triangular mark on Cape Kekursky, and by the meridian 

 168°49'30" W., cutting the middle of the sound separating the 

 Ratmanov and the Krusenstern Islands. 



Since the United States and Canada have allowed all their claims 

 to Wrangel Island to lapse, and since the Russians are in physical 

 possession in the Soviet Arctic Sector, Franz Josef Land merits 

 brief mention. 



The archipelago has long been the scene of Norwegian sealing 

 and other types of hunting expeditions. Whatever settlements 

 the Norwegians made were seasonal and of too limited a scope 

 to have the characteristics of effective occupation. No serious 

 claim to sovereignty could be made by Norway on the basis of 

 these settlements. 



The Soviet Union made a claim to sovereignty over the archi- 

 pelago in 1928. By a decree of 7 March 1929, funds were pro- 

 vided for a radio station and a geo-physical station on Franz 

 Josef Land. On 28 July 1929, the flag of the Soviet Union was 

 hoisted on Hooker Island and other ceremonies appropriate to 

 the taking of possession were performed. Since that time the 

 Soviets have expanded their occupation. For all practical pur- 



•J.S.R. 



n\. 



^^^ 



Figure 4-5. — Boundary between U. S. A. and U. S. S. R. 



149 



