A N E W S B U L L E T I N

published b y t h e NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC SOCIETY

VANDA STATION.

Vol. 5, No. 6 54th ISSUE JUNE, 1969 / E I W W AUSTRALIA WELLINGTON

NEW ZEALAND

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DRAWN BY DEPARTMENT OF LANDS * SURVEY WELLINGTON. NEW ZEALAND. AUG 1969 3rd EDITION (Successor to "Antarctic News Bulletin") Vol. 5, No. 6 54th ISSUE JUNE, 1969

Editor: A. S. Helm, M.B.E., M.A., 37 Worcester Street, Wellington, 5. New Zealand. Assistant Editor: Mrs R. H. Wheeler. Business Communications, Subscriptions, etc., to: Secretary, New Zealand Antarctic Society, P.O. Box 2I10, Wellington, N.Z.

CONTENTS

N e w Z e a l a n d A n t a r c t i c N e w s 2 5 4 New Zealand Antarctic Programme for 1969/70 256 Victoria Scientists Make Key Fossil Discoveries in Antarctic 258 A u s t r a l i a n A n t a r c t i c N e w s 2 6 0 A m e r i c a n A n t a r c t i c N e w s 2 6 3 B r i t i s h A n t a r c t i c S u r v e y N e w s 2 7 0 N e w s f r o m S o u t h A f r i c a 2 7 1 Belgian Antarctic Expedition 272 Glaciological Work at Vanda: By A. J. Heine 276 N e w s o f t h e S u b - A n t a r c t i c I s l a n d s 2 7 8 Lake Vanda Meteorological Programme: By Don Thompson 280 University of Canterbury Antipodes Island Expedition: By John W a r h a m ' 2 8 2 A Preliminary Report on the Snares Island Expedition 1968/69: B y J o h n W a r h a m 2 8 3 Russian Antarctic Whalers: By Isoif Pikarevich 286 SCAR Working Group on Geology: By R. W. Willett 288 The Reader Writes Society News Antarctic Bookshelf ANTARCTIC June, 1969

NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC NEWS

Mrs. Young will leave for Scott New Leader at Scott Base Base early in November and within a few days will be flown to Cape The new leader at Scott Base for th*. 1969-70 season is to be Robert Bird where she will join her hus band, Dr. E. C. Young, leadr- ' ' ! Willis of Roxburgh, Central University of Canterbury i~~.~.~~ ;o. Aged 40, Mr. Willis is mar- unit, and three students from th . with four children. He was university. educated at Southbridge District The unit will work on zoological High School, Christchurch Boys' studies, primarily the behaviour of High School and Christchurch Antarctic birds. Teachers' College. An arts graduate, Mrs. Young, A school teacher, Mr. Willis has whose husband is a senior lecturer taught at Southbridge District High in zoology at the university and School, Rakaia, Olematata District warden of Rolleston House, will be High School, Benmorc, and since a field assistant doing technical 1966 at Roxburgh District High work and general housekeeping pre School. viously done by university under He has been an active member of graduates. the New Zealand Alpine Club for a Mrs. Young was thrilled when she number of years, during which he heard of her selection on June 24. has undertaken many major climbs She said she had done a lot of and been involved in search and tramping, but no mountaineering, rescue operations throughout the but did not think mountaineering Canterbury/Otago area. He is very experience would be needed as Cape active in many sports, particularly Bird, wbere her husband had been Rugby which he has refereed in before, was rocky. mid-Canterbury/Otago. Her selection was announced on Mr. Willis first went to Antarctica June 24 by Mr. R. B. Thomson, as a Field Party Leader in the sum Superintendent of the Antarctic mer season of 1966-67. He worked Division of the Department of Scien from Hallett Station for most of tific and Industrial Research. Until this period and also led a scientific now logistics and accommodation expedition to the top of Mount restrictions had precluded the in Erebus. clusion of women in Antarctic teams, Mr. Willis commenced duty with he said. Antarctic Division, D.S.I.R., in Wel To qualify for inclusion in scien lington on May 12 and will proceed tific teams women would have to be to Scott Base in early October to at least as well qualified as men, relieve the present Leader, Mr. R. well experienced in the outdoors, Foubisler, of Christchurch. pass psychological tests, and under take the same Antarctic training programme as men. Cape Bird, where Mrs. Young will First Lady for Scott Base be working, is the north-western extremity of Ross Island. It was Mrs. P. Young, of Christchurch, discovered and named in 1841 by will be the first New Zealand woman Admiral James Clark Ross for Lieu to work as a member of a New tenant Edward J. Bird, the senior Zealand research expedition in the lieutenant of the "Erebus," one of Antarctic. the two ships of Ross's expedition. ANTARCTIC

Cutter "Burton Island" was in Wel Will Tourists Fly To lington its commanding officer, Cap tain Bain Leland, bought a minia Antarctica? ture manufactured elk head. Air New Zealand could well be flying tourists to the Antarctic in January, He later sent this to Captain Hugh 1971, if permission is forthcoming Kelley, Commander Antarctic Sup from the United States military port activities. With it was a letter: authorities in the area. " 'Burton Island' always returns The service would be flown by goods which have been appropri DC8 jet airliners from Christchurch ated inadvertently from other to Scott Base with accommodation commands. I greatly regret the provided by a liner in McMurdo reduction in size, but shrinkage in Sound. high winds and seas is always a factor to be reckoned with." A DC8 would make the 2,400-mile journey in between four and five hours, which does not rule out the possibility of day trips. If the service does eventuate, the ANTARCTIC PLACE NAMES airline will fly between five and At its recent meeting in Wellington eight services between mid-January and mid-February to coincide with the New Zealand Antarctic Place the best of the Antarctic weather. Names Committee approved the names for 171 features in the Ross Permission has been granted by the military authorities for an in vestigation team to make an inspec tion in November. It will comprise two DC8 captains, an engineer, and two members of the Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of Trans Tapsell Foreland. port. The name was suggested to the Committee by Dr. R. A. Falla, one of its members. This is a most appropriate name indeed, for Cap Midwinter Celebrations tain Tapsell was the master of the barque "Brisk," one of the whaling Midwinter's day was celebrated for vessels based on the Enderby Settle the first time at New Zealand's new ment at Port Ross, Auckland Islands, in February 1850, Tapsell sailed tional feast. south to the Balleny Islands and Eighty miles of Antarctic darkness then westward along the 67th degree separated the four New Zealanders of south latitude as far as longitude and one American exchange scientist 143°E. Not only was this further at Lake Vanda from the 11 New south than the earlier course of Zealanders at Scott Base. Wilkes in the same sector, but it Good-will messages were swapped was so close to the now known posi with the bases of other nations tion of tbe coastline at several points spread around the continent, and that only the worst of visibility many messages were received from could have obscured sight of the friends and relatives in New Zea land. The continued bad weather land and other countries. prevented any whale hunting, and no land was seen. The voyage was briefly described Elk Disappears by Enderby at a meeting of the Royal Geographical Society in 1858, A stuffed elk head mysteriously dis and mention was then made that appeared from Scott Base recently. the log and journal of the voyage When the American Coastguard had accountably been lost. ANTARCTIC

New Zealand Antarctic Programme For 1969/70

A total of 83 New Zealand personnel will be involved in the held work during the 1969/70 summer season and for scientific ?o!nrV¥i0ns a} Scr0tt Base and Vanda Station until the spring of fnlo'/^I i scale,of activities is the same as that recommended for 1968/69 although, principally for financial reasons, Government geological and soil field activities were not implemented during the 1968/69 summer season.

PROPOSALS This will involve a wintering-over A. Scott Base party of four New Zealanders and one American exchange scientist as The studies in auroral physics, for 1968/69. earth currents, geomagnetism, iono spheric physics, meteorology, radio (Participating Organisations: DSIR, propagation and seismology should N.Z. Meteorological Service, Univer be continued. However, some sity of Otago, University of Welling changes to the auroral programme ton.) will be necessary for the measure ment of auroral heights in co-opera C. DSIR Geological and Soil Studies tion with Vanda Station, and also to (a) A four-man party should spend the ionospheric physics programme about six weeks studying the for the measurement of angle-of- granitic complex and precam- arrival of disturbances. brian basement rocks of the This will involve a wintering-over Terra Nova Bay area extending party of ten as for 1968/69 which is north to Mt. Dickason. This one less than for 1967/68 and two complements work undertaken less than for 1966/67. further north during previous (ParticipatingOrganisations: DSIR, years. N.Z. Meteorological Service, Univer (b) A six-man party should spend sity of Auckland.) about eight weeks studying the B. Vanda Station geology, geomorphology, glacial The studies in earth currents, geo history and soil conditions of the Scott Glacier area between magnetism, meteorology and seismo the Polar Plateau and the Ross logy should be continued and the studies in VLF propagation expand Ice Shelf. On completion, the ed to include whistler recording in two pedologists should spend association with similar work at two weeks studying soil pro Scott Base. In addition, parallactic cesses in the Taylor and Wright observations should be carried out Valleys. in conjunction with Scott Base for Note: These field expeditions were the measurement of auroral heights. recommended for the 1968/69 The wintering-over party should programme but, due to the also make observations of the "hot" current economic conditions, lake level, temperature and chemis could not be implemented. try at regular intervals and carry out observations as required to D. Victoria University of Wellington supplement work carried out by Expedition summer parties in the Dry Valley (a) A four-man party should spend area. about six weeks continuing "TNT.

ANTARCTIC

stratigraphic studies of glacial population studies of the Wed and marine sediments in the dell seal in the southern part of Dry Valleys and on raised McMurdo Sound. This project beaches and promontories bor is essential for conservation pur dering the Ross Sea. poses. (b) A four-man party should spend six to eight weeks principally (b) A four- to five-man party should studying the geochemistry of spend three to four months at Antarctic lakes, particularly with Cape Bird. They should princi a view to deducing past climatic pally be engaged on the con and glacial events. tinuation of the penguin and skua studies. E. Glaciology I. University of Otago — Biological The detailed study by DSIR of the Studies McMurdo Ice Shelf between Ross Island and the Mainland should be A two- to three-man party should completed during the 1969/70 sum be stationed at Hallett Station for mer. Manpower requirements will about three months, principally to be three men for three to four make the annual census of Adelie months. This party should also penguins, continue the plankton carry out hydrological measure studies, and, if possible, make eco ments and complete the surveying logical studies of the two petrel programme in the Vanda Station species. area. F. Nuclear Sampling The DSIR air and snow sampling programme to provide basic data on CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP isotopes occurring both naturally and as a result of nuclear explosions AGAIN BEING PLAYED should be continued. Staff engaged on other projects should be used for such work. The second Antarctic international chess competition is again under G. Oceanography way. (a) HMNZS "Endeavour's" resupply Six nations and 14 stations are routes should be planned on taking part. preferred meridians to obtain Though the moves will be trans bathymetric, temperature, pro mitted by radio, atmospheric inter ton magnetometer and sediment ference may extend some of the thickness and stratification pro matches from days to weeks, and files which complement previous even months. work. To ease the monotony, the. 1968 (Participating Organisations: DSIR, winter party at Byrd Station issued University of Wellington.) the first Antarctic challenge and (b) Auckland University should seven nations took part in last year's undertake studies of the attenu contest. ation and transmission of under Duplicate chess boards were hung water sound in Antarctic waters; on the mess deck wall, with plastic and continuous recording of markers representing the pieces so ambient sea noise, marine bio that the progress of each match logical noises, earthquakes, etc. could be followed. This programme would involve The 1969 challenge was accepted one man from Auckland Univer from stations in every sector or the sity for four to six weeks, the Antarctic. Those participating in remainder being done by staff clude Mirny, Vostock, Bellingshausen engaged on other projects. and Molodezhnaya (Russia), Argen tine Island, Halley Bay and Stoning H. University of Canterbury — Ant ton Island (British), Scott Base and arctic Biological Unit Vanda Station (New Zealand), South (a) A two-man party should spend Pole and McMurdo Stations (Ameri several weeks continuing the can), and Kerguelen (French). ANTARCTIC

Victoria Scientists Make Key Fossil Discoveries In Antarctic

Major scientific finds by the Victoria University Antarctic Expedition in Victoria Land mountains this year were revealed by two expedition members on April 30. They included a further link between Antarctica and the ancient Gondwanaland from which all continents are considered to have emerged, and an ancient fossil fish-reptile ancestor of the emergent amphibians of 360,000,000 years ago.

