These facts, together with the water sky observed to the north of Cape Morris Jesup in 1900, strongly indicated the existence of deep water between Greenland and the North Pole.
Though few in number, the soundings taken in 1909 between Cape Columbia and the Pole are of great interest to geographers.
The accompanying diagram shows the results obtained.
[Illustration] These soundings prove the existence of a continental shelf covered by about 100 fathoms of water and whose edge, north of Cape Columbia, lies about 46 sea miles from the shore.

In latitude 84 deg.

29' the depth was found to be 825 fathoms, while in latitude 85 deg.

23' it was found to be only 310 fathoms.

This diminution in depth is a fact of considerable interest in reference to the possible existence of land to the westward.
The three soundings taken between the point of comparatively shallow water and the Pole failed to reach bottom.