274 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



vanced to the eighteen tli degree. The depth was 450 fathoms, and a series 

 of careful observations of temperature was taken at this point, whereby 

 it appeared, however, that we had not yet by far reached the real Polar 

 current. As it could be judged by these observations that the northern 

 limit of the Atlantic current must be looked for at a considerably higher 

 latitude far in among the tMfttng ice, and as such a cruise was not 

 really a part of our plan, we decided to stop here and turn our course 

 toward the north side of Spitzbergen. Before this was done we made 

 a cast with the trawl, which gave us ample specimens of the fauna of 

 the sea-bed, among which were several specimens of rare fishes. On 

 the surface of the water were found enormous quantities of the i)eculiar 

 ocean slime, which we on our in-evious expedition had observed, and re- 

 newed accurate microscopic examinations were made of the same at this 

 time. Dense fog now came drifting in ui)on us from the ice, and at 

 length so diminished our horizon that the ship seemed tc> float in the 

 midst of a boundless sea of log. But suddenly, as if by enchantment, we 

 came in the afternoon out of the dense bank of fog into bright sunshine 

 and had before us at the distance of about forty miles the jagged north- 

 west coast of Spitzbergen, with the so-called seven Ice Mountains. 

 Somewhat nearer the shore, at a depth of 250 fathoms, another haul was 

 made with the trawl, which likewise gave a j^lentiful zoological harvest, 

 which kept us zoologists busy for a long time. Meanwhile nature claimed 

 her dues, and weary from the day's work we sought our berths, while 

 the Voring directed her coiu'se toward the Xorse Isles in order to anchor 

 there and take in ballast and water. 



The following morning, the 15th of August, we lay well anchored at 

 the place determined upon, and here awaited us the sui-prise of seeing 

 ourselves in company with no less than four Norse fishermen, and 

 among them the sloop so well known from Nordenskjold's expedition, 

 the Ice Bear. These vessels had already been lying here at anchor for 

 some time while the crews were busily engaged in catching cod in the 

 immediate vicinity. Fog still partially covered the surrounding mount- 

 ains, so that we were enabled to orient ourselves only i)iece by piece as 

 the fog rose. We were lying in a quite broad sound, in which the cur- 

 rent rushed on with considerable rapidity, carrying with it blocks of ice 

 of various forms and sizes. East of us we had the real so-called Xorse 

 Isle. West of us was White Island. Both were barren partially snow- 

 clad masses of rock from which weather-beaten grayish heaps of stones 

 extended down toward the strand. Directly north of us arose out of 

 the fog a peculiarly formed mountain, the so-caUed Clowen Cliff, and 

 further to the west we caught a glimpse now and then between the fog 

 of the most northwestern of these islands, that is, the Amsterdam Island. 

 South of us we had the northwest point of Spitzbergen's mainland, 

 which extended toward White Island. But the main channel toward 

 Eed Bay remained enveloped in a compact mass of fog out of which 

 small and large masses of ice now and then came forth, sailing through 

 the sound i^ast our ship. 