The discoveries were made in The "Tillite" ancient moraine, now fossil-rich areas of the Boomerang rock, had been found in identical Range, above the Skelton Glacier, formation in South Africa, India, and in the Mount Fleming area of Australia, and South America. It the Wright Dry Valley system. Both had also been found much farther areas are about 150 miles west of south in the Antarctic continent, in Scott Base and McMurdo Sound. the region of the Beardmore Glacier. The two geologists are Messrs. Michael Gorton and Barry Kohn, LINK PROVED B.Sc. honours graduates who went south under the leadership of two "This find definitely links Victoria Land with the southern mountains former Victoria University gradu of the Antarctic Continent," said Mr. ates, Drs. P. N. Webb and B. C. Mc Gorton. This had been theorised Kelvey. They said that the leader ship of the two geologists had en previously, but there had been no abled them to concentrate their proof. work in worthwhile areas. It meant that Victoria Land, with the Beardmore area, had once been SKELTON GLACIER part of the course of the ancient glacier which about 300,000,000 years They were carried into the Skelton ago had flowed across regions of Glacier by C-130 Hercules of the what were now South Africa, India, American Antarctic Support Force, Australia, and South America. Simi and travelled by motor toboggan lar finds had been made in all these over an area of 1,000 square miles countries. during three months south last The likelihood of a link such as this in New Zealand was remote, Mr. Gorton said the finds of the said Mr. Gorton. There had been extremely ancient glacial moraine far too much activity in New Zea deposits and sediments linking this land's geological history. Movement Victoria Land section of Antarctica had displaced, removed, or made with the ancient single continent, unrecognisable any remnants of this Gondwanaland, was the most excit ancient glacial flow which might ing of their several discoveries. perhaps have existed here. Some 50 geologists had previously worked the Mount Fleming area, he PERFECT FOSSIL said. None had come across the re mains of the "Tillite" moraines in The perfect fossil jawbone of the the ancient rock strata. ancient Crossopterygian fish had ANTARCTIC been made high in the Boomerang in the loose layer of ice that forms Range. "We were walking on fossils below the solid ice sheet on the while we were working; we couldn't surface. help it!" said Mr. Kohn. The other two species studied live The ancient fish was of an ex in deep waters, often resting on the tremely high order of fish, the next large masses of anchor ice on the step below the amphibian creatures sea bed. which had been the first to walk on Addition of salt to water lowers land. Among the sandstone sections the freezing temperature, which is of shell and animal remnants why blood serum, consisting mostly brought out from the area were of a salt water mixture, freezes at "appendages" of hard bone. "We a lower temperature than pure are not quite sure what they are, water. but we believe they were hard fins Arthur DeVries and Donald Wohl- which these creatures used as feet," schlag, of California and Texas Uni said Mr. Gorton. versities, have found that the The jawbone find had taken two amount of salt in serum of the hours of uncovering in a freezing Trematomus species can only partly wind, and had been photographed account for the low temperature, in a join effort with Dr. Webb, said about minus two degrees Centigrade, the finder, Mr. Gorton. The fish was at which the serum freezes. of the same time period as the Studying the protein residue in Coelocanth, and related types had the serum, they isolated a substance been discovered elsewhere. that accounted for about a third of "It was too fragile to move. The the lowering in the serum freezing big teeth were loose in the sockets, point, despite the small amounts of and we left it where it was for it present. someone better equipped to handle," The substance is clearly a power be said. From the photograph alone, ful anti-freeze agent. Chemical tests specialist scientists could identify indicate that the molecules of the the fisb, which as far as they were substance are part protein and part aware, had never been found before, susiar units. he said. Sugar units possess large numbers LAND ANIMALS of the chemical groups, known as hydroxyl croups, which are an im It was thought to have lived in a portant feature of the anti-freeze great, warm, freshwater sea. "As it agents used in car radiators. slowly dried up, and the waters receded these creatures had to evolve means of coping with the drier conditions," he said. The MEN MISS MIDWINTER result was the first amphibians of the Devonian Age. Not all Australians serving in Ant These had developed into the first arctica were able to celebrate Mid land animals, and had been followed winter in the comfort of base camp by the reptiles, from one section of with their companions. Pat Moonie which man had finally evolved from and Peter Gibson of Melbourne and warm-blooded mammalian links. Dr John Hogg of Sydney were out with two teams of huskies between Mawson and Fold Island undertak ANTARCTIC FISH HAVE ing fauna studies. Ross Anderson, of Box Hill, Vic ANTI-FREEZE toria, Syd Little of Hawtborne, A substance that acts as an anti Queensland, and Mike Riley of freeze agent has been detected in Yagoona, N.S.W. were on the Antarc the blood of Antarctic fish. The fish tic ice cap, south of Casey Station, inhabit the waters of McMurdo deep-core drilling to study the inter Sound, where the average tempera nal structure and temperature of ture of the water is almost two ice. decrees below zero. The remainder of the men at the One of the fish, belonging to the station celebrated in the traditional genus Trematomus, inhabits tunnels fashion. ANTARCTIC

AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC NEWS

The two-man team will remain Operation "Deep Drill" in the field almost continuously throughout 1969, at distances up to A seven-man party left Australia's 70 miles from Casey. They will new Antarctic station Casey by trac spend long periods at each drilling tor train early in June to set up an site. ice drill and supply equipment at Cape Folger, about 12 miles north of the station. Protein from Antarctic? The expedition will pave the way for nine months of field work by a Australia could feed a third of the two-man glaciological team cons.st- world's population from untapped ing of Ross Anderson of Melbourne resources of protein in Antarctic and Syd Little of Brisbane. waters, an Indian biochemist, Dr. G. The two men will drill three holes S. Sidhu, said at the Australian Bio in the ice to a target depth of chemical Society conference in Ade 1,500 ft. laide on May 20. Radio operator Mike Riley of He reported that with suitable Sydney will spend the next five technology, from 100 million to 500 weeks with them to lend assistance million tons of krill—a small crus and provide radio contact witb tacean with a high protein food Casey. value—could be harvested annually. These drilling operations are a Dr. Sidhu, a senior researcb scien new phase in a continuing study by tist with C.S.I.R.O.'s Division of scientists of the Department of Food Preservation, said that 70 Supply's Antarctic Division. million tons of krill a year was Much of the research has taken sufficient to provide a daily protein place, over a number of years, at intake of 20 grammes for a popula the Law dome near Casey. Th's tion of 1,000 million people or a dome, about 3,800 ft. high and 150 third of the world's population. miles across, is a microcosm of the This was about four times the 14,000 ft.-high ice dome which covers average daily protein intake in India 5.4 million square miles of the Ant and the equivalent of a steak dinner arctic continent. a day. Dr. Sidhu said C.S.I.R.O. had By repeated determination of the processed krill into an almost odour size, shape and mass of the Law less powder which could supplement dome, Australian scientists have foods of less protein value. shown that it is subsiding. He has been carrying out experi A study of this dome will lead to ments at the C.S.I.R.O. with the help a better understanding of the main of the Mawson Institute for Ant dome, the stability of which is not arctic Research at the University of yet known. Adelaide. The new drilling operations will Dr. Sidhu said that Australian increase knowledge of the internal authorities knew that Russian and temperature and movement of ice Japanese scientists were investigat masses, and the interdependence of ing methods of harvesting krill in those factors. Antarctic waters. Studies of the ice cores, recovered Krill—the staple food of whales— from the holes, will give the history floated as a reddish-brown scum on and age of the ice over thousands of Antarctic waters beyond 1,000 miles years. south of Tasmania. ANTARCTIC

The best method of harvesting He was replying in the House of would probably be similar to that Representatives to Mr. England, who of the whale which scooped it from said that the cbartered relief ship, the surface and filtered off the "Thala Dan," had had to call for aid water. this year from an American ice His studies had shown that the breaker. shrimp-like plankton was of similar He asked who paid for the services food content to casein or milk pro and if Australia could build her own vessel, using it for fisheries research when it was not needed in the Ant arctic. tein which had very high fluoride Mr. Fairhall said that the aid had concentration. been given under the Antarctic Treaty. So far, the honours in such Dr. Sidhu said that krill was native cases had been fairly equally divided to Antarctic waters, but a similar between the treaty nations. species of less food value was found The treaty nations had agreed that in Arctic waters. no charge should be made for such If Australia did not take advan help. The Department of Supply tage of the huge quantities building was currently considering the pro up as whale numbers fell, Russia vision that should be made for the and Japan would. continuing Antarctic work and that He believed that up to 500 million consideration could well include the provision of Australia's own ships, tons could be harvested annually, he said. compared with the world's total fish It was true that the Antarctic harvest of 66 million tons. summer was short and there could Following on this statement by be some other uses for such a ship. Dr. Sidhu, a question was asked in But such work could require con the Australian Parliament. In reply, siderable conversion and reconver the Minister of Works (Senator sion back for the Antarctic relief Wright) said that it was unlikely work, Mr. Fairhall said. that the largest reserves of krill, existing naturally in the Antarctic, would become a practical and econ omic source of protein. Senator Wright said that no trials Antarctic Barge had been made of the material for De Havilland Marine recently com human diet, but there seemed to be pleted a special 30 ft. all-aluminium no reason to expect that the material barge designed for the Australian could not be processed. National Antarctic Research Expedi However, its successful harvesting tion. would be a major engineering feat The aluminium hull has been and the economic aspect of its har chosen to withstand the Antarctic vesting and processing bad not yet climate and the specifications de been considered. mand that the boat must remain unpainted during its sojourn there. This virtually eliminates any main tenance, which is a vital factor as the boat will only be used for five Australians May Build days during a year in the Antarctic. During the year the barge will Polar Ship remain firmly anchored and must be able to withstand sub-zero tempera The Department of Supply would tures and winds up to 150 m.p.h. consider having an Australian Ant The barge's "active service" period arctic relief vessel built to end Aus of five days will be hectic to say the tralia's reliance on chartered relief least—it has been specially con vessels, the Minister for Defence structed to ferry 15-ton vehicles and (Hon. Mr. Fairhall) said in Canberra the huge accumulation of stores on March 25. needed for the 1969 expedition. ANTARCTIC

