The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1873-06-28

out houclng them IN one direction or an
other.
The rise and fall 9th tides were care.
fully observed. the average being 81 ieet-
The greatest depth OF water noted was 100
iathoms The existence ola constant cur
rent southwark was noticed by The expedi-
ton, its rapidity varying with the season
aud locality.
The winter temperature was found to
be much milier than was expected, the
minimum being s. degrees IN January, al
though March proved to he the coolest
mouth.
The prevailing winds were from the
northeast, although there were occas onal.
ly violent tempests from the southwest.
Light was noticed. however, from ali
points OF the compass Rain was occasion
ally observed. only on the land, however.
the precipitation presenting itself over the
ce In the form OF snow. During the sum
mer the extent OF both Towards ami eeva-
tlons were bare OF SNOW aud ice. excepting
patches here and there in the shade OF
the rocks. The soil during this period
was covered with a more or less dense veg
citation OF moss, with winch several arctic
plants were interspersed, some o ( them Of
considerable beauty, hut entirely without
scent and many small willows, scarcely
reaching the dignity OF shrubs. The rocks
noticed were OF schisrore OF slate nature.
aud in some instances contained fossil
plants, specimens of which were collected
Distinct evidence Of former glaciers were
seen IN localities now bare of ice, these in
dication7 consisting in the occurrence 10
terminal and lateral mora.nes.
Animal HE was 10 md t. abound. musk
oxen being short Mt intervals throughout
Tue winter, their food consisting OF the moss
and other vegetation obtained during the
season 10y scrapng off the snow with their
hoois Wolves, also bears, foxes. and
other animals. were repeatedly observed
Geese, ducks, and other water fowl. inclu-
dung plover aud other wading birds, aboun.
ded during the summer, although the spec
cles OF land birds were comparatively few,
including. however, large numbers Of ptarmi-
gan, or snow partridge. No mention is
made 10y the rescued party OF the occur
renee OF hawks and owls No fish were
seen. although the net and lines were ire
qnentiy called into pliy in an attempt to
obtain them. The waters. however. were
found to an extraordinary degree with
marine invertebrates including Jelly fish
ard s'rlmp- 1t was believed by the party
That the seals depended en- the latter for
Their principal subsistence, the seals them
selves being very abundant Numerous
insects were observed also, especially sever
al species OF butterflies, specimens OF which
were collected; also flies, bees, and insects
Of like character
The geographical result of the Polaris
expedition, so tar a. they can now be- azcer
tanned from the testimony OF Messrs TYSON.
Meyer, AMI their comrades, may he sum.
med mp briefly as follows:
The open polar sea laid down hv Kane
and Hayes Is found to be in reality a sound
of considerable extent formed bv the some
what abrupt expansion OF Kennedy chan
mel 10 the uorthward, and broken nv Lady
tranklIns hay on the west, and ON the
east 10y n large inlet twenty miles wide at
the opening. aud certainly expanding far
inland To- the southeast Its length was
accertalnei, and Mr. Meyer thin>s il NAV
Ice, IN act extending till it communicates
with the Francis Joseph sound oi the Ger
mania and llausa expedition, aud with il
defining the northern limits OF Greenland
The inlet was called the Southern Fiord. -
North OF 1t on the same side is the indrnla-
ton OF the shore, called Polaris BAY hv
Captain Hall, where the Polaris wintrrvd
il latitude 81 s. north
The northern point of the bay was nam
ed Cape Iupton. Its southern points vet
without name. From Care Lupton thr
land tends 10 the northeast, and form the
eastern shore o' q now channel from TWEEN
ty-five to thirty miles wide, op,ninc ont
NJ the sound above mentioned, to which
Captain Hall, ~ has already been stated.
gave the name of Rohesou str ts The
western shore IS these straits. north of
Griunell Land is also nameIe>- North
east Of Cape lupou, 10 latitude Sl.j7. g.,
"a deep inlet, which Captain Hall c,lici
Newman hay. naming j northern moi
Cape BrevOort-. and its southern hluf
summer Heailand From Cape Brevoort
the north end of the land continues 10
Repul-c harhor, ~ latitude Sl.l. the hirh-
e~t northern position reached tv. land dur
ing his expedition From an elevation
of LOO feet AZ Repulsc baruor. on the east
side Of RObe-O1 strait, the laui CON-
unues northeast to the end ofthc.e straits
and thence east aud southeast until lost
IN no" distance il- vanishing point hearing
south of east from the place OF observation.
NO other land was visible tp the northcl 81.
bat land was seen ON the west cot-t. OK
'end NJ north ~ ar ~ the eve couli reach.
rnd apporantv terminating in hfadlaud
near latitude - degrees NORM.
NJ. Never also states that directly To-
Zoe north be observed, or a brig. day.
from the.clevatiou ucntirned. a line anna
nily ctcu'ar in form, which was thought
hv other observers % he the land. but
which Doe supposed to nd cite open vatcr.
Bc-itc- a-ceriainiu. accurately thc cou-
diti'n ami extent of What was before
supposed TO be go open Polar sea. ii-cov-
eung the southern ford 10 the southeast
and kob..on straits 10 the north. with any
other wide expau.e Of water Eayo,,J % ,..r