Richardson was entirely successful in examining the coast-line between the Mackenzie and the Coppermine; but Beechey, though he succeeded in rounding Icy Cape and tracing the coast as far as Point Barrow, did not come up to Franklin, who had only got within 160 miles at Return Reef.

These 160 miles, as well as the 222 miles intervening between Cape Turn-again, Franklin's easternmost point by land, and Cape Franklin, J.C.Ross's most westerly point, were afterwards filled in by T.Simpson in 1837, after a coasting voyage in boats of 1408 miles, which stands as a record even to this day.

Meanwhile the Great Fish River had been discovered and followed to its mouth by C.J.Back in 1833.

During the voyage down the river, an oar broke while the boat was shooting a rapid, and one of the party commenced praying in a loud voice; whereupon the leader called out: "Is this a time for praying?
Pull your starboard oar!" Meanwhile, interest had been excited rather more towards the South Pole, and the land of which Cook had found traces in his search for the fabled Australian continent surrounding it.

He had reached as far south as 71.10 deg., when he was brought up by the great ice barrier.