If the voyage of captain Parry did not lead to the discovery of the north-west passage, it was at least productive of information of an encouraging description. There could be no doubt that he had discovered straits communicating with the Polar Sea, and through which his progress was barred by accumulations of ice, which, in all probability, occasionally break up, and allow a free passage. The opinion of the old navigators, that the northern portion of America is broken land, or rather a cluster of large islands, was rendered still more probable; and as but little was as yet known of the northern shores of Hudson's Bay, it was hoped that some inlet might be there found communicating with the Northern Sea, and in which, from its more southerly situation, navigation might be continued for a longer portion of the year.

The Hecla had answered so well on her former voyage, that the Fury, a similar ship, was prepared to attend her on the second one. Improvements were made in the internal fittings of the vessels. Charred cork was placed between the sides of the ships and the internal lining of plank, as a security against the cold; and a simple but well contrived apparatus for distributing heated air was fixed in each ship.