1. Material advantage from Arctic voyages.—2. The commercial value of the North-West and North-East Passages no longer thought of.—3. The Polar question a problem of science.—4. The increase of the safety and convenience with which the ice-navigation is now performed.—5. The means of conducting Polar expeditions perfected.—6. Sledge expeditions afford the chief hope of success.—7. Not much more to be expected from ships.—8. The route by Smith’s Sound recommended.—9. The English expedition.—10. Lieutenant Weyprecht’s plan for united scientific investigation. CHAPTER VI. POLAR EQUIPMENTS _page_ 37-46 1. Past experience to be consulted.—2. The commander.—3. Selection of the crew.—4. Discipline and pay.—5. The best men to be obtained.—6. Special qualifications.—7. The medical man.—8. An artist or photographer desirable.—9. Old ideas of equipment.—10. The greatest possible comfort necessary.—11. A table of the sizes of the vessels in various expeditions.—12. The best kind of ships.—13. The allowance of food.—14. Spirituous liquors.—15. The ship becomes a house in the winter.—16. The quarters of the men.—17. Lamps and candles.—18. Clothing of the crew.—19. Instruments and ammunition.—20. The cost of different expeditions. _THE PIONEER VOYAGE OF THE ISBJÖRN_ _page_ 49-69 1. A pioneer expedition resolved on.—2, 3. Route to the east of Spitzbergen.—4. The _Isbjörn_ chartered for the service.—5. Attempts to gain information on the probable state of the ice.—6. An unfavourable ice-year predicted.—7. The expedition leaves Tromsoe.—8. The coast of Norway described.—9. The _Isbjörn_ in the ice.—10. Seeking a harbour.—11. Cape Look-out.—12. Two ships met with.—13. In the ice.—14. The return to the ice-barrier.—15. The geological formation of the western coast.—16. Arrive at Hope Island.—17. Ice disappeared.—18. Whales abound.—19. Splendid effects of colour.—20. In a sea.—21. A run along the west coast of Novaya Zemlya.—22. Storms compel us to keep to sea.—23. Object of the voyage.—24. The Austro-Hungarian Expedition of 1872.-25. The plan of the Austro-Hungarian Expedition. _VOYAGE OF THE “TEGETTHOFF.”_ CHAPTER I. FROM BREMERHAVEN TO TROMSOE _page_ 73-77 1. The qualities requisite for a Polar navigator.—2. The crew of the _Tegetthoff_—3. The _Tegetthoff_ lifts her anchor.—4. The vessel.—5. Crossing the sea.—6. The languages spoken on board the _Tegetthoff_.—7. The officers and crew of the _Tegetthoff_.—8. Arrive at Tromsoe.—9. The first and last voyage of the _Tegetthoff_ begins. CHAPTER II. ON THE FROZEN OCEAN _page_ 78-92