1st, narrowly escaping destruction
in a fog, when Captain McClure had to wander about during a whole night
on a floe, with the thermometer from five to fifteen degrees below zero.
And now the first winter of the _Investigator_ was commenced in those
ice-bound regions. By the middle of April, expeditions were sent out in
all directions, and depots of provisions established for the relief of
the long-lost companions of Sir John Franklin.

Both sides of the Prince of Wales' Straits were thoroughly explored, as
was Baring Island and Prince Albert's Land as far as its southern shore,
known as Wollaston Land,--a continuous coast-line being thus laid down
along the whole southern shore of Barrow's Straits, and that of the
north shore of the American continent, united with the discoveries of
previous explorers. This, it will be remembered, was the winter of
1850-51.

When the short summer once more returned, Captain McClure made every
endeavour to get the ship to the north-east, through the Prince of
Wales' Straits into Barrow's Straits, but in vain. So closely was the
ice packed at the north-east end, that, after running great hazard of
shipwreck, he was compelled to give up the attempt on the 16th of July,
when only twenty-five miles distant from Barrow's Straits, and bearing
up, he ran to the south and west round Baring Island. The voyage off
the west coast of that large island was full of danger, the ship
frequently narrowly escaping being cast away, till at length, with a
fair breeze, she entered Banks' Straits, which, leading into Melville
Sound, may be looked upon as the western end of Barrow's Straits. They
were but some eighty miles distant from Barrow's Straits, with every
prospect of gaining them, and being able the following season to return
home, when a heavy barrier of ice rose before them to intercept their
progress. Backward they were driven into a deep bay, to which the name
of the Bay of Mercy was given, as an acknowledgment of the merciful way
in which they had been preserved from so many dangers. They had
actually been only five days under weigh after leaving their winter
quarters in Prince of Wales' Straits.

As in the previous season, their time was fully occupied in making
exploring expeditions in all directions, and in shooting excursions.
With the exception of about three weeks in January, when it was too dark
to shoot, enough game was killed to enable them to enjoy a meal of fresh
meat three