New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-08

out OF a sky Of amethyst, and the iandScape
looks much as IL the whole mass OF the ow,ss
Aims had been sunk in the Polar sea to polhs
above the level of tree growth. the supinei seN
valleys become fords the glaciersLIar n nrs,
than any on the Aps-slide down 10 these ho.u
and break off in icebergs; ptarmigah' or uue
grouse according to Mr. Abel Chapman iaui'
the lower range and in place OF chamois, rcilr
deer are found in most of the valleys Inc rem
deer are larger than those or Norway. 80.
either they or the grouse subsist in the WINTER
Is one of the mysteries of animal life In the isi
and; but the fact that they do survive SHOWS
that we not yet acquainted with the ih''~
of vegetable life in SpitZbergen
POLAR BEAR AND WALRUS HUNTING.
The area of the islands is too large and TOO NJ
tie known to speak with any certainty vi III
capacity as q sporting reserve; but IL IL hno"
that game Is numerous in some parts, anu VI =
kind and among surroundhgs enl, heas and
to ordinary experience The poiar pear 10
warus have been much killed down, put VIII
the icepack and drift ice touch the land, WIN
them come the SEAL the polar bear ana tne
waIrus to restock the island. Ten years ago
fifty polar bears shot by one hunter III
Uinlopen Straits, between the two main lSlanoS
The chance of shooting two or three polar bears:
Of hunting the walrus, and the certainty u
shooting reindeer under the Arctic sun on ar
uninhabited shore, offered within eleven DAYS
voyage Of London, have no parallel IN any pait
of the globe. 1t is probable that before long
measures will be taken to preserve the ea1Ie,
and, though this will not extend 10 tne Po'naa
bears portraits Of which, engaged In DUNG inc
| heads of PROSTATE gentlemen voyagers, or lay
| ing a friendly paw on their arms previous "
| making a meal off of them. lend sucn iiVeiy -,
| terest to De Veer's account OF the carry uisco'
erers' voyages, the increase or reinueer anu
| seals is certain to lead to an increase IN the
| numbers of the animal that preys upon mem.
| Ice fowl swarm in certain portions or tne
| coast especially in Ice Sound, Bell Sound, forh
| Sound and the Alkefjeld. near Lomme Bay.
| The three former are all on the coast OF "es'
Spitzbergen to the south Of the hotel in Az,
| vent Bay Here are the home of the ''rotcnes,
| and Of the most thoroughly Arctic OF all pros;
| the ivory gull There Is an immense coiony VI
| little auks in Magdalen Bay, to the north OF
| the West Island and the fiat isets IN Ice
Sound thousands of cider duck breed
The past value and numbers OF game anu
| fowl may be gathered from the history or the
islands, so far as human interest has been con-
| cerned with them. Right whale were so huher-
| GUS in the seventeenth century that ten tnou-
| sand whalers' crews used to meet ANNUALLY on
the coast during the summer In loJ. tne
Dutch whalsrs alone caught LOU rIgnt wna rs
| The remains of their houses still exist on the
shores OF "Smeeringberg" the old whalers head
| quarters In time the right whales were nearly
| killed off and Spitzbergen was left to the poiar
| hears Then Russian hunters sailed thither and
| killed such numbers or reindeer, "aituS anu
| Arctic fox that these grew scarce ana tne rus
IS;i, the game recovered, the Norwegians be-
| gan to visit the island, partly Tor sport, party
for profit and it is due to the reports clrculated
| by them that the NaSteraalen5 Company or
| ganiZed their weekly expeditions to the lslandS.
FISHING AND ALPINE CLIMBING
| Salmon are found in the rivers and fords. but
| go far they have only been netted, as the glacier
| water is too muddy for using the fly. But other
| whales than right whales still found on the
| coast and one whaling station is maintained
| This onens a chance for the most dangerous and
| exciting of all sea sports For the Alpine
| climber there is endless opportunity on the ice
| covered peaks and enormous glaciers; ana ior
| tho botan mist and geologist there 10 species
| of Towering plants many of which are not
found elsewhere. and at the entrance OF
| no :
est In the world, and all this, as we may again
point out within eleven days voyage from III
| bury Docks: a new climate, a nightless summer
| lasting from April 20 to August ~, a new FAUNA
| and fora and new forms Of sport soon we
may expect a regular service to the Islands ana
! movable headquarters. in large steamers whiGn
will act as large hotels or receiving-ShlpS. 10
| them will be attached smaller steamers, steam
! launches boats and subsidiary huts on shore
with guides, fishermen and hunters, ana new
| polar playground will be added to Europe.