56 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



Prime Minister's Office, Canada 



Ottawa, Ontario, February 21, 1913 

 Dear Sir: 



Mr. Stefansson has shown me your letter of the 12th instant stating that you are willing 

 to forego your claims to a share in his exploration of the northern waters of Canada, and to 

 cancel the arrangements which you had so generously made to contribute towards the ex- 

 penses of this undertaking, and I wish to thank you for your courtesy in withdrawing in favor 

 of this Government. 



We are most appreciative of the valuable results obtained by Mr. Stef&nsson's explora- 

 tions in the northern part of the American continent, which have given valuable information 

 as to this comparatively unknown portion of the Dominion of Canada, and have to thank you 

 for the part you took in assisting Mr. Stefansson in that work. The Government of Canada 

 feels however, with regard to the present exploration, that it would be more suitable if the 

 expenses are borne by the Government more immediately interested, and if the expedition 

 sails under the flag of the country which is to be explored. The Government is, however, 

 desirous that the line of investigation begun by Mr. Stefansson and the members of your 

 Association should be continued and would be glad of the scientific cooperation of your mem- 

 bers so as to obtain the best results from this expedition. 



Yours very truly, 



[Signed] R. L. Borden 



It is Mr. Stefansson's present intention to carry out in detail the plan 

 as formerly developed in the interests of this Museum and the National 

 Geographic Society. Its chief aim will be geographical and anthropological 

 exploration. As planned, the expedition will have two main bases, the 

 northern one on Prince Patrick Island and the southern on the mainland 

 of North i\merica near Coronation Gulf. Mr. Stefansson will give personal 

 attention to geographical exploration and the study of the Eskimo, Dr. 

 Anderson will conduct the biological investigations. It is expected that a 

 staff of at least six scientists will accompany Mr. Stefansson, Dr. Anderson 

 being one of that number. 



In general, the plan is to spend three or four years in an intensive study 

 of the archaeology and ethnology of the Eskimo, together with the zoology 

 and geology of the whole region from Alaska to Coronation Gulf. Also, to 

 map the unexplored coast of Victoria and Prince Patrick islands and by off- 

 shore journeys to the north and east determine by means of soundings the 

 extent of the continental shelf and discover new lands, if such there be. It 

 is intended that the expedition shall be a scientific one and devote its energies 

 to the investigation of this unknown region. 



The anthropological work is to be made a special feature, the main prob- 

 lem here being to determine the present and former limits of human occupa- 

 tion. During summer the surface will be searched for traces of former 

 villages which when found will be carefully studied by excavation and 

 otherwise to determine their relative ages and the cultural character of their 

 occupants. Such archaeological work is now needed to estimate the period 

 of occupation and the direction of Eskimo migration. 



In the east, special attention will be given to the distribution of the 

 peculiar hybrid Eskimo discovered on the last expedition. It is intended 

 that a full census of the people be made, noting the somatic character of 

 each to serve as a basis for the study of this peculiar biological problem. 



