OUTWARD PASSAGE. 
25 
tliey were stowed, on the passage out for safe-t 
ty, and commenced our preparations for the 
fishery. 
The number of our boats was seven. In each 
of these we coiled six whale-lines, of 120 fathoms, 
amounting to above three-quarters of an English 
mile in length, for one boat. They were also fit¬ 
ted up with all the apparatus of harpoons, lances, 
oars, axes, flags, &c. as usual in their equipment *. 
April 27 th. —Wc continued to advance towards 
the north with some caution, the weather being 
hazy, until 5 a. m., when we fell in with ice, sup¬ 
posed to be the western body : stood across to the 
eastward, in a clear sea, until noon, when we came 
to the eastern ice ; and, at the same time, descried 
land, at the distance of four or five leagues. Stand¬ 
ing along the edge of the compact ice, towards 
the NE. we passed the 80th degree of latitude at 
5 r. m., being within 10 miles of Hakluyt’s Head¬ 
land,—an elevation which we reached without ex¬ 
periencing any frost! Here we saw a number of 
sea-horses lying upon different masses of ice. We 
were enabled to approach two of them with the 
ship, one of which was fired at and struck with a 
ball; but not being shot in a vital part, it made 
its escape, as well as its companion. 
* See Account of the Arctic Regions, vol. ii. p. 230, 
for a description of the Preparations for the Fishery. 
