PREFACE 
This report is an attempt to give a general description of the vegetation 
along the western arctic coast of America, based upon my work during the 
Canadian Arctic expedition, 1913-16. It is supplementary to the two pre- 
ceding parts of this volume, and the scientific names used are in accordance 
with them. 
On the way into the Arctic, natural history collections and observations 
were made at port Clarence,' in Bering strait (See Vol. III, Part K, pp. 4-5; and 
Vol. VII, Part N., pp. 3-4), though not enough to warrant the inclusion of a 
description of the coast south of point Barrow in this report. For a description 
of the topography and the vegetation of this part of the arctic coast I refer to 
Beechey’s “Narrative of a voyage to the Pacific and Bering strait, 1825-28, 
London, 1831,” and particularly to B. Seeman’s general description in ‘Botany 
of the Voyage of H.M.S. Herald, under the command of Captain H. Kellett, 
during the years 1845-51, London, 1852.’’ More recent descriptions are found 
in F. C. Schrader and W. J. Peters: ‘‘A Reconnaissance in Northern Alaska, 
Professional Paper No. 20, U.S.G.S. Washington, 1904,” A. H. Brooks: ‘“‘Geo- 
graphy and Geology of Alaska, Professional Paper No. 45, U.S.G.S. Washing- 
ton, 1906,” and J. Muir: “The Cruise of the Corwin, 1881. New York, 1917.” 
As the north coast of Alaska is very uniform as to topography, geology, and 
natural history all the way to Mackenzie delta, it has not been considered neces- 
sary to subdivide it according to longitude. Owing to our wintering 1913-14 
at Collinson point in Camden bay and extensive travelling eastward and west- 
ward along the coast and up some of the rivers, it has been possible to write 
special chapters dealing with the topography of the different natural areas in 
this region from the mountains to the sea, as well as to give a summary on the 
climate, based upon our meteorological observations, with particular reference 
to plant life. The vegetation on this part of the coast is treated in detail. 
The vegetation on the low cape Bathurst peninsula is interesting enough 
to call for special mention based upon investigations there in July, 1916; and 
the same is the case with Young point south of Amundsen gulf, where observa- 
tions were made in the same month. An original, general description of the 
topography of the coast around Franklin bay, supplied by Dr. R. M. Anderson, 
is also given, based on work in that region from 1909 to 1912. 
As the Southern party of the Canadian Arctic expedition had its head- 
quarters for almost two years (end of August 1914 to middle of July 1916) at 
Bernard harbour, on the south side of Dolphin and Union strait, detailed investi- 
gations of the vegetation, insect life, climate, etc., were possible all the year 
round in that vicinity. A detailed topographical map of the harbour was also 
made (See Figure 2); but as this will be followed up with topographical and 
geological descriptions in Vol. XI of the Report of the Canadian Arctic expe- 
dition, it is sufficient to give only the general features in this paper, in connection 
with the vegetation examined. The description takes in both the mainland 
coast and the islands alongside and farther off shore, a particularly interesting 
subject from the point of view of vegetation, exhibiting as these islands do, all 
stages from a barren reef of boulders or sand and gravel to larger islands with 
almost the same number of plants as upon the mainland. A special chapter on 
the climate at Bernard harbour, with particular reference to the vegetation, is 
given, being a summary of the meteorological observations made during our 
stay there. 
1 For a description of port Clarence, see also A. E. Nordenskioli: ‘*The Voyage of the Vega round Asia and Europe,” 
New York 1882, p. 569. 
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