50 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



on the marshes of this bay, and fatten there 

 for three weeks or a month, before they 

 take their final departure from the country. 

 They also make a short halt at the same 

 spots in their progress, northwards in the 

 spring. Their arrival is welcomed with 

 joy, and the goose hunt is one of the most 

 plentiful seasons of the year. The ducks 

 frequent the swamps all the summer. 



The weather was extremely unfavourable 

 for celestial observations during our stay, 

 and it was only by watching the momentary 

 appearances of the sun, that we were ena- 

 bled to obtain fresh rates for the chrono- 

 meters, and allow for their errors from 

 Greenwich time. The dip of the needle 

 was observed to be 79° 29' 07", and the dif- 

 ference produced by reversing the face of 

 the instrument was 11° 3' 40". A succes- 

 sion of fresh breezes prevented our ascer- 

 taining the intensity of the magnetic force. 

 The position of York Factory, by our ob- 

 servations, is in latitude 57° 00' 03" N., 

 longitude 92° 26' W. The variation of the 

 compass 6° 00' 21" E. 



