White Bear. Page 80.

Thalassarctos maritimus—The Polar Bear

On Phipps' voyage many were killed, “and the seamen ate of their flesh, though exceeding coarse”. On Parry's expedition, the flesh of the bear proved a timely and valuable addition to their stock of provisions, and served materially to restore the strength of the party during their journey over the ice towards the North Pole. The commander in his narrative (p. 114) relates, that ‘a fat she-bear crossed over a lane of water to visit us, and approaching the boats within twenty yards was killed by Lieut. Ross. The scene which followed was laughable, even to us who participated in it. Before the animal had done biting the snow, one of the men was alongside of him with an open knife, and being asked what he was about to do, replied that he was going to cut out his heart and liver to put into the pot, which happened to be then boiling for our supper. In short, before the bear had been dead an hour, all hands of us were employed, to our great satisfaction, in discussing the merits, not only of the said heart and liver, but a pound per man of the flesh; besides which some or other of the men were constantly frying steaks during the whole day, over a large fire made of the blubber.