THE VARIATIONS OF GLACIERS 49 



In opposition to this general tendency to retreat we notice that 

 certain glaciers of the Oetzthal, which have been retreating pretty 

 rapidly, are now retreating more slowly and some of them are even 

 in a stationary condition.^ 



Italian Alps. — The Italian glaciers do not seem to show any 

 marked variations, but the general tendency is to retreat.^ 



French Alps. — The glaciers in the Grandes Rousses of Dauphine 

 are in general retreat. A map of these glaciers on a scale of Toi-ro^ 

 is now being made. Measures of snowfall in the Savoy have shown 

 a smaller amount in the winter of 1904-5, than in that of 1903-4. 

 Special observations on the Mont Blanc chain have shown that the 

 greatest snowfall occurs at an altitude in the neighborhood of 2,550 

 meters. The glaciers of Mont Blanc and the Maurienne show a 

 sHght retreat though there are indications of increased activity which 

 later may bring on an advance. In the Vanoise and the upper valley 

 of the Arc the glaciers continue to retreat, and some large snow fields 

 have disappeared; others have been broken up by projecting ridges 

 of rock. 



Pyrenees. — The glaciers in these mountains are stationary or 

 retreating. There have been very great changes since the middle 

 of the last century; for instance, between 1855 and 1904, the glacier 

 de I'Est has retreated 1,140 meters and the glacier de la Breche, 1,230 

 meters. In the last two years there seems to be an increase of snow- 

 fall on these glaciers. The disappearance of some small glaciers 

 in the French Alps and in the Pyrenees has been injurious to agricul- 

 ture on account of the decreased quantity of water available for 

 irrigation. This has led the Minister of Agriculture to offer pecuniary 

 support to glacial observations.^ 



Sweden and Norway. — One glacier was observed in Sweden in 

 1905, the Mika, and it has retreated three to four meters. In Norway 

 the changes have been mixed, some glaciers have retreated and some 

 have advanced. The three glaciers observed in the Jostedal have 

 advanced from 5 to 19 meters.'' 



1 Report of Dr. H. Angerer. 



2 Report of Dr. F. Porro. 



3 Report of M. Charles Rabot. 



4 Reports of Dr. F. W. Svenonius and M. P. A. Oyen. 



