Volume 4, 1951 - The Arctic Circle - Home

Yukon: Rampart House
Newfoundland: St. Anthony
The main objectives of the investigations were to
continue the studies of the. distribution, relative abundance,
and ecology of northern biting flies begun in 1947 (see
Circular Vol. l (1948) pp. 5-6 and 67; and Vol. J (1950)
pp. 55-6), and to collect material for the Canadian National
Collection of Insects as well as specimens for the Division
of Botany's collection of plants. Approximately 125,000
insects and 7,000 plants were obtained. These include significant
distributional extensions of many species, as well
as some new species and subspecies.
The Alaskan investigations were made at the request
of the officers of the Arctic Health Research Center of the
United States Public Health Service, and of the Office of
the Surgeon General, U.S. Army. The valuable assistance
given by these officers is greatly appreciated. ln addition
to the biting fly studies, these investigations supplemented
the earlier entomological work of the Russians, particu1arly
that of Graf Mannerheim in 1853, and of the Harriman Alaska
Expedition in 1899.
The investigations conducted at Rampart House, Coppermine,
and Bathurst lnlet supplemented those of the Canadian
Arctic Expedition of 1913-8, &nd the Fifth Thule Expedition
of 1922-4.
The Rampart House party was flown from Dawson on April 5
in an aircraft that carried only sufficient equipment and
supplies calculated to lest the party until early June, when
the balance of their rations and scientific equipment was to
arrive by boat from Dawson. As they approached the abandoned
settlement of Rampart House, the carburetor on the aircraft
froze and a forced landing was made three miles from their
destination. The motor of the aircraft was started after
considerable difficulty, and the pilot deoided to return to
Dawson immediately, leaving the party and their supplies on
the spot. Three days were required to move the supplies through
the deep snow in sub-zero temperature to the abandoned settlement.
Laboratory and living quarters were established in the
well-known house of the late Dan Cadzow, previous arrangements
for this having been made with Mrs. Rachael Cadzow through the