Ill 



considerably facilitated the many different kinds of scientific work. With our 

 present experience from the From, this could be materially improved on a 

 future expedition of the same kind". The worst thing was, however, that in 

 order to save space and provisions, the number of the members of the expe- 

 dition had also to be reduced to a minimum, and the scientific staff could 

 not be numerous. It was therefore unavoidable that a number of scientific 

 observations of various kinds should fall to each man's lot, and this seldom 

 happens without the risk of having no series of observations quite complete 

 and satisfactory. 



Considering all this, and the numerous difficulties with which any kind 

 of scientific work has to contend during such an expedition and in such 

 surroundings, constantly adrift in the ice, it might be expected that our 

 scientific results would not be very abundant. However, in spite of everything, 

 it may be justly said that the expedition has brought home both abundant and 

 valuable scientific material, which will in many respects essentially increase 

 our knowledge of the North Polar Region. This result is solely due to the 

 never-failing ardour with which my companions on board the Fram undertook 

 the many and multifarious observations entrusted to them, and it has been a 

 pleasure to hear the specialists who have kindly undertaken the elaboration 

 of the material, express their unreserved and unanimous recognition of the 

 amount of work done. 



In issuing this first volume of the Scientific Results of the Expedition, 

 therefore, I feel it my first and pleasant duty here to acknowledge, with deep 

 gratitude, the devoted work of all my companions. 



I desire especially to mention late Lieutenant, now Captain in our Navy, 

 SIGURD SCOTT-HANSEN, who with admirable skill and energy took charge 

 of the astronomical, meteorological (partly also auroral), magnetic, pen- 

 dulum and other observations, as well as the navigation. These numerous 

 observations had all of them often to be carried on under difficulties which, 

 especially during the long, cold polar night, were unusually great. But never- 

 theless he has brought back material so copious and exact in every respect, 



