4c Preface 
A general description of the topographical and geological features of the 
Coronation gulf region has been supplied by Dr. R. M. Anderson, who visited 
this area during three summers. In addition, I have added two chapters on the 
topography and vegetation along the south and west sides of Coronation gulf, 
including the lower Coppermine river and some of the islands in the Duke of 
York archipelago. These chapters are based mainly upon information gained 
on two sledge trips in the wintertime, and on observations and collections of 
plants made by Messrs. J. R. Cox and J. J. O’ Neill. 
Finally, a chapter on the topography and vegetation of Wollaston penin- 
sula, Victoria island, is given, based mainly upon observations and collections 
of plants made by Mr. D. Jenness and myself in 1915 and 1916. To this a sum- 
mary of the bedrock vegetation from Stapylton bay eastward to Bathurst inlet, 
including Wollaston peninsula, forms a natural- appendix. 
In my two reports already published (Vol. VIII, Part K, General Observa- 
tions on Insect Life in the Arctic, and Vol. VII, Part N, The Crustacean Life 
of Some Arctic Lagoons, Lakes and Ponds) a number of data, among them 
many botanical records of importance for the understanding of the invertebrate 
life on land and in fresh water will be found. As these two reports belong to 
the same series as this one, it has not been considered necessary to reprint the 
data. 
The author desires to acknowledge his indebtedness to the different persons 
whose assistance has made the writing and publishing of this report: possible. 
First of all to the members of the scientific staff of the expedition, who went to 
the trouble to collect plants at places which the author did not have the oppor- 
tunity to visit himself, and to whose friendly interest he owes much. Secondly, 
to the Deputy Minister of Naval Service in Ottawa, Mr. G. J. Desbarats, under 
whose direction the expedition was sent out and carried through. Thirdly, to 
the chairman of the Arctic Publications Committee, Prof. E. E. Prince, for 
continual scientific support. The author is also indebted to the late Mr. James 
M. Macoun for the preliminary identification of the flowering plants collected 
during the expedition, and to the officials of the Herbarium of the Smithsonian 
Institution in Washington for a supply of pressing paper and advance infor- 
mation about collecting plants in Arctic America, given in 1913. 
In judging the present report it should be remembered that the author also 
was responsible, during the expedition, for the collecting and study of insects, 
fishes and all kinds of marine and freshwater invertebrates, as well as for hydro- 
‘graphy; and that biological observations ranked only second or third among the 
‘objects of the expedition. It is his hope, however, that this report which, so far 
as he knows, is the first attempt at a detailed description of the vegetation 
along a considerable part of the American arctic coast, may be of value to the 
botanist and geographer alike, as well as to the general reader whose interest 
in the Arctic regions he believes is steadily growing. 
Ottawa, February 5, 1923. 
, FRITS JOHANSEN. 
