The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-05-28

acquisition Of q few Fragments af the RagT
worth naming.
N. e. NoRDENsKJoLp.
BEHRING'S STRAIT, April 6, 1879.
SECOND REPORT.
THE wINTERTNG ovER-voYAGE TO YoKo.
HAMA - EXPLORATIONS IN BEHRING'S
Q, 1879.
To DR.. Oscar Dickson, Gothenberg SDeden
My last report is to April list. When
began its composition | was in hopes the
old and stormy Arctic winter which, with
out Interruption bad prevailed the previous
months, should then at last give way, il
not to actual spring, yet to mllder weather.
But it did not happen. We had still in the
month of April tenn perature Of $50, and
an average temperature Of -1So 81; the air
dnrng the month was never above 40 O..
May came In with temperature of $40
The 3i the thermometer showed $40 81.
and only once during the floral month in a
few hours thawing weather we had 10 81.
The beginning Of June was also very cold.
Up to the 18th the thermometer gave only
an exceptional reading above zero (C). On
the Sd 1t stood 40 81, with a middle
temp ,rature for the "a hours of go A..
Still on the 18th it stood 10 g. in the
shade; but this day, at noon, We had a
sudden change. Subsequent to this date
the thermometer has only exceptionally
gone below zero. The thawing Of the snow
now proceeded with such rapidity that at
the close of the moRth the earth was near
ly bare. Already, two weeks before,
south wind had opened broad. ice-free
channel, which extended from NV TO Sc
to within about two kilometres from shore;
but the Vega was still surrounded by co
herent ice field i've feet thick, though this
was traversed by fractures. In the begin
ming Of July the Toe became almost free OF
snow. Weeks before it had been covered
with slush and surface water to such de-
gree that 1t was with difficulty it could BE-
traversed, even in level places. The roads
on the low lands we're now obstru ctei by
deep snow rills and ponds formed Of snow
water in hollows, and by the 25th of June
the fresh water laganes were stir TOR -ruv-
most part frozen to the bottom. while the
breaking up Of the ice was active 10 heir
affiuents; and such a quantity of water h I'd
accumulated on the lagune Joe along the
shore that it could be navigated with fiat
boats. BY July the 10Th the ocean ice was
full of perforations, but still strong enough
to permit passage between the steamer and
the shore.
On the 18th the annual ice (not ground
ice) had loosened around the steamer, yet
1t was still SO strong that it seemed at
least two weeks must pass away before 1t
would clear. was certain of this and
for an absence of several days
with the steam sloop, on an excursion in
the open channel along the coast. to some
tentages (tent villages) situated towards
Behring's Strait where, according to intel
ligence brought Us BY the natives some
American vessels had recently anchored.
This excursion was prevented in quite |
manner, the ice surrounding |
the Vega beginning to move. This was
July 18th at 1 80 p. m. Two hours later
1t. Palander had steam up, and the same
day, at 3:45 p. NJ. the Vega continued her
voyage perfectly uninjured by the winters
cold and unhindered BY ice, parting from
quarters where We had been imprisoned |
pa days, or nearly ton months.
SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATIONS AND INvEsTI-
CATIONS.
The fact Of the Ice breaking up so late,
put our patience on q severe trial but the
Involuntary detention it caused us at the
north coast Of the Tschuktsc Peninsula, at
! time while the ground was for the most
part bare Of snow, has given as opportuni-
y for more thorough study of it's natural
history than otherwise could have been pos.
'ible. Ia the present case, the question
Was not only to demonstrate the existence
u moro or less numerously Iepi ssented
'orms Of the fauna and hora in this hither-
% unknown country, and to explain the
fundamental features of its geological
structure, but of far deeper scientific sig
,ificance here present themselves to the IN
.estigator (explorer).
On the Asistio side of Behring's Strait
W came upon tract Of country where nu-
nerous tribes Of the old worlds animals
md plants with natural instinct to spread
oward the northeast, have been checked
On the American side similar disposition
0 check ID observable, preventing tho new
worlds animals and plants with natural in
tinct to migrate toward the northwest from
GLOWING their instinct. Here then We haye
be bridge only cut BY = narrow strait upon
vhich animals and plants, and probably
lse man, have migrated from one hemis-
here TO the other; and, consequently, the
arrow Behring's Strait ID the only inms-
iats (direct connecting link bstwesn the
NO grand oceans Of the globe. These re-
'tioes give to ths labon OF the ethnograp-
I, the BIOLOGIST the botanist, tho geologist,
nd the photographer, in these regions, :
pecial significance. {
Arc tbs lands. 6anking Behring's Strait
30 vestigss. of bridge, unbroken BY any
raft onoe connecting the old and the nov
orldsf Or arc they tbs beginning Of fu-
lrs complete Junction. II
2. r ths Siberian Polar 6ea m ancient |
land - which has but recently assumed
. character Of salt watsr ocean. o. 10 IT I
, ancient gulf Of the Pacific Ocean. in pro- |
- of bsing ioclosed and transfoss,sd into i
] Inland seaf Ii
.. To what sztsnt dos tho narrow .osDd ! l