Norwegian Arctic Expeditions, 1927–36

Abstract

In 1929 Adolf Hoel summarised Norwegian Arctic work in Skrifter om Svalbard og Ishavet, No. 1, “The Norwegian Svalbard Expeditions, 1906–1926”. In the recently issued No. 73 of the same series, “Report on the Activities of the Norges Svalbard-og Ishavs-undersøkelser, 1927–1936” (125 pages, photographs and map), Dr Hoel likewise summarises the work of the following decade. The format of the report is that of the earlier issue with minor modifications, including, besides summaries of the work done year by year, such interesting and miscellaneous information as the finances of the various expeditions sent out, the names of the foreign expeditions that have been helped by the N.S.I.U., and many other kindred topics. In addition there are lists and tables that show in brief a mass of information on surveys and survey methods, the ships used, the papers and maps published and so on. The major part of the new report is devoted to a chronological statement of the expeditions sent out to Svalbard and East Greenland, and of the work at home. The arrangements of the reports on both these regions is similar, and the uninitiated might imagine that the ownership of Svalbard and East Greenland is the same. Each expedition account starts with the name of the ship used and the personnel, then follows a brief narrative of the venture, and finally there is a summary of the work done. The great value of this Skrifter, No. 73, lies in the provision it makes for ready reference. It is equally simple to find out where an individual worker has been and what was his work, what ships have been used and where, what papers and maps have been published and when, as it is to read precisely what a certain expedition was able to do in a particular year.