he mapped the coast southward to Tasiusak in 65° 35' N. latitude.[1] There are, however, indications that a change is taking place. The Norwegian Walrus-hunter 'Hertha' found the ice very heavy in the past season on the coast of Franz Josef Land, and was unable to reach Cape Flora. The 'Stella Polaris' also experienced similar difficulties in the same seas; and, as will be seen, the west coast of Spitzbergen was encumbered with heavy ice, forming a great contrast to the open condition of the Greenland coast. But here also Capt. Robertson reports that the ice was accumulating, and the prevailing winds were easterly up to the time of his departing for Davis Strait on June 10th. A stoppage of the southerly drift, especially if accompanied by severe frosts cementing the pack together, would rapidly restore the normal condition of the ice, and the Greenland coast, as well as the seas to the east of Bear Island, would again be rendered unapproachable.
Now, when we consider that the presence of ice sufficiently heavy, although not too close, upon their feeding-grounds in about 75° to 79° N. latitude in the meridian of Greenwich, and again in about 73° N. and 13° W. longitude, is an absolute necessity for the well-being of the Right Whale, and that the Harp Seals haul up to whelp on the heavy ice usually found in certain well-known localities to the north-east of Jan Mayen, there seems little room for surprise that in the altered conditions which have prevailed of late years there should have been such a marked absence of both these animals. It is a question what has become of the Right Whales which formerly so abounded in the Greenland Seas: have they been totally fished out, or have
- ↑ L.c. p. 663.—The expedition met with Musk Oxen in abundance in the neighbourhood of Scoresby's Sound, and brought home one calf alive, in order to secure which, it is said, a herd of fourteen were shot down. Later on a second calf, which did not live, was obtained by the same costly process. The Walrus-hunters also brought home fourteen young ones alive; one yearling male was sent to the Hamburg Zoological Gardens, and five to Antwerp; but three of the latter died in transit. As a writer in the 'Field' of Oct. 20th observes, "it would be interesting to know how many of these harmless animals were shot down by the Norwegian hunters this season to enable them to capture the fourteen calves?" It is evident that the sooner the ice closes again on the Greenland coast, the better will be the chance of the survival of this interesting animal in that locality.
