(Regular barometric readings were taken at 7 A. M., 2 P. M., and 9 P. M. daily) Mean for 27 days in August, 1905 29.920 inches of Hg „ „ „ „ „ September, 1905 29.848 „ „ „ „ „ „ October, 1905 30.122 „ „ „ „ „ „ November, 1905 29.897 „ „ „ „ „ „ December, 1905 29.796 „ „ „ „ „ „ January, 1906 30.012 „ „ „ „ „ „ February, 1906 29.955 „ „ „ „ „ „ March, 1906 30.035 „ „ „ „ „ „ April, 1906 29.801 „ „ „ „ „ „ May, 1906 30.245 „ „ „ „ „ „ June, 1906 29.816 „ „ „ first 6 days in July, 1906 29.664 „ MONTHLY MEANS OF THERMOMETRIC READINGS AT CAPE SHERIDAN, 1905–1906 (Regular thermometric readings were taken daily at 7 A. M., 2 P. M., and 9 P. M.) Mean for 27 days in August, 1905 +36.86 °F. „ „ „ „ „ September, 1905 +12.66 „ „ „ „ „ „ October, 1905 –8.40 „ „ „ „ „ „ November, 1905 –17.24 „ „ „ „ „ „ December, 1905 –21.83 „ „ „ „ „ „ January, 1906 –29.55 „ „ „ „ „ „ February, 1906 –31.14 „ „ „ „ „ „ March, 1906 –32.28 „ „ „ „ „ „ April, 1906 –0.40 „ „ „ „ „ „ May, 1906 +19.34 „ „ „ first 17 days in June, 1906 +32.18 „ CHAPTER XV REPORT OF COMMANDER PEARY, ON WORK DONE IN THE ARCTIC IN 1898–1902 _President Jesup, and Members of the Peary Arctic Club:_ In January, 1897, I promulgated my plan for an extended scheme of Arctic exploration, having for its main purpose the attainment of the North Pole. During the spring of 1897, your President, Morris K. Jesup, became interested in the matter, and suggested the idea of the present Club. His example was followed by other prominent men, and late in May, through the persistent personal efforts of Chas. A. Moore, backed by letters from these and other influential men, five years leave of absence was granted me by the Navy Department, to enable me to carry out my plans. It being too late that season to get the main expedition under way, the summer of 1897 was devoted to a preliminary trip to the Whale Sound region, to acquaint the Eskimos with my plan for the coming year, and set them to work laying in a stock of skins and meat. These objects were successfully accomplished, and in addition the great “Ahnighito” meteorite of Melville Bay, the largest known meteorite in the world, was brought home.