VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS OF NORWAY. 249 



a milder climate than any other country in the world 

 lying between the same degrees of latitude ; and though 

 proximity to the sea does undoubtedly prevent extremes 

 of heat and cold, yet the comparative mildness of 

 the climate is due to another cause, which shall now be 

 alluded to. 



The Gulf Stream impinges on the western coast 

 somewhere about lat. 62. From this point of impact 

 it takes a northerly direction, and follows the coast line 

 to the Russian frontiers on the Arctic Ocean. In con- 

 sequence of this the sea never freezes along the whole 

 extent of the northern and western coasts ;* and, further, 

 it is owing to this that the mean temperature at the 

 North Cape, and at Christiania, during the winter 

 months, though these places are separated from each 

 other by 12 of latitude, is the same. 



Arriving at the Kussian frontier, the Gulf Stream 

 flows into the White Sea, and, afterwards, taking a 

 bend towards Nova Zembla, touches the Spitzbergen 

 coast under lat. 80, about. 



From observations made by Magister Torell in his 

 expedition to Spitzbergen in 1861, it was proved beyond 

 a doubt that this branch is a continuation of the one 

 which impinges on Norway, for they discovered quanti- 



* Even within 100 miles of the North Cape no ice is t<> tic seen, 

 so that the navigation along the whole coast of Norway in open the 

 whole year round. In fact, the chief lishery, which atibrds employ- 

 ment to between '20,1)01) and 30,000 men, takes place during the 

 severest portion of the winter, aiid between lat. Go aud lat. 70". 



