Introductory Remarks on Series A and B. 



J\s is well known from the preliminary report by Per Schei on 

 the geological observations made during the Second Norwegian Polar 

 Expedition of the "Fram" (Appendix to Otto Sverdrup : "New Land"), 

 published in 1903, the sections of palaeozoic rocks yielding the greatest 

 stratigraphical and palseontological results, were found in the south- 

 western corner of Ellesmere Land, between Harbour Fjord (Norw.: Havne- 

 fjord) in Jones' Sound and Baumann Fjord (which lies between Bjorne- 

 kapland and Raanes Peninsula, cp. the map, p. 3). 



Within this region the more detailed observations were made in the 

 environs of Goose Fjord (Norw.: Gaasefjord) where the "Fi-am" had 

 her winter quarters during the two seasons 1900 — 1901 and 1901 — 1902. 

 The stratigraphical systems of the Goose Fjord were divided by Schei 

 into the series A, B, C, D and E of which the last two were regarded 

 as Devonian. The preliminary identifications of fossils and their strati- 

 graphical bearing were made by Dr. Johan Kijer, now professor of palae- 

 ontology of the University of Christiania. 



Since the publication of Schei's report, several papers by specialists 

 on different collections from these series have appeared. In 1904 

 Professor Nathorst of Stockholm published "Die oberdevonische Flora 

 des Ellesmere -Landes"!, describing the fossil plants from Series E. 

 In 1900 "Neues Jahrbuch filr Mineralogie etc.", Beilagehand. 31, con- 

 tained an article by Oscar Erich Meyer : "Die Entwicklung der ark- 

 tischen Meere in palaozoischer Zeit", in which he gives, inter alia, a short 

 summary of his studies on the fossils collected by Schei from Series D 

 and sent to Professor Frech in Breslau for detailed examination. In the 

 spring of this year, 1913, the final result oE Dr. Meyers pala3ontological 

 investigations was printed as No. 29 of the said report under the title: 



1 Report of the Second Norwegian Arctic Expedition in the 'Fram" 1898-1902. 



No. 1. Christiania 1901 



1 



