12 May. Friday. (137) Overcast and thick. Light snow falling and calm at 9 o'clock. Somewhat clearer at 10 and after, snow ceased, disagreeable light breeze came up from the south. Chilly rather strong before noon. Clear in the afternoon. Cloud amount not high at sea. Temp. min. 19°; 9a. 32°; 12m. 28°; 4h. 28° During my talk with Captain Pickels on 4 May (see §. 128), he said that stopping at Upernivik Cost us Melville Bay. This was the first time that this idea had been advanced in my hearing. I doubt the justification for the statement. We certainly had a good strong breeze during the afternoon of the day on which we arrived at 7h. m. at Upernivik anchorage and it was too rough for us to go ashore that evening; but the wind died out during the night and the following day (11 Aug.) was calm; so calm that H.C.O. would not leave, said then that it was not advisable to get under weigh. Of course we should have covered a good many miles with the breeze of 10 Aug. but probably should not have gotten more than half way from Upernivik to Devil's Throat before losing the wind. As I have said the 11th was calm. On 12th we had light N. wind; 13th same; 14th calm; 15th brisk wind from N.N.W. In early morning of 16 Aug. we were off Devil's Throat. Results so one can say how much if any appreciable time we lost by stopping at Upernivik, but neither Captain Pickels nor Captain Cover said a word against stopping there. It seems to me that they should have pointed out to me the risk of stopping, if they or either of them had felt that there was any. With my present experience in the arctic and knowledge of the "Chatta", I would not stop there in an auxiliary schooner under similar conditions. The stop was made with the advice and approval of Dean and other men of experience in order to learn about the ice conditions in Melville Bay - But we learned nothing.