19 12. No. 14. THE HYDROGRAPHIC OBSERVATIONS. 3I 



If there is much dritt-ice in the fjord, the anchorage is not certain, as the 

 tidal current is strong. There is good holding ground, clay and mud. On 

 the south side of the point stands a group of houses, the station of the 

 Norwegian whaling company. Nimrod, of Larvik. Water can be taken from 

 the pipes of the whaling-station. 



About 300 metres to the north-east stands the Norwegian wireless tele- 

 graph station, with its two poles over 60 metres in height, and its 9 houses. 

 The station, which has been working since November, 191 1, is in commu- 

 nication with the wireless station on Ingo Island near Hammerfest in 

 Norwav, the most northerly town in the world. It is also one of the 

 Norwegian meteorological stations, and since December 3, 191 1, it has 

 sent daily weather telegrams to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute in 

 Christiania. These observations are of great importance in following the 

 movements of the high and low atmospheric pressures over the Nor- 

 wegian Sea. 



Of the 5 companies that began whaling in 1905, with stations in Spits- 

 bergen, only the two mentioned above are now left. The station at Finnes 

 employs 4 boats, the station in Hecla Harbour only 2. While the station 

 at Finnes is on shore, that in Hecla Harbour is a floating station, the 

 sailing-vessel Hecla, from which the harbour takes its name. Whaling 

 round Spitsbergen is not very remunerative now. 



At both anchorages there is a shore of fine sand. 



In addition to the above-mentioned houses, there are two houses on 

 the east side, west of Mt. Heer. These belong to Det Norske Spitsbergen 

 Kulkompagni, F. Hiorth, Christiania, which is experimenting in the work- 

 ing of the coal-beds there, claimed by the company in 1908. About 300 

 metres east of Finnes, there are 2 more houses, belonging to the Arctic 

 Coal Co., which is carrying on trial working of the coal-beds there. Directly 

 to the south of this American company's houses, stands a house belong- 

 ing to Chr. Anker, Fredrikshald. 



Near the mouth of the fjord, on the east side, stands the house 

 called Schroder's house, belonging to Kulkompaniet Isefjord. of Christiania^ 

 which in 1900 claimed the land on the west and east sides of the lower 

 part of Green Harbour for the working of coal. In the vicinity of Aust- 

 kap, or, as it is also called. Cape Heer, there is a hut, erected by hun- 

 ters for wintering in. A similar hut is found, as already mentioned, 

 beside Hecla Harbour. There is also a house on Russe Keila, about 

 halfway between Cape Staratschin and Fæstningodden. This house was 

 erected bv Norwegian fisherm.en who fished salmon (Sa/iiio alpimis] in the 



