INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR 1873. Ixiii 



vessel, only intended to carry provisions and stores for the 

 benefit of the exploring party, was itself caught in the ice 

 and obliged to pass the winter there. Notwithstanding this 

 great increase of the force, by the judicious efforts of its offi- 

 cers, all were kept in perfect health and condition but one 

 man dying, and he of consumption. 



Professor Nordenskjold found that his anticipation of suc- 

 cessful exploration by sledges could not be realized the ice 

 proving too rough in some places, and too soft in others. 

 The highest point attained by him was 80 30'. Finding this 

 enterprise unsuccessful, the expedition returned home in the 

 summer of 1873. 



Many interesting facts were obtained in regard to meteor- 

 ological and other physical phenomena, considered of great 

 value by Dove and others, and some collections in natural 

 history were made, although nothing of any very great mo- 

 ment. It was, however, fully established that no reliance 

 can be placed upon sledge journeys, whether drawn by dogs, 

 reindeer, or men, for extended polar explorations, although 

 as a collateral they may be of much advantage. 



Simultaneously with the ice embargo of the government 

 expedition, several Norwegian whalers were detained in the 

 same manner, and although some of them succeeded in get- 

 ting away, the remainder were obliged to remain during the 

 winter, and, we regret to say, all died of scurvy and other 

 diseases. 



Another arctic expedition was that of Mr. Leigh Smith, 

 who left Dundee on the 10th of May for Spitzbergen, having 

 chartered the steam yacht Diana of Mr. Lamont for the pur- 

 pose. His own vessel, the 8amp8on^ was also dispatched for 

 Spitzbergen as a relief vessel, and spent most of the season 

 in a very successful seal-hunt. 



Mr. Smith proceeded to Seven Islands, in latitude 80 50', 

 and made that the centre of research, the highest point at- 

 tained being 81. Numerous specimens of the walrus and the 

 polar bear were secured, and some observations Avere made 

 on polarity, magnetism, etc. The anticipated results were 

 interfered with by the stormy weather of the season, and the 

 expedition returned to Dundee on the 27th of September. 

 Among the practical discoveries by Mr. Smith Avas that of 

 banks of codfish, Avhich it is quite likely may become the sub- 



