The Nome nugget., 1938-01-17
Soviet Polar Camp Described In
 Detail as Weather Bureau Men
 Drift With Ice in Arctic Ocean

increase the number considara- ply. We have become so accus- toned to our quarters that we even find them spacious.
 Close Quarters
 Each of us has mastered his 'catechism" of getting dressed. I, for instance, have the following rules: when sitting up in your bag, don't bump your head aga inst the corner of the table:When putting on your shirt, don't upset the ink-well and Shirshov's bot ties; when you stand up, look out for the sharp screws in the roof; while putting on your trou- serS, don't kick the lamp over with your right foot, or knock Shirshov'S desk out of his hands with your left. Each of us has his own desk-a piece of veneer.
 In the middle of the vast ex- panses of the Arctic, our dwell ing" is confined to three square meters. That is all that remains after disposing of our things. We do not smell the kerosene or the odor of damp deer hide. We have long become accustomed to deer hair. Our doctor assured us that a smalloWed hair may cause ap- pendicitis. Since then We have begun to fish large Jumps of hair out of the soup, but do not pay attention to smaller quantities.
 Interior Layout
 The table of the transmitting Station is to the right of the en- trance to our ''home." Beneath it are the batteries and instru- ments. At the left of the entr- ance box hangs on the walls which we proudly call our "buf- fet." On the floor the Shirshov's boxes with samples of water, and on them-several soot-covered pots containing a simple dinner. The chronometers also have ac- comodated themselves there. Two rows of cots take up the walls, from end to end.
 A worn-out portfolio hangs from a string at the foot of Shir- shows bed. We look at it with admiration. Here are preserved the secrets of the North Pole. 1t represents the realization of the dream of humanity. For us it means a half year of tense living, many hours of difficult, physical work. We'd rather lose our heads than that little old port folio.
 Between the beds is a shaky table used as a laboratory, A piece of tin is suspended above the table, to protect the roof from the lamp. It is my duty 10 covsr this piece of tin with resonant, frozen sausages. We have out done the Moscow GaStronom (delicatessen store-Ed) we have hot sausages at any time of the day. Hot Sausag-s have aroused certain associations in Fyodorov's mind, as a result of which there has appeared above Shirshov's laboratory, which greatly reSem- bles a Mosselprom (confection- cry stand, the sign: "No Beer
 Each of us has his own corner where he keeps all kinds of trl- fies. Papanin has an especially large amount. He sleeps on string, wire, notebooks, boxes & books. It is necessary to have them all at hand.
 During the day the lamps are in the middle of the room, and we arrange ourselves around them, like e-worshippers. It is strictly forbidden to touch the glass chimneys of the lamps. That is the prerogative of the head priest" Papanin. Do not ask how many lamp glasses remain. Like an efficient "housekeeper," he'll say 10, even if there are 15. The small amount of wall space that is free is covered with wea- pons, flashlights, and bundles of books. Our pharmaceutical de- partnent" is a small box hanging lopsided on cord. ShirshoV |