The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-20

NAoPluS Two Dedrs were VA sAA~ $1,000
below. They shortly after killed-one by Lieu
tenant Brusewiz. the other by Captain Johannesen.
The southern grass grown slopes of the island were
covered by vegetation rather rich in species and
the botanists reaped an abundant harvest. Besides
auks and lar several mountain owls. large gulls and
Suillemots also SEEN or insects species OF
staphylinus and three specimens of chrysomela
species were collected besides some dlptera podures
and arachndes. But my hope OF finding abundant
petrcfactions in the limestone beds frustrated
Only single beemnite found indicating that
the island is composed of the strata deposited dur
ing the secondary period which occupied large parts
of the plain land of Northwestern Siberia.
WATER.
Impatient to proceed further we again weighed
anchor at ten o'clock p M. We are now on the 7Sd
and 74th degrees north latitude. and the nights begin
to grow darker which obliges Lieutenant Palander to
use great caution in navigation. particularly as the
coast is indistincty defined the chart and the
water outside is shallow that during the last part
of our journey to the mouth of the Lena River
we have had for the most part depth of only
5.S fathoms. On the other hand, since the even
ing of the I'D we have been favored with magnifi-
cent weather and entirely free from ice. To
judge from the experience we have now gained the
northern coast of Siberia cannot be obstructed
with ice during tho last part of the summer
than the White Sea in the middle of the summer.
The explanation, 1 have already pointed out in
the plan of the expedition, is to be found in the
quantity of warm water which the large rivers of
Siberia empty into the during the summer.
These phenomena better explained by the hydro
graphical examinations made during the expedition.
INTERESTING DETAILS.
Independent of the ve-ifcatons of the tempcra-
ture the surface of the water which made, to-
thar virh ,ria al ,1,Sar.
vations. six times every twenty -four hours,
fed the sadness and the temperature of the
water ut different depths. At these exami-
nations which made chiefly by Licutcnants Pa
lander and Bove. the haat-isolating apparatus for
raising water, invented by Professor Eknan, was
employed. 1t works exceedingly well, at least at
lesser depths where we had opportunity to try it.
The results as follows:-
At depth of at least thirty meters the temperature
at the bottom varies between 10 deg and LII
deg. c. The weight Of the water is there 102G deg
to 1.027 deg corresponding to sadness little less
than that of the water in the Atlantic Ocean, But at
the surface the temperature has been exceedingly
variable f. !. + 10 deg. at Dickson's Harbor, / ga
deg. little south Of the Taimyr Sound + 0s deg.
between the drift ice jus. outside that sound, 80
deg. outside the Taimyr Creek -:-0.1 deg. at Cape
1bcueiJuSkU ucS OUTSIDE the CuatuuSa LIZ
deg. up to So deg. between Chatauga and Lena
The weight Of the water at the surface has never
exceeded 1.O23 deg. in wide channel near
the coast it was in most cases only 1Ol
deg. or below. The last figure corresponds
to mixture of about one part of water and two
parts river water. These figures prove indisputaby
that warm and slightly salt surface current is
running from the mouths of the Yenisei and Obi first
along the coast toward northeast, and afterward
under the influence Of the rotation Of the earth
toward east. All similar currents produced by
Chatauga. Anabar. Olonek. Lena. JANA Indigtka and
Kolymn. all of which empty their waters. more or
less heated during the hot summer Of Siberia. into
the Arctic Sea- rendering it for q short time of
the year almost free from ice along the coasts We
made correct estimate of these conditions when we
planned the present expedition. Until every
thing has happened as we had expected. May our
calculations still hold good, that this very
autumn may have the JOY Of sending home telegram
from some harbor the coasts Of the Pacific Ocean
All the members of the expedition enthusiastic
at the prospect and each OF them labors his posi-
ton for its realization. Yours, respectfully and
gratefully, A. L. NORDENSKIOLD.
[posTscRIPT.l
TWELVE MINUTES NORTH OF HE MoUTH)
OF THE LENA RIVER. August y, 1878.
1t was originally my intention to anchor at the
mouth Of the Lena. but fair wind and ice-free sea
offer so excellent an opportunity to proceed that
feel have right to neglect it. We are. therefore,
now separating from the steamer Lena in the night
between the 9th and the 2Sth to sail direct to the
Fadijew Island. where intend to remain for
days. From there the journey will be continued
direct to Behring Strait and Japan. The prospects
of success the best possible. All right board
The vessel in excellent condition. The supply Of
coal sufficient. A. E n.