The craft will save valuable and MIRABITO RANGE: costly hours of countless small boat NZMS 166 Sheet SR 57-58, 16 trips that would normally have to This map was compiled from the do the job—apart from the problem of getting the big track vehicles on ground surveys of the New Zealand shore. Geological Antarctic Expedition of 1963-64, with J. H. Miller and M. R. The barge has a 30 ft. hull length J. Ford as surveyors; and the Feder by 16 ft. hull beam by 4 ft. hull ated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand depth. Tararua Antarctic Expedition 1962-63 The loading area of the barge is with F. H. Pearson and G. Holds- 12 ft. wide by 24 ft. long and is worth as the surveyors. The Mira decked in special embossed non-skid bito Range was named after John aluminium plate. Two 10 ft. long ramps are hinged Mirabito, t the highly respected at the bow, swinging 15 degrees meteorological officer of the early days of Operation Deep Freeze who (own and 30 degrees up to provide was a good friend to the men of access for loading and unloading. Scott Base. Five large glaciers and several mountain ranges feature in this map. WELCOME MOUNTAIN: NEW ZEALAND MAPS HAVE NZMS 166 Sheet SS 55-57, 4 This map, spanning the Australian BEEN PRODUCED Antarctic Territory and the Ross he New Zealand Department of Dependency boundaries, is the result Lands and Survey have produced of the efforts of the ground surveys "nothcr four excellent maps in their of the New Zealand Geological and provisional Antarctic series on a Survey Antarctic Expedition 1962-63 icale of 1 to 250,000. These have (Northern Party) by surveyor J. A. ;en printed by the N.Z. Govern Tobin and the Victoria Land Tra ment Printer. They show the ice- verse 1959-60. It was named by the covered land in white, the glaciers Traverse Party under van der Hoe- in blue, and the ice-freed land and van because it was the first land the names in brown. exposure they had seen for 700 miles. The maps are based on the efforts Only a few mountain features of both the United States and New show up above the endjess sweep of Zealand personnel. The U.S. Geo the polar plateau in this map. logical Survey tellurometer traverse stations of 1961—62 and Electrotype FREYBERG MOUNTAINS: traverse stations of 1962-63 have NZMS 166 Sheet SS 58-60, 1 been adopted for overall control This map was compiled from the purposes, and in addition U.S. aerial work of tbe same expeditions and photography has been used. surveys as in the case of the Mira New Zealand control stations have bito Range map. Named after the been fixed by astro observations and New Zealand Second World War triangulations adjusted to agree with General, Lord Freyberg, these moun one another and with the U.S. tell tains are flanked, appropriately urometer traverse. enough, by the Salamander Range, for Winston Churchill on one notable CAPE AD ARE: occasion referred to "Tiny" Freyberg NZMS 166 Sheet SR 59-60. 13 as "that magnificent salamander." This map takes in part of the On tbe western flank the mountains Pennell Coast from Cape Adare as have as neighbour the mighty Ren- far as Cape Scott and the Dennis- nick Glacier. toun Glacier on the west and on the These maps are available from the east the Borchgrevinck Coast as far Lands and Survey Map Sales, Gov south as the Possession Islands. On ernment Buildings, Wellington, New the west this map is adjoined by the Zealand, at a cost of NZ 50 cents Mirabito Range and on the south by each plus postage (in N.Z. 15 cents the Cape Hallett maps. eacb). ANTARCTIC

AMERICAN ANTARCTIC NEWS

storage space has been increased, Cost Per Man in the and mere are now plans to have a new 1,250,000-gallon tank installed. Antarctic Because of the heavy ice conditions this season, there was an 11-day What does it cost to keep a man in delay of the arrival of the "Alatna" the Antarctic for a year? Everyone with tbe season's first load of fuel, knows that it will be astronomical, but the Antarctic Development but Neal Potter of Resources for the Squadron Six (VXE-6) was able to Future, Inc., of Washington D.C., has continue its operations without diffi done a study of the amount neces culty, and in fact was almost at its sary to maintain an American at busiest. some of their stations in the Ant As detailed elsewhere in this issue, arctic. He took into account such the stocking of adequate supplies of factors as the cost of conducting fuels this last season became a field expeditsions and aerial map nightmare race against time and ice ping as well as the general cost of conditions, but this, it is hoped, will operating the station, and these were not be necessary in the future. divided by the average population In February the "Southwind" car of each station for the 1964-65 year. ried out a hydrographic survey of The figures show the cost per man the harbour in Winter Quarters Bay, for a year to be: named by Captain Scott who based McMurdo $23,000 his expedition here on his first ex Inland Stations $102,000 pedition, to ascertain whether or not Palmer Station $83,000 there would be suitable water avail The cost of air transportation to able in the harbour to allow the pro inland stations accounts for the tre posed giant T5 tanker to berth mendous difference between such there. Indications are that such a stations and McMurdo, while the vessel could use the harbour. high cost for Palmer Station is Plans for next season call for the brought about by the cost of ice introduction of a T5 tanker capable breaker service which amounted to of taking in one voyage the six $300,000. If this charge were ex million gallons of petroleum pro cluded, the average cost per man- ducts which previously took six year at Palmer Station would have trips by the "Alatna" and the "En been $50,000. deavour." Since such a ship will make only one voyage a season, it can plan its voyage to the Antarctic to arrive at McMurdo in late Janu ary or early February when ice con Huge Tanker Becomes a ditions are at their best. Possibility One of the problems associated with American Assistance to the American Antarctic programme has always been that of providing Other Expeditions adequate stocks of fuel at McMurdo Sound to ensure that flying would The past season, with its very heavy not have to be drastically curtailed. ice conditions, has made the task of In some years, if a tanker did not landing and taking off personnel arrive there by mid-December, flying and replenishing stores and supplies had to be cut down. Over the years at the various Antarctic stations on

■ J*fc< T*' ANTARCTIC the edge of the continent a very Ten years ago Dr. Dietz and H. H. arduous one. Hess propounded a theory that the In line with the usual practice in sea floor is gradually spreading out the Antarctic of giving help where on either side of the underwater required, the nations concerned have mountain ranges that divide the been able to come to the assistance world's major oceans. Moving at of others, and in this field, as about an inch a year, the sea floor always, the Americans have been eventually plunges back into the most generous in the past year. mantle from which it came, thus constituting a conveyor belt strong Among the help they gave, the enough to move and break up con outhwind" assisted the "Thala tinents. The mantle is the part of Dan" in establishing the Casey the earth's interior whicb rests be Station (as detailed in last issue of tween the molten central core and Antarctic); British and Norwegian the crust. scientific parties were placed in posi tion in the field by VXE-6 aircraft; Magnetic studies of the sea floor the Japanese traverse party from have since then confirmed the con Showa Station to the South Pole veyor belt hypothesis and provided received fuel during brief periods the essential piece that had hitherto of rest at Plateau and South Pole been missing from the theory of Stations; and the Soviet Union's Vostok Station twice bosted parties continental drift, an idea put for that had flown from McMurdo ward to explain the similarities of geology and species distribution on Station in connection with United the opposite sides of several oceans, States scientific equipment operated as well as the closeness with which, at Vostok by the Russians. for example, the west coast of South Following the long-standing cus America fits into the west coast of tom, United States and New Zealand Africa. personnel worked closely together in both support and scientific activities Approximately 200 million years in the Ross Dependency area. ago, it is almost certain tbat South America and Africa were part of a single land mass known as Gond wanaland. Although a glance at a map shows that the two continents The Gondwanaland fit together reasonably well, the fit is most exact if taken at the conti Theory nental shelf level. Further, Australia and Antarctica are also thought to Once more the theory that there have joined together, the land mass was at one time a tremendous Con they formed being part of the super- tinent named Gondwanaland has continent of Gondwanaland. been raised, this time by two Ameri can scientists, Walter Sproll and Dr. Another name given to this super- Robert Dietz of the U.S. Depart continent was Pangaea. Other au ment of Commerce's Environmental thorities, including Sproll and Dietz, Science Services Administration who believe there were two continents in have recently processed data gath the area, referred to as Gondwana ered during a world-wide cruise by and Laurasia. Supporters of the the American survey ship, "Oceano- two-continent theory believe Gond grapher," in 1967. wana comprised Australia, Antarc The result of their investigations tica, Africa, Malagasy and various shows a "perfect fit" between the submerged fragments, while Lau two continents of Australia and rasia consisted of North America Antarctica, at present separated and Eurasia. by approximately 2,000 miles of water. This fit takes place when Although there have been different the margins of the two continents opinions of the exact manner of are joined together at the 1,000 their fitting, Sproll and Dietz said fathom level. that their study showed that tbe ANTARCTIC south coast of Australia once joined Antarctica and identified the exact New American Admiral position of the fit. The south-eastern end of Austra Appointed lia, including Tasmania, fitted into the Ross Sea, and the south-western Rear Admiral David Fife Welch will end of Australia reached to just off relieve Rear Admiral J. Lloyd Abbot, Antarctica's Knox Coast. Jr., as Commander, U.S. Naval Sup Between these two points the con port Force, Antarctica, in a cere cave Great Australian Bight fitted mony on June 19 at 11.30 a.m. at the snugly against the convex outline Washington Navy Yard. of Wilkes Coast. Rear Admiral Welch is currently "Recent geophysical finds on the serving as Commander, Amphibious ocean floor nave demonstrated to the Group FOUR at Little Creek, Vir satisfaction of most earth scientists ginia, a job he has held since Janu that the continents were once to ary, 1968. Upon being relieved, Rear gether," they said. Admiral Abbot will assume com mand of Carrier Division SIXTEEN. "About 100 to 150 million years ago they commenced to separate Admiral Abbot's tour with Opera and slowly drifted to their present tion DEEP FREEZE vyas marked by scattered locations around the globe. the first scheduled winter flights to Antarctica, the dedication of a per "One of the last units to be sun manent Palmer Station on the Ant dered, the Australian-Antarctica split, arctic Peninsula, progress toward all may have occurred as late as 40 permanent construction at McMurdo million years ago. Station, the acquisition of a fifth "But determining exactly how the C-130 ski-equipped Hercules aircraft pieces fitted together has remained for Antarctic Development Squad unsolved, except for Africa and ron Six, and increased use of satel South America, which have rather lite technology. obvious parallel outlines across the Originally from Fort Wayne, Ind., South Atlantic Ocean." Rear Admiral Welch has held nine Dr. Dietz believes the pre-drift commands prior to this assignment; outlines of the continents are to be four shipr "--'—•"•+-- r»k—*««#*«« found halfway down the continental slopes at the 1,000-fathom contour line, where the total area of misfit iiiciucuiiy uuuci tapping aiiu overlap He has held a number of staff ping is a minute portion of the whole, about 150,000 square kilo assignments including a tour as metres. Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics for U.N. Naval Forces, Europe, and A perfect fit would not be ex a year witb the U.S. Military Assis pected since the margins of the tance Command in Vietnam. continent will have been changed No stranger to Washington, he by accretion and erosion during the served in the Office of the Deputy 200 million years or so since they Chief of Naval Operations (Fleet separated. Operations and Readiness) from "Because the edges of continents September, 1958, to September, 1961. are not like the clean vertical edges In 1961 he received a Master of Arts of an ordinary jigsaw puzzle, but degree in Education from George instead are like bady slumped Washington University. stream embankments, the problem The Naval Support Force, Antarc of fitting them is rather complex," tica, nicknamed "Operation DEEP Sproll and Dr. Dietz explained. FREEZE," is the U.S. programme of The final position, as chosen by logistic support for scientists carry the computer, also aligns certain ing out surveys and experiments on geological features found on the two the Atlantic continent. As its com continents. mander Rear Admiral Welch will

