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The horses
act as a sort of connecting link with civilization and afford
much amusement to the camp party. At lunch time they usually
come over near where the men are eating and stand by waiting
for a handout. Their favorite refreshment is a cheese sandwich.
At night in camp one or two of them always pay a visit to the
cook tent and generally are rewarded with some leftover - they
are unusually fond of rice. Also they will occasionally get
into a pan of applesauce which has been set out to cool.
In crossing
streams too deep to wade, two men get on a horse's back to avoid
getting wet. One horse, in particular, has the habit of sitting
down right in midstream, having learned that part of his load
will slide off when he does this. He may do it to prevent sinking
into the sand with his extra load, but it is considered by the
men just pure cussedness.
Topography
The
topographic work presents no special problems since the work is
routine and is being done in the manner of the good old "horse
and buggy" days without the assistance of air photographs.
Launch Hydrography
Launch
hydrography is also routine, except that the working days are
few and far between. An average of about five per month is all
that can be expected. Recording echo sounding instruments in the
launches would be of wonderful assistance and result in a remarkable
increase in efficiency in this area, where the working days are
so few. Where such instruments have been used in the Canadian
Hydrographic Service the launch output has been increased fivefold
and it has been possible to operate with fewer men in the sounding
party. It is understood that some portable echo sounders will
be supplied to Alaskan parties next season.
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