Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-03-25
USING The AIRPLANE HUNTING
FOR The NIAKLNCS OF A SEAL
COAT in The NORTHERN WATERS

dropped from the air in 1922, and
Mr.. Noble quotes him.
Down fluttered a long red, blue
and yellow streamer of bunting
weighted with an iron bar; it fell on
the ice perhaps a hundred yards
away. Large quantities of seals
about three to five miles ahead of
you one point to port it read.
Roughly penciled that message was;
but an imperial rescript, embossed on
vellum, could not have produced a
more profound impression. I thought
the men would stare their eyes out
after the retreating plane, till it
vanished beyond the ice-world's
ragged edge; 1 thought they would
never have done talking about that
miracle Of the air
Tim lair charmed wild EN- re-
em up? OATS what I can't fadom
marked one old sealer, but what kipp
outp"
Encouraged by this measure OF sue
cess, it was determined to try an
other experiment. Instead of making
flights from shore, the plane was to
be carried to sea with the sealing
fleet. But this meant additional
hazards. Taking off from the rough
ice-floes of the sealing grounds had
to be made feasible. Some way OF
protecting the plane from the sheet
ice that continually forms over the
ship had to be devised
A Baby Avro" was obtained. 1t
was small two-seater. English plane
with an 80-horse- power LIE Rhone
engine, and with fitted with wheels,
floats, and skis. The plane was OF
the type designed for the late Sir
Ernest Shackleton's proposed ant
arctic expedition.
In 1925 this machine was placed on
a special platform on the after deck
of the sealer Eagle. Special covers
we're fitted over the plane to protect
it from the sheet ice, and Mr. Cald-
well was engaged to fly the machine.
The Canadian governments civil
aviation report, describing a typical
season with this plane, is also quoted:
Give Weeks we're spent in the ice,
and flights we're made as conditions
warranted. Before a flight, the air
craft was lowered onto a suitable ice
floe. On the first flight the ship was
made fast to a good sheet of ice
approximately 200 yards square, the
plane put overheard, the tank filled
warm oil, and no difficulty was ex-
perienced in getting away safely with
one of the sealing crew as observer.
'After a flight OF 70 miles on a
triangular course at an average altl-
tude of 1000 feet, the plane returned
and landed No seals were observed,
but ice conditions were reported. Some
days later, during Right of an hour
and half, seals were observed on
the ice from an altitude of 1000
feet.
ION the return some difficulty was
experienced in spotting the ship, as
the fireman failed to keep up a good
smoke and viewed end on the ships
appearance was very similar to that
of dozens of open patches of water
in the ice Eventually the ship was
spotted and safe landing made.
The plane was again hoiSted on board
and the ship steered toward the patch
of seals observed.
"This information proved to be of
the greatest value, as the seals seen
were part of the main herd. A good
catch resulted The owners of the
sealing fleet after two years expert
ence of spotting from the air for the
seal herd are convinced of its value.
An aircraft which can reach several
thousand feet in few minutes and