A. INTRODUCTION. 



Xhe regions in which the 2nd Norwegian Polar Expedition under 

 the command of Captain Otto Sverdrup in the Fram, passed the four 

 years from the autumn of 1898 to the autumn of 1902, are, magnetically 

 considered, among the most interesting portions of the earth's surface, 

 as they are not far from the magnetic north pole. It is therefore greatly 

 to be deplored that the Expedition's magnetic outfit had to be hmited, 

 on economic grounds, to the smallest possible amount, and that more- 

 over no special attention could be paid in the outfit to the peculiar 

 magnetic conditions under which the Expedition was compelled, as it 

 subsequently proved, to labour. 



It will be remembered that it was Captain Sverdrup's original plan 

 to endeavour to make his way round the north of Greenland, and finally 

 return along its east coast. With this plan in view, the Expedition 

 received the same set of magnetic instruments that had previously been 

 employed by Captain ScoTT-HANSEPf on the famous 1st Fram Expedition, 

 1893—1896, under the command of Dr. Fridtjof Nansen. There was 

 reason to suppose at the time that the instruments that were specially con- 

 structed for the Nansen Expedition, might also, with advantage be em- 

 ployed on the 2nd Fram Expedition, which, it might be assumed, would 

 make its observations at a sufficient distance from the magnetic pole to 

 keep the numerical values of the terrestrial magnetic elements from 

 differing greatly from the results found by Scott-Hansen. 



Sverdrup, however, as we know, was forced to abandon his ori- 

 ginal plan, and instead of going farther northwards after the first winter 

 in Rice Strait, was obliged to take up his winter quarters in a more 



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