R. M. ANDERSON IN UNEXPLORED ARCTIC AMERICA 



[Editorial comment on the zoological loork of the Stefdnsson-Anderson 

 Arctic expedition and quotations from Dr. Anderson's letters] 



THE zoological work of the Stefansson-Anderson expedition brings to 

 the American Museum the most complete and valuable zoological 

 collection ever gathered together in the Arctic. It does this in 

 spite of the fact that the expedition as a zoological enterprise has been 

 working under a twofold handicap: First that its primary aim was not 

 zoological and second that its method of exploration was the one chosen. 



The main aim of the expedition was ethnological ; that was understood 

 in the original contract, paragraph 3 of that formal agreement reading as 

 follows : " That the primary aim of the expedition is, as stated in paragraph 

 1, the scientific study of the Eskimo, and that the movements of the party 

 are to be regulated accordingly." This put Dr. Anderson, the zoologist of 

 the expedition and second in command under Mr. Stefansson, in a position 

 in which he must sometimes yield his plans to the plans of the expedition 

 as a whole. 



That the method of exploration was satisfactory for the study of the 

 Eskimo and less favorable for systematic zoological survey can also well be 

 understood. The expedition carried few supplies and depended on getting 

 a living from the country. This often necessitated much time spent in hard 

 labor for a living and in moving at inopportune times to reach sources of 

 food supply, all of which must have considerably interfered with intensive 

 study of any given locality with the attendant collecting and preparation of 

 material. 



Add to these two handicaps the natural one of the country with its 

 almost insurmountable obstacles to transportation of heavy equipment and 

 collections, and some small part of Dr. Anderson's work will be realized. 

 Four years of a man's life away from civilization, (confronting each day 

 problems of existence and travel in addition to the problems of a zoological 

 survey, is much to give for the cause of science. We appreciate Dr. Ander- 

 son's words when in one of his letters he compares the attitude of the Eskimo 

 of the expedition with that of the leaders, " If we get in touch with ships, a 

 certain amount of provisions must be obtained to satisfy native employees, 

 who seem to consider the 'luxuries' of civilization (flour, molasses, etc.) 

 more necessjiry than do either Stefansson or myself. A native lives only 

 in the present and considers that he is justified in demanding whatever 

 creature comforts are obtainable, while we are willing to make sacrifices 

 in order to accomplish an end some distance in futurity." 



Dr. Anderson arrived at San Francisco November first on the whaling 

 vessel " Belvedere," immediately telegraphing the Museum and Mr. Stefans- 

 son of his safe arrival. He has repacked ready for shipment across the 



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