306 KEPORTS ON THE STATE 0¥ SClENdE. 



'/', 



The l!jX2)loration of Prince Charles Foreland^ Spitsbergen. — Report of 

 the Committee, consisting of Mr. G. G. Chisholm (Ghcdrmcm), 

 Dr. W. S. Bruce (Secretary), and Major W. L. Forbes. {Brawn 

 uf hy the Secretary.) 



The period of the work in the field was during July, August, and part 

 of September in 1906, and during June, July, August, and September 

 1907. The persons assisting the author in the work during 1906 

 were Mr. E. A. Miller and Piper Gilbert Kerr; and during 1907, 

 Mr. Stewart Ross, M.A., Mr. J. V. Burn Murdoch, Piper Gilbert Kerr, 

 and Lieut. H. Johansen. 



The work done was the topographical survey of the island by means 

 of theodolite, sextant, compass, plane-table, etc. ; and determining, as 

 far as time and opportunity allowed, the geological features of the 

 Foreland, and investigating the zoology, botany, and meteorology. 

 The chief object was, however, the topographical survey, and other 

 work was sacrificed to make this the more thorough. The result is 

 the map I am able to lay before you now, on a scale of 1 : 100,000. 

 It will be seen that practically the whole of the west coast is now 

 accurately charted, and a very considerable part of the east coast ; in 

 fact, the only parts not thoroughly surveyed are small portions of the 

 east coast between Murray Ness and Ferrier Haven, and between Ferrier 

 Haven and Point Poole ; the coast line of the south end of the island is 

 also imperfect. 



Practically the whole of the interior is mapped with minute accuracy, 

 the position and altitude of the hills known, as well as their bases. 

 Some parts — as, for instance, the vicinity of both the base camps of 1906 

 and 1907 — can be accurately mapped on a scale of 1 : 10,000. 



Prince Charles Foreland is about 49 miles long, varies from 

 2^ to 7^ miles in width, and has an area of about 271 square 

 miles. It may be divided into three parts : a northern, mountainous 

 part, extending from the north end 35 miles southward ; then a 

 very low-lying portion ; and finally, another smaller hilly part, the 

 soutli end. In a central part of the northern mountainous part 

 the mountains have an elevation of over 3,000 feet, culminating 

 in Mount Monaco (3,490 feet), and Mount Jessie (3,250 feet). This 

 mountainous part is traversed by several cols and glens which connect 

 the west and the east coast. The whole of the eastern slopes of the 

 highest mountains are heavily glaciated, and several dead glaciers pass 

 westward as minor branches. Between the foot of the mountains, which 

 are more precipitous on the west, and the sea is a low-lying stretch of 

 land from half a mile to two miles in width — a series of raised beaches — 

 along which, on the west coast, one can travel for the whole length of 

 the island. Similar beaches occur on the east coast. Nowhere do the 

 mountains come right down to the sea except at Vogel Hook and C.ipe 

 Sietoe. There are innumerable small rivers, only a few of which may 

 at times be troublesome to cross. In the low land and in the glens and 

 corries are many tarns and small lakes, many of which are typical rock 

 basins. The low-lying part of the Foreland which cuts ofi" the southern 

 group of hills, viz. the Ross Heights from the northern mountain range 

 is country similar to the low-lying land in Morayshire, Scotland, and has 

 therefore been called Foreland Laichs. 



