— IV - 



of the Foulkefjord, on the west coast of Greenland (78° 20' N. lat.). On 

 the 17"> August, however, the 'Fram' off Cape Sabine, was stopped in 

 her progress by the ice and the Expedition therefore went into winter- 

 quarters in Rice Strait. The autumn was passed in making sledge- 

 excursions on the inland ice of Ellesmere Land and in mapping out and 

 exploring the inner branches of Hayes Sound. In the spring of 1899 

 two sledge-excursions were undertaken across Ellesmere Land to the 

 west coast, and the mapping out of Hayes Sound was completed. The 

 summer, however, proved so unfavourable that it was impossible to ad- 

 vance in a more northerly direction. Capt. Sverdrup therefore decided to 

 force his way through Jones Sound and to go into winter-quarters with 

 the 'Fram' in Havnefjord, to the south of Ellesmere Land, where sur- 

 veying and scientific research were continued until 16^'^ November. 



In 1900, from the beginning of February until the middle of June, 

 sledge-excursions were undertaken from the winter-quarters in a northerly 

 direction (81° n. lat.) and towards the west (98° w. long.) and as soon 

 as the ice broke up, dredging commenced. In August the 'Fram' was 

 able to steam westward through Jones Sound to Belcher Channel and 

 through the Cardigan Straits, whereupon the ship went into winter-quar- 

 ters in Gaasefjord (76° 48' n. lat., 89° w. long.). 



In the middle of March 1901 sledge-excursions were recommenced 

 and were continued until the middle of June, the land being explored 

 and mapped out up to 79° 30' n. lat., and 106° w. long. 



From 24"' of June until 19* July, dredging was carried on in Jones 

 Sound, from which latter date until the ensuing 7"^ Aug., North Devon, 

 to the south of the winter-quarters, was explored. On account of ice 

 obstruction, the 'Fram' could not advance far, but had to go into win- 

 ter-quarters at no great distance from those of the previous year. In the 

 spring of 1902 the land was explored up to 81° 37' n. lat. as also Elles- 

 mere Land and North Devon. During the summer, dredgings were 

 undertaken in Jones Sound and neighbouring waters. 



On 6*'' Aug. 1902 the Expedition left Jones Sound, touched at God- 

 havn, Greenland on 17**^ Aug. and returned to Norway on the 19"* Sept. 

 1902. 



The Expedition had explored and mapped out vast tracts of land 

 hitherto unknown and brought home excellent scientific material based 

 on a series of meteorological observations, together with abundant botani- 

 cal, zoological, palseontological, mineralogical and geological collections 

 and some magnetic observations. 



