The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XII, No. 2 [‎292r] (86/154)

RUSSIAN NAVIGATORS IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN IN 1895-96.
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obstructed by ice, they turned back, and spent a week in surveying the Korsakov
group of islands and the south coast of the gulf. They also succeeded in fixing a
position on the south coast of Sibiriakov island, and carried out magnetic observa
tions there. On the conclusion of this work, they made a second attempt to enter
the open sea near Match Saleh, but were once more obliged to retire southwards
on account of the ice. They accordingly went to an anchorage at Zverevo, near
the entrance to the Gulf of Yeniseisk, situated on the west coast. Here they ex
perienced a storm of three days’ duration, and then again put to sea, hut were caught
in a second storm off Sibiriakov island, which caused them no further damage than
the loss of an anchor, though they were in some peril of being wrecked on the sand
banks off this island. On August 9 they resumed their voyage, meeting with two
floes of rotten ice drifting northward from Lake bay. Forcing their way through
these, they stood towards that part of the peninsula of Mateh Saleh visited the
previous year by the Lieut. Ovtsin. Finding a depth of only 15 feet near the
cape, they went north and then east to get more sea-room. Here they met with
a large sandy island, which they rounded by keeping to the 5-fathom limit, having
the ice-belt in sight to the northward the whole way. They coasted along this
island for 30 miles, fixed its position on the chart, and discovered that its southern
extremity, ending in a steep cape, bore a complete resemblance to the land seen,
and described by Lieut. Schwede of the s.s. Lieut. Malygin in lb93.
They now set their course for Biely island, intending to fix its position, but thick
weather and the arduous work they had before them of surveying the almost
unknown Gulf of Obi rendered further delay inexpedient; so, without waiting for
fair weather, they turned southwards and entered the wide Gulf of Obi, stretching
along the meridian for 400 miles. The navigation here was not difficult, the depth
throughout being 10 to 12 fathoms, and no ice being met with. While at anchor
off Cape Three Points, at the entrance of Tazov bay, they rode out a storm with the-
loss of only one cable.
Astronomical observations proved that the whole of the east coast of the gulf
was incorrectly placed on the chart, and required shifting 40 miles to the westward,
while the position of Cape Three Points was incorrect to the extent of 55 miles.
On reaching the southern part of the bay, they attempted to approach the mouth
of the river Nyda or Nadim, but found this impossible owing to shallows, the south
wind which had blown persistently for three weeks having driven the water to the
northward, and lowered the depth on the bar of the Obi. Four days were spent
in discovering the channel, and it was August 24 before they entered the so-called
Hamanelsky Obi, the northern channel of the delta, having previously fixed the
position of Entrance island and Cape Hamanelsky. On August 30 they arrived
at Obdorsk after a successful season’s navigation in the Arctic ocean and Gulf
The results obtained include accurate positions and definitions of the coasts of
the Gulf of Yeniseisk, Sibiriakov island, and the east side of the Gulf of Obi;
astronomical positions along the rivers Yenisei and Obi; and a continuous series
of maanetic observations from Yeniseisk to Port Dickson and along the Obi. It
was found that both sides of the Gulf of Yeniseisk, east and west of Sibiriakov
island were equally deep and free from all hidden dangers. The west coast is
more sheltered than the east, but not so accessible, except in clear weather, because
Sibiriakov island, which has to be passed at a distance of 8 mdes, lies low and
cannot be sighted in hazy weather, and is, moreover, surrounded by shoals. By
going east, navigators may run a straight course from Cape Mateh Saleh to the
North-eastern islands, and from these may pass Sibiriakov island in any weather.
The North-eastern islands, being about 200 feet above water ami \ ery steep, are