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Cape Fullerton

The Cape Fullerton site (Qatiktalik in Inuktitut) is on the west coast of Hudson Bay, a few kilometres north of Depot Island. At both the Cape Fullerton and Depot Island overwintering sites, there was frequent contact between Inuit and whalers. Here are the words of the commander of Neptune, a Canadian government ship, about the composition of the Inuit group spending the winter near the whalers:

In the wintering population of 100 or more Eskimos at Cape Fullerton in 1903-04, Aivilingmiut were twice as numerous as Qaernermiut. (Ross 1975: 127-128)

Tattooed Netsilik woman. 148 Ko Tattooed Netsilik woman.
Kenipitu women at Cape Fullerton, Nunavut. 130 Ko Kenipitu women at Cape Fullerton, Nunavut.
The Era preparing for spring whaling, Fullerton. 54 Ko The Era preparing for spring whaling, Fullerton.

Cape Fullerton was also near Whale Point, an important contact point for Inuit, whaling captains and their crews. From there, several whaling boats left to hunt with crews of Inuit and US or Scottish sailors.

The presence of the explorer Charles Francis Hall in this area during the winter of 1865 and Captain George Comer's frequent overwintering at Cape Fullerton make it possible for us to know a little more about the daily life of the whaling crews and Inuit frequenting that area.

Here are Charles Francis Hall's words on the Cape Fullerton overwintering site, as Eber notes:

In this harbour, a little more than a mile west of Depot Island, four whalers besides the Monticello were anchored within rifle-shot of each other; these were the George and Mary of New London; the Black Eagle and the Antelope of New Bedford; and the Concordia of Fairhaven, Mass. Each was banked up with snow six or eight feet thick and nearly up to the gunwale, the upper deck being well housed. On board the Monticello, although but little coal was used, the temperature was kept above 32° throughout the vessel. (Eber 1989: 27)

Aivillik women with tattooed faces, Cape Fullerton, Hudson Bay, Nunavut. 92 Ko Aivillik women with tattooed faces, Cape Fullerton, Hudson Bay, Nunavut.

Captain George Comer spent numerous winters there. From 1895 to 1914, he overwintered aboard the Canton (1895-1896), the Era (1896-1906) and the A.T. Gifford (1907-1912). The regular presence of Captain Comer also came to the attention of the Canadian government, which sent the Neptune, commanded by Albert Peter Low, to establish the first outpost of the North West Mounted Police (later called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) there in the winter of 1903-1904. George Comer immortalized the Cape Fullerton site and its inhabitants with hundreds of photographs. He also collected several archaeological artefacts from this area for the Museum of Natural History in New York and created plaster masks of several area Inuit upon anthropologist Franz Boas' request.

Returning to base at Cape Fullerton from Southampton Island, Nunavut. 78 Ko Returning to base at Cape Fullerton from Southampton Island, Nunavut.

The F.N. Monjo fur company of New York opened a whaling station at Cape Fullerton in 1913. After staying at Wager Bay and Repulse Bay/Naujaat stations, Captain George W. Cleveland stayed there over the winter of 1913-14. This whaling station's activities competed directly with those of the Hudson's Bay Company station that had recently opened at Chesterfield Inlet/Igluligaarjuk. In the summer of 1915, the A.T. Gifford had been sent to supply the Cape Fullerton station and recover whale oil and bones and the furs collected throughout the preceding year. Unfortunately, the A.T. Gifford caught fire during its return voyage, and its load never reached New London. In about 1915, the Hudson Bay whale hunt came to an end. Once the whaling saga ended, George Cleveland was recruited by the Hudson's Bay Company. He was still in the Hudson Bay region during the Fifth Thule Expedition.