^^^^■ ^^^B rcrj«m ANTARCTIC be responsible for maintaining the McMurdo Station, in many re 12,000-mile lifeline from the United spects the most important American States to Antarctica, a job requiring station, received attention in this the efforts of more than 2,000 men respect in 1960 as regards better from the Navy, Coast Guard, Army, living and working facilities. The Air Force and Marine Corps. During plan adopted at that time has had the Antarctic summer, the task of to be greatly modified over the years feeding, transporting and supplying to take cognisance of the better the American scientific programme methods and materials which have in Antarctica is handled by the Sup now become available. Particular port Force, composed of members progress has been made within the of more tban a dozen specialised last season, including the comple units, under its deployment name, tion of the service portions of Mc- Task Force 43. Murdo's central personnel building. One of the factors which have im During the Antarctic winter sea proved living conditions at this base son, the Admiral will reside in Wash has been the installation of the ington. When the austral summer nuclear power plant and its water- begins in October, he will move to advance headquarters at Christ distillation system. The availability church. of the reactor was slightly less last year than previously, but the total water production was up on earlier figures. Water in sufficient quanti ties has always been a problem at Antarctic stations, particularly as in Improved Working the case of McMurdo where there is Conditions and a large number of personnel, but the station now has sufficient for its Equipment basic needs. Work is being con tinued on improving water-distribu Over the period of a decade and a tion and sewage problems. Here half since the "Atka" first made its again, new and improved techniques preliminary study of Antarctic sea- are proving invaluable. coasts with a view to locating suit able American bases in connection with the American International Geophysical Year programme, great advances have been made in both techniques and equipment used in the far south. At first, until the end of the IGY year 1957-58, it had been expected Philatelic Mail from U.S. tbat American participation—and in deed other countries' participation Bases and Ships in that region—would draw to an end, and that the various stations Philatelists may have covers post which had been set up would be marked at South Pole and Byrd closed and put in moth-balls for pos Stations and aboard DEEP FREEZE sible future use at a later date. ships which operate a post office Therefore, the American stations during the 1969-70 Antarctic season. which had been built had not the Collectors are limited to one cover permanency about them which is per person to be postmarked at now apparent. However, once the Byrd Station, South Pole Station, United States decided to continue and from each DEEP FREEZE ship its Antarctic programme indefinitely, operating a post office. (If a can it became apparent that the stations cellation is desired from only one which had been hastily built would station, the word "Byrd" or "Pole" need very great reconstruction if should be written in the lower left they were to become permanently corner of the cover.) habitable by large bodies of scien Byrd and South Pole Station post tists and support forces. marks can be obtained by placing ANTARCTIC two addressed covers bearing United States postage at the letter mail Five American Women rate in an envelope and mailing To Go To McMurdo them to: For the first time, the United States Antarctic research programme team U.S. Naval Construction will include five women scientists, Battalion Center [DEEP FREEZE Philatelic Mail according to a National Science Davisville, Rhode Island 02854. Foundation news release. International Reply Coupons may The two scientific parties contain be used by collectors from foreign ing the women will both operate countries to defray postage on within helicopter range of McMurdo covers. Station. Dr. Lois Jones of the Ohio State Philatelic mail to be postmarked University's Institute of Polar Stud at Byrd or South Pole Station must ies and three field assistants will reach Davisville not later than Sep carry out field research in the wind tember 1, 1969, in order to be pro swept ice-free valleys about 70 miles cessed during the DEEP FREEZE west of McMurdo Station. 70 Antarctic winter. The postmarked Dr. Jones will be assisted by Mrs. covers should be received by the Eileen McSaveney of the University collector between October, 1970, and department of geology, Mrs. M. Lind March, 1971. say, of the Institute of Polar Studies, and an additional woman scientist Cancellations can be obtained from yet to be named. the following ships participating in The fifth woman scientist is Mrs. DEEP FREEZE '70: Christine Muller-Schwarze, of Utah State University, who will carry out Cutoff animal behaviour studies at the Ship's Name and Dates for large penguin rookery at Cape Croz- A d d r e s s C o v e r s ier on Ross Island. Dr. Jones's group will spend about USCGC "Burton Island" Nov. 19, ten days at various sites, using tent ( W A G B - 2 8 3 ) 1 9 6 9 P.O. Box 20820 camps. They will return to Mc Murdo Station for about five days Long Beach, Calif. 90801 of laboratory work between each USCGC "Glacier" Nov. 19, move to a camp site. Dr. Muller-Schwarze with two ( W A G B - 4 ) 1 9 6 9 other scientists and his wife, will P.O. Box 20900 work from a Jamesway but built Long Beach, Calif. 90801 near the Cape Crozier rookery, which contains nearly 500,000 penguins. USCGC "Edisto" Nov.Nov. 12,12, This group will study the re ( W A G B - 2 8 4 ) 1 91969 6 9 Boston, Mass. 02109 sponses of Adelie penguins to aerial, aquatic and ground predators under Covers postmarked aboard DEEP natural and experimental conditions. FREEZE ships will be returned to The women scientists will arrive in the Antarctic late in October. The collectors during the operating sea five women will be among a total of son as expeditiously as postal back about 150 American scientists who logs permit. will make the 10,000-mile journey to Philatelic mail will be returned Antarctica to carry out researcb unprocessed when more than the during the next summer season. authorised number of covers is sub mitted, if it appears that a commer cial motive is involved, if covers are RACE AGAINST TIME received after the cutoff dates estab lished above, or when covers are There was a very close race against submitted to DEEP FREEZE ships time this past season to ensure tbat or units which do not operate a there was an adequate supply of post office. petroleum products at McMurdo ANTARCTIC

Station to cover not only the winter At McMurdo Station, where more period but the early part of the than 200 men were wintering over, Hying season as well. a carnival had been arranged, and The "Alatna" made her third voy the movie "War and Peace"' was age for tbe season to McMurdo and, screened. It was only minus 26 as usual, wasted no time in putting decrees at this station. her cargo ashore, and 28 hours after At Byrd Station, twenty men sat arrival on February 16 she left again down to a special dinner—with a for Lyttelton. crisp table cloth over the usually The "Burton Island" has assisted bare table. Afterwards there was a the vessel on this trip, and was costume party and a beard-judging again on hand to render a similar contest. service when the "Alatna" made her The eight men at the coastal final voyage. Both ships reached Palmer Station celebrated with a McMurdo Sound on March 7, and a buffet dinner. busy 24-hour round-the-clock shuttle saw the last of the cargo ashore. Both ships left next day, and as they proceeded up McMurdo Sound it ICE HAMPERS WEDDELL was observed that the ice was quickly thickening—Winter Quarters SEA WORK Bay had completely frozen over with about 18 inches of ice, and at Hut The heavy ice conditions which were Point there was 20 inches. Off Beau such a feature of the 1968-69 summer fort Island the ice concentration was season in the Antarctic had a par such that "Burton Island," with five ticularly bad effect on the work of engines on the line, was slowed to the International Weddell Sea between three and four knots. It Oceanographic Expedition. It had was by a very narrow margin that been planned that the "Glacier," "Alatna" had won her race to re after breaking a channel into Mc plenish McMurdo's fuel stocks. Murdo Sound, was to sail for Val Earlier the "Alatna" had suffered paraiso, Chile, and then proceed to ice damage to her propellers, the the Weddell Sea where she was repair of which, although the dam scbeduled to appear in the first week age was not serious, delayed her in January. However, it was Janu tight schedule and led to tbe haste ary 18 before she could depart from with which she had to operate. McMurdo, and only reached the Weddell Sea a month later. This, naturally led to a drastic reduction in the overall scientific programme. Further setbacks were experienced wben it was found that the Weddell Sea was so heavily iced that it was AMERICANS CELEBRATE impossible for the "Glacier" to pene trate far enough into the ice pack MID-WINTER to recover three current-meter buoys set out the previous year. Consider The ceremonial burning of the ing the lack of time at their dis Southern Cross, a table cloth on the posal, the scientists on the "Glacier" dinner table, and a costume party. did a commendable amount of These were some of the events oceanographic work. Operation Deep Freeze men in Ant arctica staged to mark the mid winter's day. The Cross-burning ceremony was U.S. SQUADRON CHANGES held at Pole Station where nine men invited other Deep Freeze men to ITS NAME their party—and received no replies. The temperature for June 20 at The American airmen who give such this base was minus 55 degrees F, splendid service in the Antarctic although earlier in the winter it have had the name of their squadron had reached minus 98 degrees. changed. June, 1969 ANTARCTIC

On January 1, 1969, its name was "Mrs Abbot and I will leave a big changed from Air Development part of our hearts in New Zealand. Squadron Six (VX-6) to Antarctic Somehow, maybe when I retire, we Development Squadron Six (VXE-6). will come back." While the squadron thus bas a different designation, it still, of course, retains the experience and skill for which it has been noted VERSATILE ITALIAN and for which it has earned high praise. For the third successive EXPLORER season the squadron had an acci- nt-free record. An accident-free record was also achieved for the season by the U.S. Army Aviation arctic is a versatile man who is again Detachment (Antarctica Support), in the news—this time in a vastly which provided field support for the different venture. Ellsworth Land Survey. When tbe He has featured in this journal ason ended this Army unit was frequently of late, having climbed uisbanded, and its helicopters were several Antarctic peaks, including 'nrned over to the Navy, thus bring- Mount Erebus. Now he has been g to an end a distinguished contri appointed as chief photographer of bution to Antarctic history. VXE-6 the Jhor Heyerdahl expedition on pilots will fly the machines in Deep the "Ra," the first papyrus vessel to Freeze 70. sail the ocean for thousands of years. Carlo Mauri is the Italian rep resentative of the seven-nation crew which left the Moroccan port of Safi on May 25 to test the theorv that Egyptians could have crossed the REAR-ADMIRAL ABBOT Atlantic to Central America 5,000 RETURNS TO U.S.A. years ago. Admiral J. Lloyd Abbot, who will be relieved as commander of Opera- lion Deep Freeze next July or August BLACK ICEBERGS by Rear-Admiral D. F. Welch, said An article in a late issue of the in Christchurch before his de South African "Antarktiese Bulletin" parture, that one of the most out draws attention to the problems standing achievements during his associated with black icebergs, command was the airborne opera which have been recorded from time tion whereby films showed the con- to time since Captain James Cook lours of rocks beneath Antarctica's first sailed into the Antarctic in 1773, surface. until sightings made in 1967. It is Work by the Scott Polar Research possible that some of the sightings which have been made of what later Institute, Cambridge, and Operation Deep Freeze aircraft had enabled proved to be non-existent islands tnis information to be provided at have been in reality black icebergs. a much speedier rate compared with One of the dangers of such icebergs, the dynamiting of regions. of course, is that if they are met at night they are invisible. Another important feature was the One theory is that these icebergs deep drilling at Byrd Station, al originate around the islands of the though this season had been a frus South Shetlands which are active trating one when trying to bring volcanoes, and the blackness is up rock. caused from the volcanic ash which becomes embedded in the slow- Admiral Abbot, who has made moving glac'er which ultimately twenty trips to McMurdo, and about become icebergs. as many to the South Pole, said he Has any reader anything to add "hopes and wants to be appointed on this strange phenomena of black commander of a carrier division." icebergs? ■ 'Vt^^^' ANTARCTIC June, 1969 BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY NEWS and then back to De Havilland's in Deception Island Eruption Canada at the end of March for overhaul and wintering. Royal Society vulcanologists re turned to Deception Island on March 4 to carry out further observations and to continue mapping the Febru Reoccupation of Fossil Bluff ary, 1969, ash deposits. They found tbat fourteen new eruptive centres and Horseshoe Island had appeared and that a number of fissures up to a mile long had opened The Survey's advance base at Fossil on the inner slopes of the caldera Bluff will be occupied again this between Mount Pond and Pendulum winter, this time by two glaciologists Cove, at a height of about 400 ft. and two geologists. A four-man Bombs up to 13 ft. in diameter had geological-geophysical party will also been ejected, and a deluge of mud, winter at Horseshoe Island in nor water and ice had flowed down thern Marguerite Bay. Horseshoe along the entire length of the Island was closed clown when the fissure, completely destroying the Stonington Island base was re Chilean base at Pendulum Cove and opened in 1960, and since then has partially burying the British base in been occupied only intermittently. Whalers Bay. The "John Biscoe" stood by while the party was ashore and was able to salvage equipment from the British base. The ship left R.R.S. "Shackleton's" Last Deception on March 23. Antarctic Voyage As an economy measure, the "Shackleton" will not sail south next season. Sbe was built in Sweden in 1954, purchased by the Survey in Single-Engined Otter Crash 1955, and made her first Antarctic While carrying out a depot-check voyage that year. The vessel will ing flight on March 3, the Survey's probably be converted and used by single-engined Otter aircraft was the Research Vessels Unit of forced down by engine failure, in a the Natural Environment Research heavily crevassed area 30 miles Council for oceanographic work. north-east of the Stonington Island The new B.A.S: vessel (see December base. The plane had to be abandoned 1968 issue) will not be ready for as the undercarriage was smashed. service until 1970, so only two ships Fortunately, none of the five men on will be in use next season—R.R.S. board were injured and they were "John Biscoe" and M.V. "Perla Dan." picked up and taken back to base by tbe twin-engined Otter on the same day. The twin-Otter had had a success New Stamps ful first season in the Antarctic in spite of an inauspicious beginning Four commemorative stamps mark (a forced landing on the Larsen ice ing the 25th anniversary of continu shelf shortly after arrival; see March ous scientific work were issued on 1969 issue). As the February erup February 6, the date on which the tion had closed the Deception air British base on Deception Island facility, the aircraft was flown direct was established in 1944. This issue from Palmer Station to Punta Arenas was on sale until May 5. ANTARCTIC

