_Monday, 15._–In the morning, the bay still continued to be so full
of ice, that we could not get at our nets. About noon, the wind veered
to the Westward, and not only uncovered the nets, but cleared a passage
to the opposite islands. When we raised the nets we found them very
much shattered, and but few fish taken. We now struck our tents, and
embarked at sunset, when we made the traverse, which was about eight
miles North-East by North, in about two hours. At half-past eleven
P. M. we landed on a small island and proceeded to gum the canoe. At
this time the atmosphere was sufficiently clear to admit of reading or
writing without the aid of artificial light. We had not seen a star
since the second day after we left Athabasca. About twelve o’clock, the
moon made its appearance above the tops of the trees, the lower horn
being in a state of eclipse, which continued for about six minutes, in a
cloudless sky.
I took soundings three times in the course of the traverse, when I found
six fathoms water, with a muddy bottom.
