INTRODUCTION. 



By Ludwig Kumliex. 



The vessel conveying the Ilowgate preliminary Polar Expedition was 

 the " Florence" of New London, Conn. Slie is a fore-and-aft schooner of 

 fifty-six tons, and was built in Wells, Me., in 1851, for mackerel, and 

 was subsequently used as a sealer in the southern seas. 



Although a staunch and fair sea-boat, as far as her diminutive dimen- 

 sions could allow, a less suitable vessel for the purpose could hardly 

 have been chosen. To say that she was too small for thorough scientific 

 work covers the ground, but quite fails to convey a proper idea of what 

 drawbacks all scientific kibors were subjected to on this account. 



The schooner was fitted out in New London, and saUed on the morn- 

 ing of August 3, 1877, unfortunately at least two months later than 

 desirable, had her object been piu-ely scientific. 



The primary object of the expedition, by Captain Howgate's order, 

 was to coUect material, skins, skin clothing, dogs, sledges, and Eskimo, 

 for the use of a future colony on the shores of Lady Franklin Bay. 

 The secondary object of the expedition was scientific work ; and, thirdly, 

 whaling was to be one feature of the cruise. 



So far as the primary object is concerned, the expedition was as suc- 

 cessfiQ as could be expected : a large amount of skins was collected 

 and made into clothing; the services of sixteen Eskimo were secured, 

 who were willing to accompany the coming steamer northward; nearly 

 thirty dogs were secured, and several good sledges, with an ample sup- 

 ply of whales' jaw-bones for shoeing the runners for some years. 



As has been stated by Captain Howgate, " the peculiar nature of her 

 mission lifted the enteriirise from the level of an ordinary whaling voy- 

 age to the higher plane of geographical discovery." Every one, except 

 the scientists, had a " lay" in the voyage; and, so far as the crew was 

 concerned, their "lay" was to be their only remuneration; as a natural 

 consequence, whaling became the primary object to them. The expe- 

 dition was also fairly successful in this direction. 



As far as the scientific work is concerned, some valuable work was 



