SCIEXTIFIC RESULTS 3 



sistently drifted to the ri<,dit of the direction of the wind led to 

 ♦greater knowledge of the general laws for the frictional elfect of the 

 wind on free moving bodies as atfected by earth rotation. 



The sledge excursions of Cagni and Peary out onto the polar ice 

 had for their main object spectacular and historic dashes for the 

 pole. The scientific accomplishments, therefore, from the nature of 

 the exf)editions, are not as valuable as otherwise might have been 

 the case, but considerable information regarding the state and move- 

 ment of the cover, nevertheless, resulted. The Russians, amongst 

 whom might be named Toll. Kolchak. Liakhof, Wrangel, Makarov, 

 and Vilkitski, have all nuule noteworthy contributions on the ice of 

 the Arctic Ocean. One of the most brilliant students and keenest of 

 observers of the group is Kolchak, whose daring journey of several 

 hundred miles in an open whaleboat to Bennett Island", far north- 

 ward in the icebound ocean, was a notable achievement. 



To Stefansson. Storkerson, Bartlett. and MacMillan during the 

 period 1918 to 1917, we owe our knowledge of the ice conditions 

 around the American margin of the ]K)lar cap, the tumbled, chaotic 

 condition of which suggested for it the name of paleocrystic ice. 



Lastly we wish to mention Amundsen who, in the Maud, attempted 

 to repeat the original exploit of Nansen, and after several years, 

 1918-1925, abandoned further efforts to be caught up by the drifting 

 pack. This period meant no inactivity, however, as Malmgren's 



(1928) observations on the properties of sea ice, and Sverdrup's 



(1929) discussion of the hydrography and the movements of the 

 ice with wind and current greatly clarify many of the ice problems. 

 Amundsen was the first to introcluce and employ aircraft for Arctic 

 exploration. In 1925 his uncompleted flight with planes from 

 Spitsbergen to Alaska awakened interest and opened new oppor- 

 tunities to study Arctic ice from the air. Byrd, Xobile, AVilkins, 

 and now the proposed program of aero-Arctic, just in the stages 

 of preparation, as well as navigation by a submarine, mark the 

 dawning of a new day in northern exploration. 



Our knowledge of the ice in the regions of the northwestern North 

 Atlantic: i. e., the region of Baffin Bay; its tributaries; Davis Strait; 

 and south to Newfoundland, has been gained as these countries have 

 passed through the following eras : The early voyages of exploration 

 represented by Frobisher, Davis, Hudson, and Baffin ; exploitation of 

 whaling, fur trading, and missionary colonization; international 

 connnercial rivalry seeking a northwest passage to India; the 

 traverse of explorers on their way to and from polar regions; and 

 finally, the present era of scientific investigation. jVIartin Frobisher, 

 groping for the elusive northwest passage, made the first historical 

 crossing of Davis Strait, when in July, 1576, under the shores of 

 southern Baffin Land, he came amidst drifting icebergs and dense 

 fogs. The largest iceberg was measured and found to be 330 feet 

 liigh. Next appears Davis, combining the qualities of an able 

 British x'unian and a patient, scientific observer, and carrying out a 

 series of explorations of Davis Strait, following the ice from the 

 southern end of Baffin Bay to well south on the coast of Labrador. 

 As a result of his voyages cartographers were able to draw the first 

 intelligent maps of Davis Strait and in a general way indicate the 

 drift of the ice. Returning from a voyage of discovery to New 

 York. Hudson was coiiunissioned in 1610 to seek a passage by the 



