LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



WASHINGTON, D. C., November 1, 1884. 



SIK : 1 have (lie honor to transmit herewith a full report of the operations of the International 

 Polar Expedition to Point Barrow, Alaska, under my command, for the years 1881, 1882, and 1883. 



The work in meteorology ;>,nd magnetism is as complete as it was possible to make it with the 

 means placed at my disposal. 



The work of geographical exploration, having been made of secondary importance, was confined 

 to such short expeditions as I was able to make from the home station, without suspending 01 

 interfering with the regular work ; but enough was done to demonstrate that the work of cxplora 

 tion in the Arctic can be carried on, at any season of the. year, with the assistance of the natives, 

 with comparative safety and but very little suffering, and 1 trust that our experience will tend to 

 remo\e some of the prejudices now existing in the public mind against Arctic exploration. 



I regret exceedingly that 1 was not given more time to prep;; re myself for this undertaking, 

 as my previous training had not been of such a character as to tit me for it, except in the matter 

 of command and equipment. 



1 cannot speak too highly of the faithfulness and devotion of the. members of the expedition 

 to their duty. To their cheerful assistance and ready obedience is due all credit for the succes> 

 attending the expedition. 



In preparing this report 1 have been placed under many obligations to Prof. Spencer I'. Haird, 

 Director of the United States National Museum, and to Prof. -I. K. Hilgard, Superintendent I'nited 

 States Coast and Geodetic Survey, for advice, as well as valuable assistance in their departments: 

 also to Mr. Charles A. Sclioti, assistant, United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, for the reduc- 

 tion mid discussion of the magnetic observations; to Mr. |{. S. A very, I'nited States Coast and 

 Geodetic Survey, for the reduction and discussions of tides; to Private A. L. McKae.Sign.il 

 Corps, IT. S. Army, for the reduction and discussion of the ground currents: and to Sergf. .lohn 

 Murdoch, Signal Corps, ( T . S. Army, naturalist of the expedition, for his able and valuable 

 assistance throughout the whole expedition, and in preparing this report. 



I am. very respectfnlh , your obedient, servant, 



P. II. KAY. 



I'lrxt fjirntnifiiit Kii/htlt I'. S. lufdhti'i/. .1. .S. D.. < ' i::nini',xli ,, 



SKIXAT, OITMT.I;. rxur.D ST.UKS AKMY. 



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