620 A. H. STOKES ON THE COAL FOTTITD 



43. Paeoe Islands. Notes upon the Coal found in Suderoe. By 

 Arthur H. Stokes, Esq., F.G.S., one of H.M. Inspectors of 

 Mines. (Kead June 23, 1880.) 



In tlie following paper I have the honour to lay before the Society 

 the result of a recent exploration of the coal-seams found in 

 Slideroe, one of the Earoe Islands. 



In the summer of 1873 (a few months before my connexion with 

 H.M. service commenced) I visited Slideroe for the purpose of re- 

 porting upon this coal-field. During my leave of absence from official 

 work this summer (1879) I again visited the island, and also two 

 other islands forming part of the group called Paroe. The island to 

 which this paper specially refers is the most southern, and lies 

 in the parallels of latitude 61° 2b' and 61° 42', occupying a geo- 

 graphical extent of about 20 miles by 5 miles. 



Any paper bearing upon the extension of the area of coal-seams 

 within reach of countries using that fuel must possess peculiar in- 

 terest, and the details of some observations made in a recent visit 

 to Siideroe may not be uninteresting to the Members of this 

 Society. 



The position of the coal-fields will be best understood by reference 

 to the map (p. 621), the shaded part indicating the extent, or area, 

 under which coal is found. 



Qvalboe Mines. 



The coal in this district is already being worked by the natives 

 of Siideroe by means of adits driven in the coal from the mountain- 

 side. There are six adits now used for getting coal ; but for a 

 distance of about 900 yards numerous old adits can be traced, and 

 the place whence they were driven is clearly distinguishable, al- 

 though the entrances are completely closed by debris. The date at 

 which the coal was first worked could not be ascertained. It pro- 

 bably commenced soon after the first settlement of the inhabitants; 

 but as peat is plentiful, and easily obtained, the coal is only 

 worked for a few of the inhabitants of the small village of Qvalboe, 

 none of the coal being worked for exportation, and the total quantity 

 wrought during the summer being only a few tons. 



I visited these mines in 1873, and again in 1879 ; at both visits 

 I found men getting coal for the winter's supply. The working- 

 places are very irregularly driven ; starting first from the mountain- 

 side with an adit of about 5 feet wide, they soon increase to 12 feet 

 wide, and at intervals " thirl," or make communication into the old 

 works. They do not proceed far under the mountain, but prefer to 

 commence in another place rather than drive a long distance from 

 the mouth of the adit. No one system of work is carried out, but the 

 places are driven at the pleasure of the men getting the coal. The 

 whole of the mining-operations are carried on in the most primitive 

 manner. 



