IN THE FAR NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20425, 29 November 1929, Page 15

IN THE FAR NORTH.

WORK OF POLICE CONTROLS*

TRAILS OF EARLY EXPLORERS*

MEAT NEARLY 80 YEARS OLD,

[from our own correspondent.l

VANCOUVER, Oct. 80,

The patrols carried out- by the North* west Mounted Police by dog-team and boat in the Eastern and Western Canadian Arctic during the past year totalled approximately 25,000 miles—sufficient had the patrols been placed end to end, to circle the earth at the equator. These patrols are all a series' of romantic adventures by Hood and field or just plain simple duty, according to the viewpoint—the latter being that of the force. However, perhaps the most interesting to the public was that made by Inspector A. H. Joy and Constable Taggart from Dundas Harbour, Devon Island, to Bache Peninsula, Ellesmere Island. This circuit involved travelling about 1800 miles, and occupied from March 12 to May 30. Besides llie inspector and constable there were two Eskimos, and the supplies for the party were carried on two sleds drawn at tli.e beginning by 12 dogs^each. The course in the first 'part of the journey was almost due west along tha southern shore of Devon, Cornwallis, Bathurst and Melville Islands. The aim was to pass along the shore ice, which meant in many cases going through a defile between the high cliffs of the island and a wall, from 20ft, to 100 ft. high, formed of great blocks-.of ice forced on the shore by the movement of the sea ice. At times'the "pressure ice", was found close against ' the cliffs, which necessitated climbing and dragging sleds over the hills of the interior. For the first two weeks travelling was nlade harder by heavy falls of soft snow. The labours of the party were increased by the inability to dry their wet clothing, which was alternately wet or frozen, until they reached Melville Island.

Along this part/ of the route many old caches and cairns were passed, showing where either British or Canadian expeditions had landed in past years. These included the Franklin cenotaph and the caches on Beechey Island; the cairn, on Cornwallis Island, erected in 1850 by Commander William Penny, of H.M.S. Lady Franklin and Sophia; th.e cache at Dealy Island, off Melville Island, deposited by Commanders l£ellett and McClintock in 1852-53, when on their search for Sir John Franklin;.and the Canadian Government cache at Winter Harbour, Melville Island, deposited by Captain •, Bernier, of tlrfe C.G.C. Arctic, in 1908-9, . 'and visited by Stefansson in 1917. From the Dealy' Island cache about 200!b. of canned meat, nearly'Bo years ! old, but stil'i well preserved, were taken The cache at Winter Harbour and the greater part of the contfents. were in fair condition. • -

After reaching Winter Harbour Inspector Joy turned north and crossed Melville Island to Hecla and Griper Bay; he then followed a course roughly north-east to Gretka Bay, on the west shore of Ellesmere Island; It was his practice to go some distance inland on the islands visited. He noted that there was coal on the surface of Edmund Walker Island and that the vegetation was abundant. Cornwallis Is'.and has hills from 800ffc. to ' 1000 ft. high. He found several good lookout points on Eilef Ringn.es Island. Melville Island he calls the "paradise of fch® Eastern Arctic," and on Bathurst Island much good grazing ground, <sn which lierdj of caribou were pasturing, was seen.