THE ESKIMO DOGS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13922, 29 March 1909, Page 5

THE ESKIMO DOGS.

THEIR VALUS IN POLAR EXPLORATION. Mr. E. Joyce, in whose care the Eskimo dogs were placed, stated to a Press reporter that the Nimrod toek nine of them ' down' to the ice. One was lost on the way., but six puppies were born during the voyage. Another one, while chasing penguins after the party had landed, fell over an ice cliff, and was so lost. Three of the seven survivors turned out remarkably good sledge dogs. Twelve more pupptfes were born during the long winter night, but the, other dogs ate all of them but two. During the winter the old dogs^ were trained in view of the southern journey, but they did not prove suitable, and Lieutenant Shackleton did not take them, preferring the" ponies instead. These dogs were used for depot laying journeys, and proved of great service. The party started laying depots on January 15, and the dogs covered twenty miles a day, drawing loads equal to 100 lbs. per dog. The unfortunate creatures, however, suffered very severely from snow-blindness. This was discovered by their digging holes and thrusting their heads into them, to reJieve the glare upon their eyes. They were all splendid workers./ remarkably keen, and very intelligent; so intent were they upon their work tfeat two men had to sit on the sledge to increase the weight in order to retard

the progress of the dogs. ' a 'This goes to prove," said Mr. Jo^ce, "that in Polar explorations. Eskimo jdqgs should be trained to be" driven, instead of, as is usual, being trained to be led. If they were trained •to be driven by a man sitting on the sledge, they would cover fifty miles a day easijy. v While we were -working them they went at such a tremendous rate that the man who was leading, frequently had to run to keep up to them. Naturally, he was soon lagged out, and the means I have described had to be adopted to make the dogs go slower. Not only .did two men frequently have, to sit on the sledge, but^inf^many instances another man N had' to drag behind, so as to act as an extra brake. On one occasion these dogs covered over 100 miles in three days, "with the sails set and three men sitting on the sledge. They seemed to take. a < delight in their work. This knocks out Captain Scott's theory as to the uselessness" of the dogs. In explorations along the, coast, these little chaps would be simply Invaluable, because food would not have to, be carried for thsmy as there would be plenty of sea! and* penguin mea#to be had. They can, work on a pound of biscuit per day ' each, and every paree days having * half . a pound of femmican. Properly bred dogs taught y a good driver, 'would prove of great service ,ttt any expedition likely ttf Jgo right round the doast, Working east from Graham's Land to King Ed- , ward's Land." ■*

All of . the dogs used in , the sledge work were brought back oh the . Nimrod, in addition to the puppies, making eighteen in alh These %aye been gsven\to various members of , the ExP^ditibn. ...

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