NEWS FROM SOUTH AFRICA

The return of SANAE 9 on board great improvement on the old morse tbe M.V. "RSA" was marred by the code communication system that sudden and unexpected death of Mr. has been in use since 1962. The M. J. Coetsee, Head of the Antarctic teleprinter has also speeded up the Division of this Department, on communication traffic advantageous March 9, 1969. Mr. Coetsee went to ly. History was made by Chris Muir, Cape Town to meet the returning Radio Operator of the Borga Base, expedition and to make arrange when he succeeded in directly con ments for the visit by the "Fuji" tacting Derdepoort, Pretoria, from which was expected a week later. the Borga Base. This was really an Mr. C. J. J. van Rensburg, who acbievement as he was working visited SANAE during January and from the cab of a Muskeg tractor February to investigate transport under extreme weather conditions facilities, has since taken over as and with the aid of a Primus stove Head of the Antarctic Division. to keep the radio warm in order for it to function properly. One of the highlights of the year The film on Marion Island "Forty- was the erection of the Borga Base Seven Degrees South," has been approximately 30 kilometres from completed by the National Film SANAE. Huldreslottet was reached Board and is proving a great suc on May 5. Camp was pitched on cess. We sincerely hope that it will the western side of the mountain help to fire the interest of ambitious and it was decided to erect the young men to accompany expedi Parcoll hut on an apparently shel tions to the island. The film on tered slope on the northern side of South African activities has almost the mountain. A site on which to been completed. This film is for erect the hut was levelled and since world-wide distribution. the weather remained perfect it was decided to go ahead with the erec Selection for SANAE 11 is in full tion of the hut by the light of Mus swing, in fact, the physicists have keg headlamps and Tilley lamps. already started their training. We Work was still in progress when a hope to send a well-equipped team storm blew up and kept the staff to SANAE by the end of the year. indoors for four days. Fortunately It has been finally been decided to the incompleted hut withstood the extend the erection of a new base weight of the snow and the comple to the beginning of 1971. Planning tion of arrangements and the hut of the new base is nearing comple could be finalised. This is the first tion. The basic outlay will not differ time that Soutb Africa has accom much from the existing base. plished the establishment of a permanently staffed base so distant Mid-winter was commemorated from the main base. Borga Base with the usual flare. The expedition will enable the geologists to cover a members are already looking for far greater area and do more inten ward to their relief next year. How sive research work. Messrs. Aucamp, ever, much has still to be done until Wolmarans, Hodson and Muir will then. remain at the base until January, 1970. During August and September the "RSA" will be used as a meteoro logical ship for the first time. Dur A teleprinter service was installed ing this period she will also visit between SANAE and Pretoria with Gough Island for the erection of a effect from April 1, 1969, and was a new radio theodolite.

'?.'*;? ANTARCTIC BELGIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION The Belgian Antarctic Expedition of the summer of 1969 was organised in collaboration with the South African Antarctic Expedition who assured sea transport from Capetown for eight members of the Belgian team (two glaciologists, two electronic scientists, two pilots and two mechanicians) and their supplies. In addition, they transported two aircraft, an Otter DHC3 and a Cessna 180B. The Belgian team provided the South Africans with logistic support.

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME type), one showing the modulation of amplitude (x, y), the other show The Belgian scientific programme ing the modulations (z) or the in was entirely centred on aerial mea tensity. A 35 mm Slackman camera surement of ice thickness using a registers continuously the enthodic radio echo-sounder Randall (S.P.R.I. image on the latter oscilloscope. The TI). film is unrolled in continuous fashion The team set about measuring a behind the 'objective' which stayc long profile from its base at SANAE continuously in view. The speed o to Sor-Rondane, the mountainous the camera can be changed to allow ;one explored during the Belgian adaptation to the horizontal scale Antarctic Expedition (1959-61) and (or the distance travelled over) to the Belgian/Netherlands Expeditions the speed which varies with the time intervals between the reflected sig (1964-7). In this latter zone the nals or the configuration of th profiles of ice thickness had already been measured by gravimetric glacier ice. method and the speeds of the ice A "time-mark" is registered every movement stabilised by resection/ minute. The operator controls, con triangulation. The verification of tinuously, the signal on the other these measurements by this new oscilloscope and regulates the re direct method was thus of particular ceiver's attenuation on to an optimal interest. reception. As a reflecting surface can be characterised by a signal more or less strong, the attenuation THE RADIO ECHO-SOUNDER change in decibels is recorded, wbich The principle of a radio echo- permits, for example, easy distinc sounder is the same as that of the tion between a reflection from water radar detector. The apparatus con or from rock. sists of a transmitter and a receiver. Transmitter and receiver are The latter is coupled to two oscillo served by the same dipole antenna scopes permitting the measurement fixed under the aircraft. of the interval between the sent and the reflected signal. The echo-sounder had been placed on board the Otter aircraft at Cam The apparatus used by the Bel bridge with the help of Dr. Evans of gians had been developed at the the Scott Polar Research Institute, cott Polar Research Institute, Cam who was responsible for the recent bridge, U.K., and made by the firm of Randall Electronics in Kempton, development of this instrument. U.K. The transmitter emits at 35 Mc CHRONICLE OF THE 1969 every 65 mu seconds at a power of 500 watts. During transmission the CAMPAIGN receiver is suppressed. It amplifies Embarking at Capetown on the the reflected signals and is recorded polar vessel "RSA" on January 7, by two oscilloscopes (Tektronix 1969, the expedition reached ' the ANTARCTIC

South African base, SANAE, on Jan- campaign doing reduced survey 21. Strong contrary winds slowed work using the Cessna aircraft down the passage on the first part around SANAE as well as in follow of the journey. On the other hand, ing the caterpillar vehicles. Fortu the pack ice was not very extensive, nately, Mr. H. Fulton, leader of the and navigation as far as the coast South African Expedition, had kept could be made in practically ice-free two of these vehicles on standby at water. For the first time they had SANAE. The security of personnel available information on the state was thus assured. Equally.there had of the ice pack and advice on routes been envisaged a collaboration with and navigation communicated tele the Soviet geologist, Soloviev, to do graphically by Dr. C. Swithinbank an aerial survey in the region. Lat (Scott Polar Research Institute) who terly he expressed his regrets at not analysed photos transmitted by the being able to accept the. offer be American satellite. cause of the slightly unfavourable mechanical condition of his own During the sea transport of the Otter the tail-plane was damaged, aircraft. the aircraft having become detached The attempt at fixing the echo- from its two supports. Repairs had sounder in the Cessna was quite to be made on board ship. favourable, and two operators were All the ice in the bay having dis able to take their place on tbe air appeared, the unloading of aircraft craft. and material, as with the later re loading, had to take place directly The apparatus was powered by a on to the shelf. These operations, small portable battery giving never in spite of all hazards, were accom theless the possibility of working for an hour. The otber disadvantages plished safely. included the loss of 15 decibels in The Belgian team was soon in the receiving signal, an absence of stalled under canvas near the South precise navigation instruments, and Africans at SANAE base. the impossibility of carrying a tbird The first days of the mission were (glaciological) operator. Althougb devoted to air transport of South the essential African parties. In 20 Hying bours done in small local flights on the ice- shelf, characterised by a strong re the Otter transported tbe material flection from the lower water-ice necessary for the erection of an ad vance base, 400 kms (250 miles) to surface, these inconveniences did the south in the Borgafjellet Massif. not compromise the results. During this time the echo-sounder However, the navigation on an ice- of the flight recorder was installed shelf without points of reference and tested respectively on board a and with the reduced instrumenta vehicle and the aircraft. The tech tion of the Cessna, posed problems nique of developing tbe films under of which the solution will be found canvas was attempted at the same later. time. From February 5 to 24 the Cessna After finalising the transport surveys continued uninterrupted flights, the echo-sounder was mount only by the usual few days of bad ed, and used with success for a first weather. These days were made use flight in the Otter above the ice-shelf. of in quickly analysing the profiles Unfortunately after this flight the already measured and deciding on spindle in the starter-motor broke. the plan of surveying. The coast A careful examination was made by was photographed and some naviga the mechanics, who discovered that tional flights were made. During the breakdown could not be repaired one of these flights they verified the in the Antarctic. break-out and disappearance of the greater part of Trolltunga, a penin After consultation with the Presi sula of ice with an area of some dent of the Belgian Antarctic Com 10,000 square kms (3,700 square mittee, they decided to continue the miles).

