166 
Longitude, by Arnold's chronometer* 
No. 1981, taken on shore by the 
same means . . . 24° 28 ; 0"E. 
Variation by same means . 11 4 OW. 
Range of thermometer on board from 70° to 75? 
Range of thermometer on shore 75 80 
High water on full and change, at three hours; 
rise and fall 8 feet. I found it is very much influ¬ 
enced by the wind, and when it blows strongly from 
the N.W. it rises considerably higher. 
The town of Hammerfest is situated on the 
island of Qualoon, 25 Danish miles in extent, and 
is one of the departments of West Finmark, which 
contains 25,000 souls. This province is divided in¬ 
to parishes, each having its priest, and over the 
whole is a bishop, to enforce the duties of the Lu¬ 
theran religion. There are 200 regular soldiers 
scattered in different quarters of the province, com¬ 
manded by a Captain, who governs the whole coun¬ 
try. About 80 houses compose the town of Ham¬ 
merfest, with about 200 inhabitants; with one 
church, one hospital, a custom-house, and some 
public and private stores. The custom-house has 
regular established officers appointed from Copen¬ 
hagen. The Captain of the port is under the same 
appointment, and wears the uniform of the Danish 
navy. 
“ The principal trade of this place is in furs and 
fish, which are all sent into Russia. The extent of 
the imports and exports I was not able accurately 
to learn, but suppose them, in time of peace, to be 
