492 INSTRUCTIONS TO 
Nearly the entire Arctic front of tlie continent has been scoured without find- < 
ing any traces of the missing ships. It is useless for you to go tlaere, or to re- 
examine any other place where search has already been made. You will, there- 
fore, confine your attention to the routes already indicated. 
The point of maximum cold is said to be in the vicinity of Parry Islands. 
To the north and west of these there is probably a comparative open sea in 
summer, and therefore a milder climate. 
This opinion seems to be sustained by the fact that beasts and fowls are seen 
migrating over the ice from the mouth of Mackenzie River and its neighboring 
shores to the north. These dumb creatures are probably led by their wise in- 
stincts to seek a more genial climate in that direction, and upon the borders of 
the supposed more open sea. 
There are other facts elicited by Lieutenant Maury, in the course of his in- 
vestigations touching the winds and currents of the ocean, which go also to 
confirm the opinion, that beyond the icy barrier that is generally met with in the • 
Arctic Ocean, there is a Polina, or sea free from ice. 
You have assisted in these investigations at the National Observatory, and 
are doubtless aware of the circumstan-ps which authorize this conclusion ; it 
is therefore needless to repeat them. 
This supposed open sea and warmer region to the north and west of Parry 
Islands are unexplored. Should you succeed in finding any opening there, 
either after having cleared Wellington Straits, or after having cleared Parry Isl- 
ands by a northwardly course from Cape Walker, enter as far as in your judg- 
ment it may be prudent to enter, and search every headland, promontory, and 
conspicuous point for signs and records of the missing party. Take particular 
care to avail yourself of every opportunity for leaving as you go records and 
signs to tell of your welfare, progress, and intentions. 
For this purpose you will erect flag-staffs, make piles of stone, or other marks 
in conspicuous places, with a bottle or barrica buried at the base containing 
your letters. 
Should the two vessels be separated, you ■will direct Passed Midshipman Grif- 
fin to do likewise. I 
Avail yourself of every opportunity, either by the Esquimaux or otherwise, 
to let the Department hear from you ; and in every communication be full and 
particular as to your future plans and intended route. 
If by any chance you should penetrate so far beyond the icy barrier as to 
make it, in your judgment, more prudent to push on than to turn back, you will 
do so, and put yourself in communication with any of the United States naval 
forces or ofiicers of the government serving in the waters of the Pacific or in 
China, according to your necessities and opportunities. Those ofiicers will be 
instructed to afford you every facility possible to enable you to reach the west- 
ern coast of the United States in safety. 
In the event of your falling in with any of the British searching parties, you 
will olTer them any assistance of which they may stand in need, and which it 
may be in your power to give. Offer, also, to make them acquainted with your 
intended route and plans, and be ready to afford them every information of 
which you may have become possessed concerning the object of your search. 
In case your country should be involved in war during your absence on this 
service, you will on no account commit, or suffer any one of the expedition 
