362 Scientific Intelligence. 



John Franklin for his polar voyages while recent awards of the 

 medal have been made to Sven Hedin (1904), Sir E. Shackleton 

 (1910), Dr. J. B. Charcot (1912), Capt. R. Amundsen (1913), 

 Admiral R. E. Peary (1914), Comm. J. Tilho (1918). What 

 these explorers accomplished is too well-known to require men- 

 tion. An excellent portrait is given of Prince Bonaparte, the 

 president of the Society, to whom a gold medal (here figured) 

 was presented by the Belgian Society of Geography. The fron- 

 tispiece of this number is a portrait of the first president. Mar- 

 quis de Laplace, 1821-22. The reproduction of the cover of 

 the first number (of June, 1822) of the Society's Bulletin (oppo- 

 site p. 152) bears an interesting resemblance to that of the first 

 number of this Journal, published just four years earlier (July, 

 1818) ; this last is reproduced on p. 14 of the centennial number, 

 July, 1918 (vol.46). 



The Societe de Geographie is to be congratulated upon its long 

 and honorable career and for the important contributions it has 

 made to geographical science. 



10. A netv map of the North Pacific. — Dr. R. L. Faris, 

 acting director of the IT. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, announces 

 the completion of a new base map of the North Pacific Ocean on 

 the transverse polyconic projection, prepared by W. E. Johnson, 

 cartographer of the Survey ; it is now available for distribution. 

 It is published in clear form and convenient size (dimensions 14 

 by 41 inches) for desk use. (Map No. 3080, North Pacific Ocean, 

 scale 1:20,000,000, price 25 cents.) The method of projection 

 employed was devised by Dr. Ferdinand Hassler, first superin- 

 tendent of the Surve^^, and was computed by C. H. Deetz, the 

 Survey cartographer. 



This map is designed primarilj^ as a base on which statistical 

 data of various special kinds may be shown. In consequence of 

 this purpose only features of major importance are shown on it 

 and these features are emphasized to an extent not possible on a 

 map which contains the vast amount of detail usually included. 

 In addition to the foregoing specific value this map is of general 

 interest at present as showing the relation between the United 

 States, its possessions, and the Far East and as including those 

 areas around which present problems in the North Pacific Ocean 

 are centered. It represents the acme of scientific precision com- 

 bined with simple practical utility. It extends from New York 

 and Panama to Singapore and Calcutta, from Alaska and Siberia 

 to the Hawaiian Islands and includes a part of South America 

 and a portion of Australia. Through its lateral center it extends 

 over 180°, or more than half-way around the earth. 



The distinctive feature of the map is that the localities men- 

 tioned are pictured in practically their true relation as to dis- 

 tances, areas, and comparative angular direction of coast line. 



