F. GEOGRAPHY. 121 



rent failure of explorations in this region is to be found in 

 the fact of their starting too early in the summer, and not re- 

 maining long enough in the autumn. They think that the 

 Gulf Stream, the current of which is clearly indicated, toward 

 the close of the summer breaks down the barrier of ice, and 

 clears a way into the open polar sea beyond. 



The fact of their having been in the path of the Gulf 

 Stream they consider well established by the temperature of 

 the water (exceeding by from three to five degrees C. that 

 of the air), the frequency of clouds and the abundance of fog 

 and rainbows, the decided current to the northeast, the ultra- 

 marine blue of the water, so characteristic of the Gulf Stream, 

 the extraordinary richness in lower animals, etc. 



In the beginning of autumn they infer that the Gulf Stream 

 leaves the coast of Nova Zembla and passes farther to the 

 west, or that it then expands so as to cover a greater area. 

 Another important result of their examinations was the dis- 

 covery of an enormous abundance of whales in the open sea 

 a fact which will doubtless induce our American whalers 

 seriously to consider the propriety of endeavoring to secure 

 the reward which is likely to crown the efforts of those who 

 may enter this new Polynia at the proper season. 



During the expedition of the Ice-Bear a continued series 

 of observations was taken upon the temperature, the density 

 of the water at the surface and at various depths, the occur- 

 rence of drift-wood, the currents, deep-sea soundings, etc. 

 Many objects of interest were taken from the bottom, and 

 many valuable geological observations made. Circular of 

 Geographical Society of Frankfort. 



EXPLORATIONS OF THE WHITE. SEA. 



In a report of a zoological exploration made in the White 

 Sea and on the Murmanian coast in Lapland by Jarschinski 

 in 1869, lately published by Dr. Petermann, attention is called 

 to the fact that while in the tropical seas the highest devel- 

 opment of animal life is found near the surface, and diminish- 

 es with increasing depth, a precisely opposite state of things 

 is met with in the arctic seas. Thus, in the shallow portion 

 of the White Sea, animal life was extremely scanty, and it 

 was only in the deep bay of Condelac that an abundance was 

 met with. The same condition of things was found in a por- 



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