•V^t'%%%%% L*.^ ANTARCTIC

On February 18, 1969, the Otter ground speed. This system of navi was loaded on board the "RSA" in gation did not give satisfactory re Tottanbukta, the conditions of the sults for the long profile measured cliffs in tbe embarking bay (Otter- towards the south (Krylen) because bukta) making difficult local load of different topographical and ing. On February 25 the Cessna and meteorological conditions. the rest of the material was loaded. For the other part, some naviga The return voyage was a quick and tion flights made according to the pleasant one, and Capetown was same principles permitted fixing of reacbed on Marcb 8. important coastal points at least The aircraft and material was sent with the same precision as that i to Belgium by sea, while the effected by the flights. Also tbe cap rsonnel returned to Brussels by a tain of the "RSA" established a new regular airline flight. map, by radar of the coast and also The Belgians recorded their grate by some bathymetric soundings by ful appreciation of the excellent help echo-sounder. The rise in altitude received from the South African Ex of the zone studied will surely re pedition, and in particular for the main a weak point in establishing a splendid co-operation of H. Fulton, true image of the shelf. the leader. 2. Results and Interpretations: SURVEYS IN THE REGION Altogether thirty flights totalling OF SANAE 1,500 km (940 miles) of ice thickness profiles have been made. All the 1. Navigation: recordings were developed on the The most serious problem encoun spot: their quality was very good. tered was the precise localisation of The flights covered in detailed flights. At the beginning they had fashion a region of 6,000 square kms at their disposal a 1/250,U00 map by (2,400 miles) which included some Captain Menish of the "RSA" in 1962, ice rises in the western part. based on radar images. This map was quickly revealed as not being 3. Analysis of Calculation: precise enough for their purpose. In the coastal region they had only The reading of the films was made some adjustments permitting a sure by enlargement or by microscope. identification. The winds in air A reading was made every three streams at varying altitudes were seconds of recording which gave 20 evidently not known. Nor was there readings corresponding to a distance a meteorological map allowing for varying between 2 and 2.5 km (1.25 correct altitude to be indicated on to 1.5 miles) behind the speed of the altimeter. Moreover, the Cessna's flight. compass was of little value in show The time intervals thus measured ing absolute values. An apparently satisfactory solu were then converted to metres based tion was found by basing the navi on the speed of propagation found gation on three base lines of which for the region. The profiles of thick the extremities were landmarks and nesses were then drawn (horizontal wbich at least two were visible while scale: 1/50,000, vertical scale 1/5,000). in flight. The azimuth of these lines For these first profiles the thick had been determined and the dis nesses were all marked starting from tance between them measured by the same reference altitude, thereby tellurometer by Mr E. Bosmans of not taking account of the actual SANAE 9. These base lines served altitude of the terrain. It is pro as references; during each flight they posed to reproduce these profiles on were flown over at the altitude of a series of composite maps and to from 3,000 to 4,000 feet in the appro publish them as a data report of the expedition. priate direction. The distance being known, the chronological time be The second part of the interpreta tween the two passages over the tion comprises the tracing of thick markers allowed calculation of nesses as a function of these terrain altitudes and an interpretation of jobs, and has continued in these the assembled data. It is proposed positions until this final issue. to publish these data in a specialised All members of the International review. Association of Whaling Companies Tbese few drawn profiles already and of The Federation of the Nor allow the hope that at the end of wegian Whaling Companies have the work they will be able to obtain now ceased whaling, and it was felt quite a precise idea of the morpho that there was no longer the neces logy of the ice-shelf. sary basis for continuing tbe publi cation of Norsk Hvalfangst-Tidende. The final issue of 64 pages is larger than usual but of the uniformly high standard which has been a feature of this excellent publication. It is END OF A FAMOUS with sorrow that we notify the pass ing of this long link with the bistory of whaling not only in the Antarctic GAZETTE but throughout the world. There would be few journals asso ciated with the Antarctic which can boast a life of 57 years. It is with great regret, therefore, that we learn ANTARCTIC TOURS FROM that the November-December 1968 issue of the "Norsk Hvalfangst-Tid- SOUTH AMERICA ende" is to be its last. The Norwegian Whaling Gazette is the Organ for the Lars-Eric Linblad, president of Lind- International Association of Whaling blad Travel Inc., is again moving Companies, and has always had a into the Antarctic travel field this reputation for informative and well- coming year, this time in a ship written articles dealing with all which he is having built in Finland. aspects of whales and whaling. The vessel, to be known as tbe The first issue of "Norsk Hvalf- "Lindblad Explorer," will be 2,300 angst - Tidende" — Journal for the tons gross, 250 feet long, and have Whaling, Guano and Herring-Oil In 50 air-conditioned cabins—all with dustries—as it was then, was pub private shower and toilet, and most lished in November, 1912, the editor will be twin-bedded cabins, save for being A. J. Dahl. In June, 1914, Mr. a few singles. Sigurd Risting, who had been head There will be three naturalist master of the local district high cruises to the Antarctic, each of 12 school, joined the editorial staff. days, but the first two also include Dahl retired in 1921, and as from a four-day visit to the Falkland Is April, 1922, the journal was pub lands. The first cruise will com lished at Sandjeford, the well-known mence at Montevideo, Uruguay, and Norwegian whaling centre, under the other two will commence and the editorship of Sigurd Risting. terminate at Punta Arenas, Chile. In the beginning, and for several Passengers will, it is expected, be years subsequently, the gazette was able to call at the polar stations maintained by the United States, Crivatelyeing closely owned, connected its establishment with the Great Britain, Chile, Argentina and foundation of Den Norske Hvalf- the Soviet Union. angerforening (The Norwegian Wbal- When the third cruise ends at ing Association). This connection Punta Arenas on February 27, 1970, became even closer with Risting's it will leave next day for a "Sub- appointment to the editorsbip, as Antarctic Islands" cruise, beading he was also the secretary of that for Cape Town, with stops at the Association. Risting died in 1935, Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and his successor, both as secretary Gough Island and Tristan da Cunna. to the Whaling organisations and as The commencing fare for each of editor of the journal, was Harald B. these cruises is $2,200 for the Ant Paulsen. When Paulsen died in 1951 arctic voyages and $2,000 for tbe Einar Vangstein took over both Sub-Antarctic Cruise. ANTARCTIC GLACIOLOGICAL WORK AT VANDA By A. J. HEINE With the occupation of the new Vanda Station in the Wright Valley, a number of new glaciological projects have been started. During the 1968-69 summer preliminary mapping of the immediate Vanda Station area and the eastern third of Lake Vanda was undertaken by C. Hughes and A. Ayres. The larger map included Lake Vanda Station) and that part of the Bull (a small lake to the east of Onyx River between it and Lake

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(Photo: C. Hughes)

ONYX RIVER. June, 1969 ANTARCTIC

Vanda. A further detailed survey DEATH OF DR. MERTZ was made of this part of the Onyx, EXPLAINED in preparation for the installation of water-flow measuring equipment Two South Australian scientists be" lieve that they have solved the 56- year-old medical mystery which Permanent bench marks were brought tragedy to the late Sir established around Lake Vanda, so Douglas Mawson's Antactic Expedi that regular measurements of the tion in 1913. water level can be made. The Onyx They belive the cause of the River began to flow into Lake Vanda "Antactic Illness" which claimed the on December 19, 1968, and stopped life of one of Mawson's companions on February 8, 1969. During this and weakened the Australian ex plorer himself to the limits of his period the lake water level rose endurance was vitamin A poisoning approximately 8 inches. caused by eating the liver of polar Mr. S. Cutfield (wintering-over sled dogs, their only food when sup scientist at Vanda Station) was able plies were lost. to measure some river flows, and But for Mawson's six-foot stature these were between 10-26 cusecs. In and heavy build he might have actual fact, the Onyx River, at its died like his smaller companion, Dr Xavier Mertz, who died on January peak flow, was not easy to cross; at some points near Vanda Station, 7, 1913, suffering from dysentery, and the surveyors (Hughes and vomiting, fits and peeling skin. Ayres) were obliged to use consider This is the theory put forward by able care at times. Professor Emeritis, Sir John Cleland and Dr R. V. Southcott, both of Adelaide, in the latest issue of the Early in the summer, Heine, "Medical Journal of Australia." Hughes and Ayres visited the Asgard Their detailed study says that Range area immediately south of there is no other adequate explanat Vanda Station. They travelled up ion for the illnesses. a small "dry valley" east of the Mt. Most of Mawson's stores were lost Odin-Obelisk Peak Range, and look in an accident on December 14, 1912, ed down on to the Taylor Valley when a third companion fell into a country in the vicinity of the Kukri crevasse and was killed. Hills. The purpose of this recon To survive, Mawson and Mertz be naissance was to investigate the gan killing the dogs for dogmeat qlaciers in this part of the Asgard stew to supplement what food thev lange, with a view to establishing had left. a project here during the 1969-70 Dr Southcott says that poisoning summer. from polar bear livers and the livers of seals, wolf and other polar ani This has now been approved by mals is traditional knowledge to the the Ross Dependency Research Com Eskimos, and only in the past 25 mittee and will supplement the years has it been appreciated scienti ilaciological work done further east fically that their high vitamin A con by Dr. C. Bull of the Institute of tent causes poisoning. Polar Studies. The New Zealanders Dr Southcott and Sir John Cleland will survey two unnamed glaciers found the clue when they studied the this coming season, carrying out poisoning of four men who were ad measurements of snow accumulation mitted to the Royal Adelaide Hos nd ablation, and movement of the lacier. A "budget" of eacb glacier frompital what separately was thought in 1935, to be suffering arseni showing either an advance or retreat cal poisoning. can then be calculated. The victims suffered headache, Several weeks were spent on the vomiting, pains and symptoms relat ing .to the central nervous system. McMurdo Ice Shelf but unfortu Their skin was also peeling. nately bad weather disrupted the Scrutiny of their records revealed work and this has now been post that all had eaten seal's livers before poned until next summer. being admitted to hospital. '•"^-rjr?:.- ANTARCTIC

NEWS OF THE SUB-ANTARCTIC ISLANDS

open doorway but we soon settled CAMPBELL ISLAND down and began to enjoy the peace and quiet. (NEW ZEALAND) Most of the month was spent on Mr. Brian Smith, the Officer in getting as many of the outside Charge at Campbell Island, has for jobs out of the way as possible warded the following article by before the onset of winter, and in radio telephone: this we were largely successful. "This is a very different period A Barbecue down on the wharf on which to report news in com celebrated the passing of our half parison with the last two, full as way mark as evident the next they were of people coming and morning where aquatic growth going along with a number of appeared to have spawned a large visits from ships. number of Leopard cans. The first day of March gave us April was another month that the final visit of H.M.N.Z.S. 'En passed very quickly with a lot deavour1 together with a dose of achieved. Painting dominated the programme; the wharf area is Campbell Island weather to re slowly taking on a new appearance mind the navy that their earlier with the colour scheme of while visits were the exception and not with green facings and roofs. May the rule. Eighty-four knots at the also was a statistically poor month barbour entrance and 50 plus for weather; sunshine gave us 6.5 while at anchor; however, loading hours, compared with the monthlv of both Antipodes Expeditions and average of 21 hours, and rainfall, Balloon project gear went smooth days of snow, hail, etc., were above ly despite the rather damp con average. However, we have plodded ditions. along and still managed to achieve This was a 'Big' day for the a good deal and keep everyone island population census with 13 occupied. men departing and two returning. A party at the end of the month We bade farewell to both of the celebrated two-thirds of the year parties which had been with us gone. It seems to us as though for a short but enjoyable spell and we are almost home, which of welcomed back Barney Maguire course we are not, but the thought and Mike Bell who had returned keeps us going and many times in to us after overhaul via Scott a week talk gets around to what Base. Needless to say many and varied were the tales that these type of car to buy. two produced in the days to The last few days have brought follow and we very much enjoyed the chill of winter with them. For the hundreds of slides that" they tbree or four days we had fairly had taken on the 'holiday.' A deep snow lying down to sea level strange feeling persisted for quite with Saturday the 3rd giving the some time after the sudden re heaviest fall, low temperatures, duction in population; many times and consequent freeze-up of water a day we would gaze about a room pipes. Nevertheless it was a wel and realise that this little handful come break from winter routines of men was the lot—one always and allowed such escapades as had tbe feeling that the others building snowmen, snowball riots were about to come through the and the ever-popular photography. June, 1969 ANTARCTIC

