484 Crew mended banking about ship with blocks cut from snow drift in front of the vessel. The banking should be higher and thicker than it is. We still use the ladder in passing be- tween the ice and the rail. Supply of smoking tobacco is out. Only a few of the crew have even a little and there is much complaint. H. P. has smoked the last of his. He has a few pounds - less than 25 - lbs. of Battle Ax chewing tobacco which he got from me (exped). The chief slices and dries this and smokes it with difficulty. Some of the crew are chewing it, drying the end and smoking that. I have a very little plug smoking left, besides about 3 lbs. of strong plug smoking which I am reserving for the Eskimos on the trail across Melville Bay. Janquary has three cigars left which he is saving for Christmas and New Years. I have ten left of a box of Danish cigars which Janquary gave me about three months ago.