7 
Blacklead island is about 1§ miles long with a maximum width not 
exceeding one-half the length. It is rouglily wedge-shaped. The broad 
end is to the north where a rounded hill rises to 600 or 700 feet. The 
south part of the island is low and rocky, with a meadow-like area along 
the west side on which the mission, whaling station, and Eskimo village 
are situated. Springs and streams are absent except for a few small 
rills. 
Plant life was poor and scanty, though representatives of most of the 
commoner species were found. A single individual of dandelion ( Tarax- 
acum ceratophorum ) was seen growing at the base of a cliff with a southern 
exposure. This was the first example of the species seen by the writer, 
and it was not again observed until more than a year later when it was 
noted west of the head of Nettilling fiord. 
The bird life on the island at this time consisted solely of those omni- 
present land species, the snow bunting and pipit. At sea were a few 
glaucous gulls, guillemots, and an occasional fulmar. 
On August 24 the 8-mile passage from Blacklead island to Niantilie 
harbour was crossed. In this neighbourhood were found beds of the 
crowberry ( Empetrum nigrum ) loaded with ripe fruit. The best stands 
of dwarf birch ( Belula nano) seen by the writer in the Arctic were also 
found here. Many groups were still green, but the majority were turning 
scarlet and a few already had shed their leaves. 
On August 26 a trip by launch was made to the head of Kaseejuak 
fiord (Bear sound), 25 miles southeast of Blacklead island, where Eskimo 
had recently killed the first caribou of the season. The sides of the fiord 
in places rise in cliffs to a height of 1,000 feet or more. The party landed 
at the head of the fiord and ascended a low divide profuse with the usual 
Arctic shrubbery, but including the Arctic cranberry {V actinium vitis- 
idaea minus) which was abundant and freighted with berries. From the 
ridge summit the valley continuing the fiord inland to the west was visible. 
The higher bounding slopes were barren and bare of snow, the valley 
bottom faintly green because of vegetation. After several hours hunting, 
three bull caribou were killed. On the return trip, while passing down 
the fiord, a polar bear was seen swimming and was killed. 
On September 8, the writer returned to Pangnirtung post. 
On October 12, sufficient provisions and gasoline to make possible, 
later in the year, a sledge-trip across Baffin island to Foxe basin, were 
taken by launch to the trading outpost on Sirmilling bay. At this time, 
caribou were secured towards the head of Pangnirtung fiord, the first of 
the season to come to the coast. Up to this time none had been seen in 
the Kingua country. A few had been killed earlier in Nettilling fiord. 
As previously stated, they had appeared in the fiords of the Blacklead 
Island country. They were reported to have arrived around cape Mercy. 
On October 21, taking advantage of a quiet spell of weather, stores 
and equipment, including a canoe, were forwarded by launch to a trading 
outpost at Kangertlukjuak bay, Nettilling fiord. These supplies were 
intended for use on a contemplated expedition in the spring of 1925, to 
Nettilling lake. 
Snow flurries were now of common occurrence. Between October 22 
and 25, the caribou began coming in large herds to the Pangnirtung coast. 
The animals killed displayed all gradations from fawns with prongs in the 
velvet, to old stags with magnificent antlers. 
