Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-18
HUDSON STRAITS EXPLORATION.
Details Of the Expedition Under Command
or Lieuterap, f,.-sou

tcrd0u.
Toronto (Canadal Globe july l1th.l
Lieutenant "A. II. Gordon. n, ". deputy
SUPERINTENDENT OF the Canadis5 sfeteoro-
logical Service, left on the 2d instant for
HALIFAX, where he will make final prepars-
tions for embarking on July 22d with
corps OF observers for the Hudson Straits
expedition. The ship which he has selected
for the expedition is the Neptune, 1 s'aunch
sailing-yessel OF 6Sj tons. under the com
mand OF Sailing Master Sopp, an expo
rienced Arctic navigator. The crew, with
explorers. will in all number fity-tiye
men. Professor Bcll viii accompany the
eXpedition TO learn what be can OF the
geological features OF the country aiong ? TIE
Straits. There viii be no other scientific
men on board. excepting such as are re-
CURED Tor The observing stations. The eN-
pcdliion VIII first call at Nam, on the
Labrador coast, and finally at Ranlh, the
nortbcrnmost station on the Atlantic coasts,
and but a few hundred miles south OF
Cape Chedley, at the entrance 10 the Straits.
Esquimaux Interpreters viii be engaged ut
enc or mere Of these Labrador stations.
The work OF establishing stations in the
Straits, which are 400 miles by 100 to 200
miles broad, is not unattended with risks.
as much OF the outline even of the coast is
unknown, and there are no coast charts or
souudings. Six stations in the Straits are
TO lie established. one at West Island, Q. the
mouth of the Straits. and little north OF
Cape Chcdley, on the southern coIst; q
second or Resolution Island, on the oppo-
site coast; third at Cape Hope, midway
alouS the south side Of tine Straits, and just
at lis narrowest part; fourth on Upper
Ibnft,s AL
on Islands at the western end of the
straits. The last two stations are opposite
not only the western mouth Of Hudson
Straits. but also opposite the straits open
ing into Fox Channel, where probably
much Of the spring ice which blocks Hud-
son Straits in June comes from, and obspr-
yatioHs will he made 70 ascer. in about
what proportions OF the ice from this
great landlOcked basin drift into Hud-
son Straits, and what proportions into
HUDSON bay. At all the stations the
usual meteorological observations will
he made. the heavy tide will be
measured, the drift Of the water will be no.
ticcd. and the conditions and state OF the
lee. Cape Hope Is the most important sta
lion. and here. in addition 10 the otter OH
SeTVatiOne, temporary magncticll station
wi III be opened. alr. stewart. who has been
ore Of the "Young Probs." at Toronto
Observatory for several years, will be in
charge Of the observations here. All the
stations viii he supplied by the Neptune
with a stock Of provisions to last until
year At least from next autumn, when.
should further observations be considered
unnecessary, thc Observers will return
home. Their winter life on these desolute
shores promises 70 be a rather lonely one.
bot no doubt viii have its compensations.
From Hudson Straits Lieutenant Gordon
will proceed to Fort ChurchIll, where an.
other observer viii ho stationed. The
Lieutenant expects TO return home late in
the fall.