STEFANSSON’S DEPARTURE 
37 
from the west of the Jones Islands (Thetis Island). 
If the ice is strong enough I expect to cross thence 
to near Beechey Point to hunt caribou; if feasible 
I may go on to the mouth of the Itkuilik River, 
known to the Eskimo as Itkilhkpe, to see if fish 
can be purchased there from the natives. Should 
the Karluk during our absence be driven from her 
present position it will be well for you so soon as 
she has come to a stop again, and as soon as it 
appears safe to send a party ashore, to erect one or 
more beacons, giving information of the ship’s loca¬ 
tion. If she goes east, the beacons should be 
erected on accessible islands; if west they should be 
at Cape Halkett, Pitt Point, or Point Simpson, to 
facilitate the finding of the ship in fog or a blizzard 
by our party coming from shore or by hunters who 
are overtaken by thick weather while away from 
the ship. It will be well to have established four 
lines of beacons, running in the four cardinal direc¬ 
tions from the ship to as great a distance as prac¬ 
ticable. There should be some arrangement by 
which these beacons indicate in what direction the 
ship is from each of them. And some of them 
should have the distance of the ship marked upon 
them. These beacons need not be large, but should 
not be over 100 yards apart to be of use in thick 
weather. Flags or other fluttering things should 
not be used, for bears might be scared away by 
them. On days when an on-shore wind is blowing 
it might be desirable that Dr. Mackay run lines of 
soundings out in various directions from the ship. 
If it becomes practicable send off Malloch and 
Mamen for surveying purposes. McKinlay should 
accompany them for the purpose of establishing 
magnetic stations in connection with Malloch’s 
survey, Malloch locating the stations for McKin¬ 
lay so as to save unnecessary duplications of in- 
