The Botany of Iceland - 01.12.1912, Qupperneq 17

MARINE ALGAL VEGETATION
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Strömfelt’s work, as well as on Ostenfeld’s observations. The
latter mainly concern the littoral zone, and originate from E. Iceland
(Hólmanes), SW. Iceland (Reykjavík, Njarðvík) and S. Iceland (Staður
on the soutli side of Reykjanes).
Ostenfeld, moreover, lias given information of the sublittoral
vegetation of Myrakollur in NW. Iceland.
My own observations are drawn from various places encircling
the whole of Iceland. In E. Iceland I have especially investigated
ReruQörður, Reyðarfjörður and Seyðisfjörður, and everything which
is narrated of the algal vegetation from E. Iceland originates from
these fjords. In N. Iceland I liave examined Eyjafjörður fairly ac-
curately, from its innennost part to the submarine ridge off Hrísey,
and I have, moreover, in the course of my journey, investigated the
head of Húnaflói. When travelling by the mail steamer “Laura”
round NW. Iceland I visited all the fjords from Skutulsljörður to
Patreksfjörður. I stayed only a short time in each fjord, as I ac-
companied the boat frorn port to port, and was only able to dredge
and investigate the littoral zone in the vicinity of the towns. In SW. Ice-
land I have been at the south side of Breiðifjörður, and have dredged
along tlie stretch of coast from Röst in Hvammsfjörður to Hjallasand-
ur, and have also examined the littoral zone over a far larger area,
not only round Snæfellsnes but also in Dalasysla. Round Reykjavík
I have dredged and investigated the littoral zone many times. In S.
Iceland I have investigated the Vestmannaeyjar most thoroughly and
have, in addition, dredgedand examinedthelittoralzoneatEyrarbakki.
All remarks concerning the algal vegetation of S. Iceland are based
on observations drawn from the western part of the south coast.
The eastern part of the south coast from about Stokkseyri eastward
is, as far as I know, a sandy coast, a “desert” devoid of algal vege-
tation. I have not dredged further east than round the Vestmanna-
eyjar, but on my trip through S. Iceland in 1901 I saw very few algæ
cast ashore, which may be regarded as a sure sign that a desert lies
beyond, because, where algal vegetation exists, it is quite common,
with a landward wind, for large, often astonishingly large quantities
of algæ to be thrown up on the shore. What might not be found
then, on the south coast, where the swell of tlie Atlantic rolls up
onto the flat shore, if any algal vegetation existed further out! Nor
can it be expected that anything but a desert exists off this coast,
as the bottom consists of sand, and the coast lies exposed to the
sea, like the west coast of Jutland. Where, on the other liand, there
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