178 



Land Magnetic Observations, 1914-20 



The amount of work accomplished was limited in large measure by the abnormal 

 conditions of transportation growing out of the war. Normally there had been steamers 

 running between points in German New Guinea and the islands of the Bismarck Archi- 

 pelago, but at the time of this expedition there was no such service, and the only alterna- 

 tive would have been to charter a schooner. The same conditions existed on the Dutch 

 coast as well. As far as work in the interior of New Guinea is concerned, any attempt 

 should be only by an organized expedition, consisting of at least 3 white men and a large 

 number of native carriers. In this way it would be possible to cross the narrow neck 

 between Port Moresby and Mambare in about 20 days. Launches run up the Fly River 

 and also to the Lakakamu gold-fields at the head of the Aird River, at irregular intervals 

 as business invites. No such opportunity occurred while I was there. As to the region 

 farther west, it is largely unexplored and would doubtless present great difficulties of 

 transportation. 



Table 26 shows the stations at which magnetic observations were made, with dates 

 of occupation and geographic positions; for values of the magnetic elements, see Table 

 of Results. 



Table 26. 



