Fullerton Fullerton inin 1897, 1897, after after aa successful successful summer summer taking taking six six whales. whales. The The whalers whalers operated operated on on aa seasonal seasonal basis basis from from their their vessels vessels and and from from shore shore stations stations where where large large vats vats were were built built for for storing storing the the rendered rendered whale whale oil oil before before shipment shipment to to European European or or American American ports. ports. The The Inuit Inuit were were employed employed as as harpooners harpooners and and oarsmen oarsmen inin smaller smaller whaleboats whaleboats and and some some Inuit Inuit were were paid paid with with boats boats of of their their own. own. The The whaling whaling crews crews stayed stayed on on board board the the mother mother ship, ship, or or rendered rendered the the whale whale blubber blubber on on land. land.
Some Some whalers whalers wintered wintered at at Depot Depot Island, Island, where remnants of whalebone where remnants of whalebone and and wood wood and and metal metal artifacts artifacts can can be be seen. seen. There There are are stone stone structures structures too, too, made made by by the the Inuit Inuit or or perhaps perhaps the the Thule Thule -- tent tent rings, rings, food food caches, caches, fox fox traps traps and and kayak kayak cradles, cradles, inin Inuktitut, Inuktitut, Qajakuvik Qajakuvik (singular) (singular) or or Qajakuviit Qajakuviit (plural). (plural). Some Some Scottish Scottish and and New New England England whalers whalers used used other other anchorages anchorages among among the the islands islands and and along along the the coast coast because because they they felt felt the the Depot Depot Island Island harbour harbour was was too too shallow. shallow. The The inner inner harbour harbour was was less less than than five five fathoms fathoms deep, deep, but but itit was was said said to to be be ice ice free free earlier earlier inin the the summer. summer.
Exploration Exploration of of the the northern northern coastline coastline continued. Dr. John continued. Dr. John Rae Rae wrote wrote to to the the London Times in 1852 that he was London Times in 1852 that he was planning planning aa surveying surveying trip trip of of some some 600 600 to 800 miles overland from Chesterfield to 800 miles overland from Chesterfield Inlet Inlet to to the the Back Back River River and and by by boat boat up up the the west west coast coast of of Boothia Boothia and and return return between between July July 12 12 and and September September 12, 12, 1853. 1853. In In the the 1890s, 1890s, the the Tyrrell Tyrrell brothers, brothers, working working for for Canada’s Canada’s geological geological survey, survey, canoed canoed cross cross country country from from the the Athabasca Athabasca River River starting starting May May 22, 22, to to the the mouth mouth of of Chesterfield Chesterfield Inlet Inlet and and then then as as winter winter drew drew in, in, to to Fort Fort Churchill Churchill by by September September 3, 3, 1893. 1893.
From From the the late late 1700s 1700s onwards, onwards, the the Hudson’s Hudson’s Bay Bay Company Company sent sent schooners schooners north north from from Fort Fort Churchill Churchill each each summer summer to to trade trade with with the the Inuit. Inuit. Depot Depot Island Island was was the northern limit of these voyages. North the northern limit of these voyages. North of of Depot Depot Island, Island, trade trade was was controlled controlled by European and American by European and American whalers. whalers.
Captain Captain George George Comer, Comer, originally originally from from Quebec, Quebec, and and one one of of the the last last of of the the New New England England whaling whaling captains, captains, refers refers to to large large numbers numbers of of muskox, muskox, caribou, caribou, seal, seal, walrus, walrus, and and bowhead bowhead being being taken taken by Inuit for subsistence and by Inuit for subsistence and trade trade with with the the whalers. whalers. Comer Comer wintered wintered at at Cape Cape
The The Government Government of of Canada Canada first first appeared in the area appeared in the area inin 1903, 1903, when Neptune,, carrying carrying Royal Royal when the the Neptune Northwest Mounted Northwest Mounted Police, Police, geologist geologist A. A. P. P. Low, Low, and and others, others, overwintered overwintered alongside alongside Comer’s Comer’s ship ship Era Era at at Cape Cape Fullerton. Fullerton. The The ship ship was was on on aa combined combined sovereignty sovereignty and and exploration exploration voyage. voyage. The The same same year, year, George George Comer Comer recorded recorded that that Chesterfield Chesterfield Inlet Inlet was was one one of of the the locations locations where where Inuit Inuit gathered gathered to to trade trade and and seek seek employment. employment. Guns Guns and and sturdy sturdy whaleboats whaleboats were were probably probably the the most most significant significant trade trade items. items. Then, Then, inin the the early early 1900s, 1900s, the the value value of of white white fox fox pelts pelts made made land-based land-based Arctic Arctic trading trading posts posts possible, possible, year year round. round. This This coincided coincided with with the decline of the whaling industry, and the decline of the whaling industry, and by by the the time time the the whalers whalers departed, departed, life life along the northwest coast along the northwest coast of of Hudson Hudson Bay Bay had had changed changed considerably. considerably.
