Volume 4, 1951 - The Arctic Circle - Home

on September l, and struck an uncharted shoal when approaching
the northern entrance to Bartlett Narrows. The assistance
rendered to the Theron in the necessary beaching operations
by the Hydrographie staff and launches, and the emergency
repairs effected by the officers and crew of the Algerine
enabled her to return under her own steam.
Soundings in Koojesse Inlet were completed by
September 4 and the base of operations shifted to Pink Lady
Island, twenty miles down the baYe A better, more sheltered
anchorage was discovered in a small cove at the southern end
of ,Frobisher's Farthest. This little harbour was surveyed
and was used in bad weather after September 16. Temperatures
night and day were now in the twenties, and by this
date the snow had arrived to stay, to a depth of a foot or
more. Young ice was forming in the bay on still nights.
Sounding with the ship continued, but it became too rough
for much launch sounding. However, the launches did as
much as possible, and continued with secondary triangulation
and establishing rock posts. During the second half of
September, only five full working days were obtained.
By the end of September, it became apparent that
little more could be accomplished. The Algerine took on
water and made ready for the return journey and sailed on
October 3. On the passage through the islands forming the
Narrows, both launches followed the channel between Pike
and Resor islands, while the Algerine navigated the channel
between Frobisher's Farthest and Mitchell Island, thence
eastward of Mitchell and Culbertson islands. Soundings
were plotted, and both these alternative passages to Bartlett
Narrows appear to be deep and in many ways preferable to the
Narrows. However, a full survey is necessary before they
can be used with safety. A rendezvous was made with the
launches at Daniel Island Harbour on October 4.
On October 5 the temperature did not rise above ten
degrees above zero. Snow squalls were frequent and heavy.
Check soundings vIere taken in Daniel Island Harbour, and a
rocky ledge was found, vvhich had not previously been shown
on plans. The sarne day, reconnaissance soundings were taken
by the launches in Newell Sound and Leach Bay. On October 6
the Algerine continued south, making reconnaissance runs into
Kneeland Bay and Ney Harbour, plotting soundings by aerial
photographe The shoreline was exarnined and soundings were
plotted on passage from Ney Harbour to Savage Harbour in the
Lower Savage Islands, outside Frobisher Bay. Two reefs, not
previously charted, were tentatively plotted en route.