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Brothers Christopher B. and Edward Chapel
In 1860, brothers Christopher B. and Edward Chapel were the first Americans to attempt a foray into Hudson Bay to verify whether the reputed abundance of whales in the bay was true. They reached the Depot Island area and overwintered there. Here is how Ross described their voyage:
In July 1860, Chapel took the Syren Queen into Hudson Bay Strait in company with the Northern Light, commanded by his Brother Edward. They reached the west coast of Hudson Bay after a 50-day passage in difficult ice conditions and selected a winter harbour near Depot Island. (Ross 1975: 37)
Despite the hard, long winter months and the deaths of several members of their respective crews from scurvy, the Syren Queen/Northern Light expedition was still a success. The Chapel brothers proved the abundance of whales there, thus opening the way for many other whalers.