MARINE ALGAL VEGETATION 



Stromfelt's work, as well as on Ostenfeld's observations. The 

 latter mainly concern the littoral zone, and originate from E. Iceland 

 (Holmanes), SW. Iceland (Reykjavik, NjarQvfk) and S. Iceland (Sta3ur 

 on the south side of Reykjanes). 



Ostenfeld, moreover, has given information of the sublittoral 

 vegetation of Myrakollur in NW. Iceland. 



My own observations are drawn from various places encircling 

 the whole of Iceland. In E. Iceland I have especially investigated 

 BerufjorSur, Rey5arfj6r3ur and Sey5isfjor5ur, and everything which 

 is narrated of the algal vegetation from E. Iceland originates from 

 these fjords. In N. Iceland I have examined Eyjafj6r5ur fairly ac- 

 curately, from its innermost part to the submarine ridge off Hrisey, 

 and I have, moreover, in the course of my journey, investigated the 

 head of Hunafloi. When travelling by the mail steamer "Laura" 

 round NW. Iceland I visited all the fjords from SkutulsfjorSur to 

 PatreksfjorSur. I stayed only a short time in each fjord, as I ac- 

 companied the boat from port to port, and was only able to dredge 

 and investigate the littoral zone in the vicinity of the towns. In SW. Ice- 

 land I have been at the south side of Brei5ifjor5ur, and have dredged 

 along the stretch of coast from Rost in HvammsfjorSur to Hjallasand- 

 ur, and have also examined the littoral zone over a far larger area, 

 not only round Snaefellsnes but also in Dalasysla. Round Reykjavik 

 I have dredged and investigated the littoral zone many times. In S. 

 Iceland I have investigated the Vestmannaeyjar most thoroughly and 

 have, in addition, dredged and examined the littoral zone at Eyrarbakki. 

 All remarks concerning the algal vegetation of S. Iceland are based 

 on observations drawn from the western part of the south coast. 

 The eastern part of the south coast from about Stokkseyri eastward 

 is, as far as I know, a sandy coast, a "desert" devoid of algal vege- 

 tation. I have not dredged further east than round the Vestmanna- 

 eyjar, but on my trip through S. Iceland in 1901 I saw very few algae 

 cast ashore, which may be regarded as a sure sign that a desert lies 

 beyond, because, where algal vegetation exists, it is quite common, 

 with a landward wind, for large, often astonishingly large quantities 

 of alga? to be thrown up on the shore. What might not be found 

 then, on the south coast, where the swell of the Atlantic rolls up 

 onto the flat shore, if any algal vegetation existed further out! Nor 

 can it be expected that anything but a desert exists off this coast, 

 as the bottom consists of sand, and the coast lies exposed to the 

 sea, like the west coast of Jutland. Where, on the other hand, there 



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