 243 



parties. With the trawl or seine nets also 

 he may almost every where get abundance 

 of fish, even without retarding his progress. 

 Under these circumstances I do not con- 

 ceive that he runs any hazard of wanting 

 provisions, should his voyage be prolonged 

 even beyond the latest period of time which 

 is calculated upon. Drift timber may be 

 gathered at many places in considerable 

 quantities, and there is a fair prospect of 

 his opening a communication with the Es- 

 quimaux, who come down to the coast to 

 kill seals in the spring, previous to the ice 

 breaking up ; and from whom, if he suc- 

 ceeds in conciliating their good-will, he may 

 obtain provision, and much useful assist- 

 ance. 



If he makes for Copper-Mine River, as 

 he probably will do, he will not find it in 

 the longitude as laid down on the charts; 

 but he will probably find, what would be 

 more interesting to him, a post which we 

 erected on the 26th August at the mouth 

 of Hood's River, which is nearly, as will 

 appear hereafter, in that longitude, with a 

 r 2 



