INTRODUCTION. 
15 
The part of Novaya Zemtya which is first visited by the 
walrus-hunters in spring is usually just the west coast off 
Matotschkin. 
In case unusual weather does not prevail in the regions 
in question during the course of early and mid-summer, 1878— 
for instance, very steady southerly winds, which would early 
drive the drift ice away from the coast of the mainland—I 
consider, on the grounds which I have stated above, that it 
will be safest for the expedition to choose the course by 
Matotschkin Sound. 
We cannot, however, reckon on having, so early as the begin¬ 
ning of August, open water direct to Port Dickson at the 
mouth of the Yenisej, but must be prepared to make a con¬ 
siderable detour towards the south in order to avoid the masses 
of drift ice, which are to be met with in the Kara Sea up to the 
beginning of September. The few days’ delay which may be 
caused by the state of the ice here, will afford, besides, to the 
expedition an opportunity for valuable work in examining the 
natural history and hydrography of the channel, about 200 
fathoms deep, which runs along the east coast of Novaya 
Zemlya. The Kara Sea is, in the other parts of it, not deep, but 
evenly shallow (ten to thirty fathoms), yet without being fouled 
by shoals or rocks. The most abundant animal life is found in 
the before-mentioned deep chaimel along the east coast, and it 
was from it that our two foregoing expeditions brought home 
several animal types, very peculiar and interesting in a syste¬ 
matic point of view. Near the coast the algse, too, are rich 
and luxuriant. The coming expedition ought, therefore, to 
endeavour to reach Matotschkin Sound so early that at 
least seven days’ scientific work may be done in those 
regions. 
The voyage from the Kara Sea to Port Dickson is not at¬ 
tended, according to recent experience, with any difficulty. 
Yet we cannot reckon bn arriving at Port Dickson sooner than 
from the 10th to the 15th August. In 1875 I reached this 
harbour with a sailing-vessel on the 15th August, after having 
been much delayed by calms in the Kara Sea. With a steamer 
it would have been possible to have reached the harbour, that 
year, in the beginning of the month. In 1876 the state of the 
ice was less favourable, in consequence of a cold summer and a 
prevalence of north-east winds, but even then I arrived at 
the mouth of the Yenisej on the 15th August. 
It is my intention to lie to at Port Dickson, at least for some 
hours, in order to deposit letters on one of the neighbouring 
