1675 HARTSTENE BAY. 55 



on gneissoid rocks, and have a thickness of about a 

 thousand feet. Unfortunately no fossil organisms 

 were found, but a piece of coal was picked up not 

 far from the head of the fiord. Judging from their 

 appearance, Captain Feilden is of opinion that these 

 strata may be an extension of the Miocene deposits 

 of Disco Island and the Noursoak Peninsula. 



Hartstene Bay is the best winter-station on the 

 North Greenland coast ; its shores are washed by a 

 warm current coming from the southward, whilst the 

 projecting promontories of Cape Hatherton and Cape 

 Ohlsen deflect the Polar current to the other side of 

 the sound. Owing to the narrowing of the channel 

 at the entrance of Smith Sound the velocity of the 

 tidal currents is greatly augmented, and even in winter 

 large water-spaces are kept open. The moisture and 

 warmth imparted to the atmosphere by the uncovered 

 water moderates the climate in its vicinity to some 

 extent, and consequently we find in the neighbour- 

 hood of Hartstene Bay a land comparatively well 

 vegetated and a great abundance of animal life. As 

 Port Foulke can be visited yearly from the southward 

 in all but very exceptional seasons, it can be recom- 

 mended as an important base if further explorations by 

 Smith Sound are hereafter undertaken. 



On the morning of the 29th the ships crossed 

 Smith Sound under sail, with a northerly wind, steer- 

 ing direct for Cape Isabella, The snow-clad coast of 

 Ellesmere Land was very clearly defined, the black 

 headlands, separated by glacier-filled valleys, standing 

 out prominently from the white background. Cape 

 Sabine, which is formed of a red syenite, differs much in 



