Returned 2nd September.
_Success_, James Napper, master, sailed from York Fort, June
26th. Lost 30th of same month.
1721. _Whalebone_, John Scroggs, master, sailed from Gravesend
31st May, wintered at Prince of Wales' Fort.
1723. Sailed from thence 21st June. Returned July 25th following.
1737. The _Churchill_, James Napper, master, sailed from Prince of
Wales' Fort, July 7th. Died 8th August, and the vessel returned the
18th.
The _Mus-quash_, Robert Crow, master, sailed from Prince of
Wales' Fort, July 7th. Returned 22nd August.
It must be observed that, in 1745, Parliament had offered a reward of
20,000_l_. for the discovery of the North-west Passage. The Act
was entitled "An Act for giving a publick reward to such person, or
persons, His Majesty's subjects, as shall discover a North-west Passage
through Hudson's Streights to the Western and Southern Ocean of
America." In the evidence before the Committee, varied opinions were
given as to this Northwest Passage. Mr. Edward Thompson, who had been a
ship-surgeon, being examined as to the probability of a North-west
Passage, said, "He had the greatest reason to believe there is one,
from the winds, tides, and black whales; and he thinks the place to be
at Chesterfield's inlet; that the reason of their coming back was they
met the other boat which had been five leagues further, and the crew
told them the water was much fresher and shallower there; but where he
was the water was fifty fathoms deep, and the tide very strong; the ebb
six hours and the flood two, to the best of his remembrance; that it is
not common for the tide to flow only two hours; but he imagines it to
be obstructed by another tide from the westward; that the rapidity of
the tide upwards was so great, that the spray of the water flew over
the bow of the schooner, and was so salt that it candied on men's
shoes, but that the tide did not run in so rapid a manner the other
way.
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