KJELLMAN, THE ALG^ OF THE ARCTIC SEA. 



The definition and division of the Årctic Sea. 



In defining the limits of the Arctic Sea there generally prevail two different points 

 of view, the one a purely geographical one, when by the Arctic Sea there is meant the sea 

 north of the north Polar circle, the other a inore hydrographical one, when the Arctic 

 Sea denotes the cold glacial sea round the North Pole. By the former view träets 

 of water are excluded from the Arctic Sea which are perhaps the most rich in ice 

 in all the northern hemisphere and possess, with regard to ice-drift and temperature, 

 a distinctly arctic character, namely the northern Atlantic off south Greenland, while on 

 the other hand, there is included in it the sea on the north coast of Norway, where 

 the temperature of the water, in consequence of warm currents, is far higher than in 

 the other parts of the polar basin and on this account neither in summer nor in winter 

 any greater quantity of ice is formed or sets down from higher latitudes. According 

 to the latter view, on the contrary, the sea off Greenland south of the Polar circle forms 

 part of the Arctic Sea, whereas the sea off the coast of northern Norway is excluded. 

 If thus defined, the Arctic Sea, as will be demonstrated below, can be regarded as a 

 unity with respect to the geographical distribution of plants; which is not the case 

 according to the former definition. It is necessary therefore to establish once for all 

 fixed limits to the Arctic Sea as meaning a distinct region of vegetation, and to make 

 a decided distinction between the Arctic Sea as considered from this purely botanical 

 point of view and from a geographical one, assigning a different name to each of these 

 different regions. I propose that in the geography of plants that part of the northern 

 ocean which stretches along and north of the coasts of the arctic countries, be called 

 the Arctic Sea, and that the name of the North Polar Sea, not uncommon in charto- 

 graphy, be applied to the sea north of the north Polar circle. The following investiga- 

 tion will prove that such a distinction is made necessary by the botanical facts. The present 

 work will treat, accordingly, of the algas not only in the Polar Sea proper, as here under- 

 stood, but also in that sea which lies south of the Polar circle off the coast of Greenland. 



In dividing the Arctic Sea and denominating its several parts, I have tried to 

 follow, as closely as possible, the maps published in låter tiraes. But different geo- 

 graphers, chartographers and arctic voyagers having often applied different names to 

 the same part of the Arctic Sea, or assigned different limits to regions called by the 

 same name, which is especially the case with the Arctic Sea north of the Atlantic, I 

 think I ought to state expressly which names I have decided on employing and which 

 limits I have thought fit to give to the different regions. 



The Norwegian Polar Sea. I propose to designate by this name that part of the 

 Polar Sea which extends along the north-west and north coasts of Norway from the 



