' ' MARION ' ' EXPEDITION TO DAVIS STRAIT AND BAFFIN BAY 1 1 



At 4.30 p. ni. the ship <ji:()t under way and began to move in slowly 

 anions" the numerous islets tlnit block the southern entrance to Godt- 

 haab Fiord. On our general chart these oltlying rocks and skerries 

 were clustered like so many Hyspecks. Over the land the air was 

 very clear and somewhat warmer than over the cold water just off 

 the coast. The only snow that could be seen lay in sheltered niches 

 and clefts on the higher mountains. No sign was visible of the great 

 Greenland ice cap. because its western edge lies separated from Godt- 

 haab by over 50 miles of rough and mountainous country. 



We were surprised to see so many evidences of plant life upon the 

 near-by rocky shore. Brownish-green vegetation extended in most 

 places very close to the water's edge, showing that the islets can not 

 be exposed to as nuich heavy surf as might be expected from their 

 location near the open sea. INIany soundings were taken with the 



GODTHAAB, GUEENLA>D 



Figure 7. — As we approached the village of Godthaab, the Marion fired a national salute 

 of 21 guns. This was the first honor of the kind from an American man-of-war, in 

 many years, and the first ever rendered hy a United States Coast Guard vessel In 

 Greenland. 



fathometer in the approach to Godthaab. while the ship was being 

 carefully conned in with a good lookout for submerged rock ledges 

 kept from aloft. 



At 6.30 p, m. the Marion stopped off the town of Godthaab, Green- 

 land, and fired a national salute of 21 guns. The town was amazingly 

 different from the summer fishing villages seen a few days before in 

 Labrador. Even from the harbor it was seen to be much neater 

 and more prosperous looking. Here the majority of the buildings 

 were freshly painted in red and white. 



Several hundred natives in brightly trimmed costumes watched 

 the Marion from points of vantage on the low hills about the town. 

 Minor Danish officials were brought alongside in a pulling boat from 

 which they came on board after they had been satisfied that health 

 conditions on board were good. One of them offered to conduct the 

 ship to a secure berth. He explained, while piloting the ship around 



