"The story of the search for a north-west passage marks an exciting and significant champter in early Canadian history. One of the most provocative and colourful characters in this story is Captain Robery M'Clure, who as commander of the investigator is credited with the final discovery of a passage. Based on M'Clure's private journal and daily log, The Discovery of the North-West Passage presents his account of the Investigator's historic voyage. We follow M'Clure and his crew as they round Alaska and locate the Prince of Wales Strait, only to be stopped by the ice within thirty miles of Melville Sound. Travelling by sledge, the sturdy adventurers press on across the ice to Melville Island, there discovering a western entrance to the North-West Passage. But M'Clure is unable to navigate the Passage by ship, remaining trapped in the ice for several winters until a rescue expedition finally reaches his weakened party and returns them to England."-- front flyleaf.