We were very disappointed to Island and African ports. By the learn that due to economic cut time she returned to the United back in the 'States,' the 'Eltanin' States she had circumnavigated the would not be visiting us this "lobe. winter, but this was later offset bv The satellite-geodesy programme the news that the RNZAF had on Heard Island had originally been agreed to supply us with an air planned by the Army Map Service drop. which, on January 15, was integrated We are therefore in a cheerfully into the newly-formed U.S. Army optimistic frame of mind, lookinc Topographic Command. forward to the air drop and mid winter day festivities, with the confidence that the last three months will fly by." Hallett Station Serviced By "Burton IsBand" Supply Drop To On February 11 "Burton Island" visited Hallett Station and delivered Campbell Island mail and supplies, and then, after The New Zealand Royal Air Force having been to McMurdo Sound, made a supply drop at Campbell returned again to Hallett to evacu Island on Saturday, June 21, by a ate men and material and to close Bristol supply freighter. The plane the station for the season. flew up Perseverance Harbour at 1 p.m. with 2,544 lbs. of food, coal and mail. The nine men on the island must have been a little aprehensive of Ice-Probe Planned the skill of the RNZAF\ because they had their dinghy already in tbe One of the big events for the Scott water and lying 20 yards offshore— Polar Research Institute in the just in case. However, all 17 parcels future will be the radio echo flights were dropped by parachute into the planned by them in cooperation required zone in 40 minutes, and with the U.S. National Science Foun Squadron Leader P. G. Bevan com dation for the 1969-70 and 1970-71 mended the navigator, Flying Officer summer season. These flights will B. Francis, who lay in tbe nose carry South Polar Research Insti window directing the drop by inter tute radio echo sounders to probe com. The pilot's main worry—icing the thickness of the Antarctic ice- up—did not occur and the Bristol sheet. During the 1969-70 season arrived back at Invercargill Airport some 150,000 miles will be flown at 5 p.m. covering the whole continent with the exception of the Antarctic Penin sula (which the British Antarctic Survey will deal with) and parts of Dronning Maud Land and Australian Antarctic Territory to be covered by Pageos Tracking Station the Australians and Russians. On Heard IsSand Measurements will be taken from an average height of 1,000 ft. above The "Southwind," in March, carried the ice-sheets. Flights will com out a mission to assist the U.S. Army mence and end at McMurdo. Tbe Topographic Command, when she direction of the programme will be visited Heard Island to install a by Gordon Robin, while the Ameri PAGEOS tracking station. Between cans will supply the aircraft and March 11 and 17, she successfully crew and there will be American carried out this assignment and tben scientists cooperating with the sailed for home by way of Mauritius British team. rifi'^Ws' ANTARCTIC

Lake Vanda Meteorological Programme

by DON THOMPSON

A radiotelephone link has now been established with Lake Vanda, and monthly discussions on technical and other matters are now conducted between the Weather Office and Meteorological Observer Ron Craig.

The meteorological programme ture from day to day is very vari- continues to run smoothly. Tern- able, and on several occasions a peratures have averaged 8-9°F colder temperature rise of over 25°F in 30 than Scott Base, with the lowest minutes has been recorded after the temperature for May being —56°F. onset of a westerly wind. Ron Craig remarks that the tempera-

(Photo: A. J. Heine)

MT. JASON IN THE OLYMPUS RANGE, WITH VANDA STATION IN FOREGROUND. June, 1969 ANTARCTIC

Some minor snowfalls have been mankind that Antarctica shall con experienced, and snow was lying for tinue forever to be used exclusively a total of 13 days in May, although for peaceful purposes. . . ." Wbile it only to a depth of a little over I in. bars from the continent all activities of a purely military nature, it au During the summer the station ex thorises the use of military person perienced a regular pattern of up- nel to support scientific research and-down-valley winds. Although not often exceeding 25 knots these and for other peaceful purposes. winds were sufficient both to operate the windcharger and to give Lake The Antarctic Treaty came about Vanda a reputation as "a cold place as a result of the peaceful scientific for outdoor work." However, since co-operation experienced during the March, conditions have been excep International Geophysical Year — tionally calm. The average wind- July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. speed in April was only 3 knots In order to continue the freedom of compared with approximately 9 scientific investigation which blos knots at Scott Base. Similar condi somed during that period, the 12 tions were experienced in May al nations then conducting operations though in his last message before in Antarctica agreed to enact the this was written Ron Craig stated treaty. The original signators were that towards the end of May, and Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, also in early June, there had been a France, Great Britain, Japan, New little more wind than usual. Zealand, Norway, the Soviet Union, The lack of wind has led to some the Union of South Africa and the United States. problems with wind-power genera tion, and it has been necessary to take spot readings rather tban con The idea of an Antarctic treaty tinuous recordings of some heat conference was initiated in the balance parameters to reduce power spring of 1958 by President Dwight consumption and hence the amount D. Eisenhower. At the president's of petrol used by the standby gen invitation, the conference convened erator. During the winter darkness in Washington, D.C., on October 15, period this loss of information is 1961, when the last ratification was not proving serious, and it is ex received. The treaty may be con pected that fuel reserves and more tinued indefinitely arid other nations favourable winds will allow the re may join. Since 1959, Czechoslovakia, corders to be operated continuously Poland, Denmark and the Nether again as soon as the sun returns. lands have acceded.

Under the provisions of the Ant arctic Treaty the use of nuclear weapons and disposal of nuclear wastes in Antarctica are prohibited. Another key provision allows each member nation to appoint observers ANNIVERSARY OF who are to have free access "at any time to any or all areas of Antarc ANTARCTBG TREATY tica." The agreement also encourages exchange of scientific information, June 23 marked the eighth anni personnel and results. versary' of a unique agreement by 16 nations to peacefully explore and In addition to its value to Ant develop the "seventh continent"— arctica, the treaty has also had effect Antarctica. The multilateral Antarc elsewhere. When a treaty regarding tic Treaty entered into force June the future use of outer space was 23, 1961. negotiated at the United Nations in The Antarctic Treaty recognises 1966, the Antarctic Treaty provided that ". . . it is in the interest of all precedents for several of its pro- ANTARCTIC June, 1969

University of Canterbury Antipodes Island Expedition 1969

by JOHN WARHAM

An eight-man team including two entomologists, one marine and two vertebrate zoologists, a mammalogist and a botanist worked on Antipodes Island from January 28 to March 12, 1969. They were transported by H.M.N.Z.S. "Endeavour" and took with them a sectional hut which served as their laboratory and cook house. Army tents were used for sleeping.

Work done included a census of larval and adult forms and in the Wandering Albatross population cluding good samples of bird ecto and of the fur seals. The latter have parasites. These collections will increased greatly since a party in enable accounts of some insect 1950 reported one seal present and groups throughout their sub-Antarc it seems that Antipodes has shared tic range to be completed. The in the recent upsurge in numbers of littoral invertebrates were also ex Arctocephalus forsteri which has tensively surveyed and it will now been documented elsewhere, e.g. at be possible to produce a full faunal Macquarie Island. During the course list as well as a checklist of the of these censuses the locations of marine algae together with notes the numerous penguin colonies were on their ecology. also plotted. Other work done by the party Other research on sea-birds in included the repair of the castaway cluded detailed investigations into hut and the replacement of its door the breeding and behaviour of the and window which have been miss endemic Erect-crested Penguin and ing for many years. The party of some of the petrels. Some valu examined the whole of the island able bird specimens were brought and a map is in preparation which back to New Zealand of which will show details of the topography examples of Pterodroma mollis and for the first time. Pufjinus assimilis are perhaps the most interesting. The former has Among the material brought back hitherto been unknown in New Zea to the mainland were live samples land and evidently is a winter of the two Antipodean parrots. These breeder at Antipodes. will be used to establish a breeding stock in New Zealand and to supple The botanist had a rewarding time ment field work on their ecology and behaviour started on the island. linins? tbe processes of The birds ar s on the hillsides and gathering material for the study of the relationships of some of the endemics like Senecio antipodus as The expedition was assisted by a revealed by chromosome counts. grant from the Trans-Antarctic Ex pedition and many other organisa Extensive collections of terrestrial tions too numerous to detail here, artbropods were made, both of also helped in different ways. June, 1969 ANTARCTIC

A Preliminary Report on the Snares Island Expedition 1968/69

by JOHN WARHAM, Dept. of Zoology, University of Canterbury

. A six-man team worked on the main island of the Snares Group from November 14-29, 1968, when two members left. Those remaining continued field observations until February 25, 1969.

The party consisted of:— Campbell Island. During January J. Warham, Leader, Nov. 14-29. and February the Campbell Island D. B. Cameron, Deputy Leader, link improved. The reserve set, used Nov. 14-Feb. 25. for contacting ZLB Awarua and fish S. L. Bennington, Nov. 14-Feb. 25. ing boats on 204 kc. was satisfactory B. Keeley, Nov. 14-Feb. 25. and useful at times, while an un- R. J. MacKay, Nov. 14-Feb. 25. cheduled link with ZLPH Riverton E. A. Walker, Nov. 14-29. was always perfect. Finance for maintenance, expend LOGISTICS able stores, transport and equip Transport was provided by the ment was provided by a Nuffield brand new 52 ft. fishing vessel New Zealand Research Grant, and "Kutere" (Lloyd Young, skipper) of from Departmental and University Bluff, chartered for the purpose. On Funds. each occasion the return journey was undertaken non-stop but on tbe THE PRESENT CONDITION first outward journey an overnigbt OF THE ISLANDS stop was made at Port Pegasus, on No substantial changes appear to the second outward journey two have taken place since our visit nights were spent there due to bad early in 1967 and the island appears weather, while on the third occasion to be in good heart. Before our both journeys were made without a arrival, Stewart Island had three break. Mr. Young was most helpful months of the windiest weather in throughout and we were impressed the memory of the Bluff fishermen by his seamanship and by tbe relia and it was presumably at this time bility of "Kutere." that trees were thrown in many places on the main island. Others As usual the party's radio equip were thrown during storms while ment was overhauled and in part the present party was there but in supplied by Mr. P. A. G. Howell of most instances the trees continued the Physics Dept. Unfortunately on to live as the roots are seldom en the outward journey several heavy tirely torn from the ground. seas were shipped and some sea- water damaged the main radio de WORK DONE IN 1968 & 1969 signed to contact Campbell Island. A. Construction and Maintenance This radio was replaced on the The Biological Station and Cast second visit of "Kutere" in late away Hut were in good condition November but as expected, recep but the water tanks collecting roof tion was not as good as it would run off from the biology huts were u-we been using the original set and rusted away and empty. During .e aerial matched to it. In the January and February the island .esult few messages could be sent experienced a long period without around Christmas although it was rain and the 200-gaIlon tank on the usually possible to receive from Castaway Hut, full on our arrival, ANTARCTIC

