eer ee se ee ee 
Swedish North-Polar Expedition. 231 
scarcely possible, unless some large island or group of islands 
facilitates the communication between these two countries, situ- 
ated at a distance of between 400 and 500 nautical miles from 
one another. Of late years the Norwegians have resumed the 
method, formerly employed by the Russians, of using large nets, 
formed of rope, to catch the Beluga (Delphinopterus leucas) ; 
and in 1868 several vessels were fitted out exclusively for that 
species of fishing. Some of the fishermen whom we met had, 
on one or two occasions, taken from twelve to twenty head at 
a single drag of the net: right handsome sport, when one 
considers that the Delphinopterus is often larger than the 
walrus itself, 
Ice-fjord, like most of the other gulfs of Spitzbergen, is 
surrounded by vast glaciers with their mouths turned toward 
the sea, which offer to the geologist an opportunity of study- 
ing that phenomenon so important in the history of the earth’s 
development. But extensive valleys or declivities free from 
ice and snow are also met with, especially in the inner parts 
of the fjord, and the fertile soil here produces a vegetation 
more luxuriant than in other parts of this island group. One 
may here see whole fields yellow with poppies (Papaver medi- 
cante), or covered with a thick green and red carpet of the beau- 
tiful Saxifraga oppositifolia. The fjord, which lies beneath 
them, and in the summer months is often as still and clear as 
a looking-glass, abounds with marine animals of various kinds. 
verything contributes to make this a most important spot for 
the study of both animal and vegetable life in the c 
regions. The zoologists and botanists of this expedition here 
gathered a rich harvest ; among the results of which we may 
mention the taking of several fine salmon, and fully-developed 
examples of the esculent mushroom, &c. 
We left Ice-fjord on the 13th of August. At the entrance 
; and examine 
