"Whale Island" and the Mackenzie Delta: Charted Errors and Unmapped Discoveries, 1789 to 1850

Abstract

Presents evidence that this island in Mackenzie Bay, northern Canada, on which Mackenzie camped in 1789 is the Garry Island at 69 29 N, 135 40 W where Franklin camped in 1825. Whale Island was described and drawn by Mackenzie. From his description, which did not agree with his drawing, it was mapped (at approx. 69 07 - 69 14 N) by Franklin who did not see the island. When aerial photography of 1939-1945, revealed the area to be delta country, the island was removed from the charts and its name rescinded, on the theory that is had been engulfed by the growing delta. This theory is refuted and the identify of Whale as Garry Island established by observations of W.J.S. Pullen in 1850, who did not however, chart the delta. Also treated in Beaver 1963, no. 294, p 54-55.