372 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1909. 
Oceanography and biology: Journal of stations, by MM. H. Broch, A. de 
Gerlache, B. Helland-Hansen, and EH. Koefoed. 
Hydrography, by B. Helland-Hansen and BH. Koefoed. 
Plankton of the Sea of Greenland, by MM. D. Damas and EH. Koefoed, with 
notes upon Radiolaria, by M. E. Jérgensen. 
Meduse, by M. C. Hartlaub. 
Fishes, by M. E. Koefoed. 
Deep-water invertebrates, by J. Grieg. 
It will doubtless be of interest to review briefly the results obtained. 
We shall attempt this while limiting ourselves to the important 
geographical problems that the expedition had proposed to solve. 
We omit, then, reference to a great part of the zoological material 
collected, notably that obtained in the course of the dredging carried 
on near Spitzbergen and in the offing of the east coast of Greenland ; 
also the botanical and meteorological results of the expedition. 
Let us review briefly the route of the expedition. This is shown in 
figure 1; the route of the Belgica is indicated by the principal obser- 
‘vation stations, omitting the “ diverse routes ” inevitable in a voyage 
traversing the ice fields. After some preliminary stations near Spitz- 
bergen, the Belgica sailed on July 7, 1905, from the Isle of Amster- 
dam, and bore first toward the northwest. The route being obstructed 
by pack ice, the course was soon turned back toward the south. In 
so doing one of the principal purposes of the expedition was lost. 
It remained then to push as far as possible toward Greenland. One 
can see by the course on the chart that at different times the Belgica 
pushed toward the west, but each time the polar ice, thick and com- 
pact, barred the way. The navigation was relatively easy in the 
deeper waters, but when the Belgica arrived near the edge of the 
continental platform of Greenland the ice presented an impenetrable 
barrier. This route, which was accomplished almost entirely to the 
west of 0° Greenwich, is nevertheless of great interest. It was made 
appreciably farther to the north and to the west than all previous 
itineraries, and the soundings have particular value in that in one 
point they reached the foot of the continental talus (soundings 1,425 
meters). Nevertheless, under latitude about 76° north, the Belgica 
succeeded in making her way through the ice, thick and confused, 
which descends from the North Pole in immense and dangerous fields. 
The crossing of the polar current made in the course of this cruise was 
more than 2° north of all those that had preceded it. In proportion 
and measure as the depth diminished toward the coast the ice became 
more tractable and soon the polar ice gave way to the ice formed in 
the neighborhood of the land, which is much easier to navigate. 
Along the coast of Greenland the Belgica was able again to turn 
toward the north, and gaining the latitude of Terre de France,’ 
“The name which the Dépét des Cartes et Plans of the Danish Marine has 
substituted for that of ‘“ Land of Due d’Orleans.” 
