EXPEDITIONS TO THE ARCTIC SEAS. 655 



EXPEDITIONS TO THE ARCTIC SEAS. 



CONGRESSIONAL REPORT. 



[In the House Of Representatives at Washington, on January 15, 1880, Mr. 

 Whitthorne, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted a report from which 

 the following extracts are made:] 



The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred House Bill No. 1823, 

 <l to authorize and equip an expedition the Arctic Seas,'' having had the same un- 

 der consideration, have directed the same to be reported back to the House with 

 a substitute therefor, and thereupon to recommend the adoption and passage of 

 said substitute, herewith submitted : 



In making this report the committee respectfully state and report that the ob- 

 ject of the bill, as is shown by its terms, is to authorize a temporary station to be 

 selected within the Arctic Circle, for the purpose of making scientific discoveries, 

 explorations, and observations, obtaining all possible facts and knowledge in rela- 

 tion to the magnetic currents of the earth, the influence of ice-floes therefrom upon 

 the .winds and seasons and upon the currents of the ocean, as well as other mat- 

 ters incidental thereto, developing and discovering at the same time other and 

 new whale-fisheries, now so material in many respects to this country. It is, 

 again, the object of this bill that this expedition, having such scientific observa- 

 tions in view, shall be regularly made for a series of years, under such restrictions 

 of military discipline as will insure regularity and accuracy, and give the fullest 

 possible return for the necessary expenditure ; and, again, in view of the fact that 

 either the governments directly, or scientific corps under their authority, of Ger- 

 many, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, and Russia, have concur- 

 rently agreed to establish similar stations, with like object, during the year 1880, 

 it is believed that the interests and policy of our people concur in demanding that 

 the United States should co-operate in the grand efforts to be thus made in the 

 solution of the mysteries and secrets of the North Polar Seas, upon which, in the 

 opinion of scientists, depends so much that affects the health and wealth of the 

 human race. 



This subject has for many years, and especially during this century, engrossed 

 a very large share of the attention of the scientific world. The enthusiasm of 

 those who have ventured so much, in a region where naught of individual profit 

 could be an inducement, and the sole motive could only be "the good of man- 

 kind," is worthy of our highest regard and admiration. 



Congress has, at different times and in different ways, given the sanction and 

 encouragement of the Government of the United States to expeditions and ex- 

 plorations into this region, and always, as your committee believe, with the ap- 

 probation of the people, and lately, with singular unanimity, to the expedition 

 fitted out by a distinguished, wealthy and liberal citizen of the United States, Mr. 

 .Bennett, whose vessel, the Jeannette, now under command of Commander De 



