TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE OP AUGUST 9, 1896. 
Another observation, which it was very important to make, was to note the 
presence or absence of indications of carbon and other substances in the corona. For 
this observation a 6-inch telescope, giving a small bright image, and a spectroscope 
with a silvered glass grating, were provided. 
To supplement the work of the photographic spectroscopes, a number of prisms and 
small slit spectroscopes were taken out for use by such assistants as might be 
available. 
When it was ascertained that an almost unlimited number of helpers was forth¬ 
coming, the programme of the expedition was extended so as to include records ot as 
many as possible of the attendant phenomena, and sketches of the corona, with or 
without the disks introduced by Professor Newcomb in 1878 to protect the eye from 
the glare of the inner corona. 
Selection of a Station. 
Leaving Hammerfest on July 23rd, the “ Volage” proceeded to the Varanger Fjord, 
and, after twelve hours’ delay on account of fog, arrived off Kio Island on the evening 
of July 24th. The observers, and a surveying party of officers and men under the 
command of Lieut. Martin, E.N., were landed here, with tents and other requisites 
for camping out, while the ship went on to Yaclso for mails and provisions, and to 
make inquiries of the Governor as to. the local meteorological conditions. 
The exploring party first landed on an island in Bras Havn. On July 25th the 
weather was so bad that little progress was made, but towards evening the island of 
Kib was visited and several possible sites were marked out. On the following 
morning' another visit to Kib Island resulted in the final selection of a site, and the 
places for the various instruments were provisionally prepared. 
H.M.S. “Volage” returned on the evening of July 26th, and operations were 
seriously commenced on the following morning, leaving very nearly a clear fortnight 
for preparations. 
The island of Kib lies nearly north of Bras Havn, at a distance of about a mile 
and a quarter. It is but small, and consists chiefly of moiitonneed gneiss rocks, 
which are in many places covered with peat to the average depth of a foot. AVith 
the willing help of bluejackets, the actual site was levelled and covered with pebbles 
from the beach, to minimise the ill effects of the soddened peat. 
There was a perfectly clear horizon in all necessary directions, and a sea horizon to 
the north of east, where the eclipsed sun would be visible. 
The nearest safe anchorage for the ship was Bras Havn, so that the observers and 
working parties had to travel by boats between Bras Havn and Kib Island every 
day. The inconvenience of this was greatly reduced by the tents which had been 
lent by the War Department, in which the observers could rest and take their meals 
as occasion required. 
The latitude of the observing station was 69° 54’ 55" N., and the longitude 
B 2 