(Photo: John Warham) CAMP SITE, REEF POINT, ANTIPODES ISLAND, and BOLLONS ISLAND.

was emptied. It was then switched the entrance against the prevail to the main hut which has a larger ing wind and rain and to pro catchment area. vide somewhere for hanging wet parkas, etc. Improvements made include the (c) A concrete path was laid beside following:— the hut to lessen the amount of mud being carried inside in wet (a) A "Dieselbeck" burner unit, weather. Shacklock range and a concrete (d) A sink and outlet were fitted insulating surround were fitted inside the main hut. into the main hut to provide proper cooking facilities and heat for drying clothes. This B. Zoological Research was run on kerosene and proved 1. Marine Ecology most successful. We owe Lloyd The work done by Mr. Cameron Young our best thanks for get fell into the following categories:— ting these extremely unwieldy items ashore wilhoui damage. (a) An examination of the fauna living within Durvillea holdfasts. (b) The main hut was fitted with a (b) General collections of Poly- porch oyer the door to protect chaetes. , 1969 ANTARCTIC

(c) Studies of the fauna of the 21 years after being banded as breed lichen zone. ing adults. Mr. Bennington also set up a study colony on the east coast (d) Studies of the rock pool fauna in an area where the nests are very and flora, especially the high dense, identifying the nests with level pools on Seal Point. numbered pegs, sexing and then colour banding the adults. He has also examined the differences in 2. Land Invertebrates behaviour between the sexes. Much of this work can be written up for Mr. Bennington attempted to esti publication but an estimate of popu mate population densities of carabid lation parameters based on the dis beetles on the floor of the Olearia appearance of the 1948 and 1961 forest. He used pitfall traps and breeders must await yet another various mark-recapture techniques search in 1970 because there is a but none was really successful, per possibility that this species breeds haps because of the high numbers biennially so that two years' searches of insects involved. would be necessary to find all the marked animals still alive. Mr. Walker, in a shorter study, investigated the foods and feeding (d) A certain amount of miscel habits of beetles and wetas on the laneous data was also recorded, forest floor. wing loadings of petrels were taken as were further samples of stomach oil from these birds, and some data 3. Birds was collected on clutch size, breed ing success and adult dimensions of *ed-b'.lled Gulls at the request of Ph.D. student, J. Mills. The general studies on birds involved the band measure- ing of 870 further animals, 500 of u .uiu mi'. MacKay these being adult mutton birds. made a complete census of the 113 colonies of this species on the island (e) New vertebrates for the Island. and extensive observations on be haviour and on changes during the The following birds were recorded mou for the first time:— Macaroni Penguin (b) A study was made by Mr. Kee- ley of the aspects of the breeding Mallard behaviour of the New Zealand Black-billed Gull Mutton-bird Pufflnus griseus and of the Mottled Petrel Pterodroma inex- Greenshank pectata. This has resulted in the acquisition of a considerable amount Sharp-tailed Sandpiper of new data on both these species which it is hoped to incorporate into Greenfinch a paper in the near future. Australian Tree Martin (c) Further work was done on the Yellowhammer. biology of Buller Albatross Diome- The first of these comprises a new dea bulled. A census has been made record for New Zealand. of the birds breeding on tbe main island during this season. An inten (f) Mammals. No programme of sive Search was made for hreerlirm search was undertaken on these adult'; hnnr1f»H t a valuable discovery was the --jeding of the Southern Sea-lion and a total of 100 banded birds was Neophoca hookeri. Only two other sighted, including seven of Dr. Rich- breeding stations for this species dale's birds which are still breeding are known. ■a A. ''?j■ ANTARCTIC June, 1969

RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC WHALERS

by ISOIF PIKAREVICH

Antarctic whaling flotillas depart the Soviet Black Sea port of Odessa every autumn and return in summer, after a hard and dangerous season, to a heroes' welcome.

The expeditions continue for seven "While we were hunting for to p\aht months, ships covering set whales, as many as 60 cyclones 0,000 miles. Their passed across the whaling grounds. route lies across the Black Sea, the There was an unceasing storm. Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans Sometimes the sea stayed rough for —across 10 seas altogether—before weeks. The crews of the whale they reach the whaling grounds in chasers had it particularly hard, as the Southern Atlantic. On the way, waves now swung them up high, they pass the hot tropics, the stormy now hurled them into a deep preci 40th latitudes and the hazardous ice pice. It was difficult to keep up fields crowded with icebergs. right on a wet deck and still more difficult to spot a whale and to hit it. Each flotilla includes floating fac "The Antarctic summer is not only tories—huge ships with a displace severe—it is short, too. There is no ment of more than 40,000 tons and time to be wasted on waiting for with departments for cutting whales, good weather, be it snow, blizzard automatic lines for the processing or storm. The whales are very timic of whale products and freezers and and careful, and it takes a great big tanks for storing fuel and raw deal of self-control, strong nerves, materials. keen eyes and physical hardiness to The chasers—small, speedy motor- get them." boats, with engines of several thou sand horsepower — are needed to TEAMWORK chase the whales, which weigh up to 100 tons and move through the The success of a whaling expedi water at 25 m.p.h. tion depends not only on the har- pooners, of course. The flotilla has RAMMED many people of various specialities Hazards abound. In flotilla, —ship handlers, mechanics, carcass cutters, fat boilers, helicopter pilots, "Sovetskaya Ukraina," in which the who do reconnaissance work from writer travelled, a harpooned whale the air, scientists who study the dived under the chaser, hitting the nature of the Antarctic. The results propeller and putting the boat out of action. of tbe expedition depend on their teamwork, on the expert co-ordina On another occasion, a fatally tion of the work of the flotilla's wounded whale rammed the boat ships and production shops. and part of its huge body slid on to Modern equipment has made the the low deck. The ship listed and whalers' work much easier. The began to sink, but the whale was hunting motor boats are fitted out dying and its 60-ton carcase slowly with the latest harpoon guns and slipped back into the sea. various electronic mechanisms and Even without these attacks, the devices. But it is people who dic whalers' life is pretty hard. Here is tate success. Whale processing was what Boris Morgun, captain-director much easier to improve. This is of the flotilla, has to say about the how it is done in practice: the hunt latest trip to the Antarctic. ing motor boats pull up alongside ANTARCTIC

the high sides of the mother ship to hand in their catch. After that, they NEWS FROM siiil back to sea. The whale carcases, BELLINGSHAUSEN BASE resembling half-sunk submarines, await their turn to be cut and The Soviet polar explorers from the processed. Bellingshausen Station have accom plished extensive biological works, NO WASTE headed by Dr. V. I. Krylov. They have compiled the first detailed de Powerful hoists pull the whale scription of sea mammals and birds carcass on board in a matter of in that region. In gulfs, bays and minutes. On the dressing deck—the on the coast of the Waterloo Island size of a football pitch—cutters, they have studied different species armed with special knives resem of seals: sea elephant, sea leopards, bling hockey slicks, work like vir and crab-eaters. On tbe island itself tuoso surgeons. They know the there are 15 species of birds, includ whale's anatomy well, and quickly ing sea-gulls, blue-eyed cormorants, strip the whale of fat and meat and gigantic storm petrels and, of take out the liver. The processing course, colonies of penguins. of raw materials is fully mecbanised. Every part of the whale has its use. The skeleton is cut into small RUSSIAN SHIP AT fragments by mechanical saws and ground into bone meal. Nothing is FREEMANTLE left of the carcass except excre The Russian whaling vessel "Besst- ments, which are thrown away. rashnij" arrived at Freemantle, West From the dressing deck the fat Australia, to take on fresh food sup goes to the boiler where automatic plies early in May. The 840-ton devices maintain the necessary tem whalechaser left the Russian wbal- perature and control the whole pro ing fleet of 17 chasers and a mother cess. The freezing is also done auto ship in the Southern Ocean some matically. Television cameras are days before, and took on supplies used to observe the course of pro for all the vessels. duction processes. Included in the supplies were one Many people are unaware how and a half tons of sour cream, ten often they use whale products. The tons of potatoes, one and a half tons best types of margarine are made of of lemons, a ton of cottage cheese, whale fat obtained from the so- eight tons of cabbages, two tons of called "whiskered" whale. One big onions and ten tons of fruit, mainly whale yields as much fat as a here apples and oranges. of 1,000 pigs. Polyvitamin tablets The whaling fleet had been away are made of whale liver. Tablets from Russia for about six montbs, for treating slow-growing children and was then on its way back to tbe are obtained from the pituitary Black Sea from Antarctic waters. gland of the cachalot whale. The cachalot's spermacetic fat is of great value: it is indispensable in treating RUSSIAN WHALING bad burns and is widely used in perfumery. Women might be in SKIPPER DIES terested to know that tbe best oint ments are made of spermaceti. Tbe The critically-ill captain of a Russian most lasting expensive perfumes are whaling vessel died at sea on t... morning of April 13 v* th<* «hir» cn*», obtained by whalers. towards Wellington. Captain Saljnikov, from Vladivo- Whale products go into making stock, died from a ruptured stomach many more things: fishmeal for ulcer, the Russian Consul in Welling cattle and poultry, tinned meat, ton (Mr. V. I. Smirnov) reported. leather, technical oils for precision The whaling ship, the "Sourvoi," instruments, gelatine, glue, buttons rejoined its whaling fleet the follow- and insulin.

JT ^m ANTARCTIC

SCAR Working Group on Geology

By R. W. WILLETT, Chairman.

In this article I have attempted to outline the growth and work of one of the Working Groups of the Scientific Committee for Ant arctic Research (SCAR). As a matter of interest, the name changed from Special Committee to Scientific Committee in 1958. The Working Group described is that on Geology. It has been one in which New Zealand has been prominent since its formation.

New Zealand has made consider for the working parties. The author able contributions to the geology of was assigned to the Working Group Antarctica and has taken seriously on Geology. At this meeting the the responsibility for the geology of original Working Group II was fur nearly one-third of the exposed rock ther concentrated by the establish of Antarctica that lies within the ment of a Working Group for Ross Dependency. Since 1959 the Glaciology. entire Victoria Mountains from just Although not an outcome of the south of the Beardmore Glacier to Working Group for Geology, geology tbe Rennick in the north has been was supported by 19 papers at the geologically mapped, using as a base Antarctic Symposium held at Buenos pioneer topographic work by Lands Aires, November 1959. This was at and Survey Department. first collective attention to the re At the first meeting of SCAR in sults of initial geological work com The Hague, February 1958, the for menced during I.G.Y. Readers should mation of three Working Groups remember that the Falkland Islands was approved, of which Group II Dependency Survey had been carry was to concern itself with geology, ing out topographic and geological work in that area before I.G.Y. but ~laciology, morphology, and carto- it was not until I.G.Y. that geology ;raphy. At that meeting the initial report of Working Group II was began again in Victoria Land after a >resented by L. M. Gould (United break of some 50 years. otates). At the second meeting in At the fourth SCAR meeting held Moscow, 1958, a separate working in Cambridge, U.K., 1960, the work ing groups were given permanent troup.t tbat for meeting cartography the was recommended approved, status and the author became scientific investigations were ap chairman of that for Geology. The proved and it was agreed that the Working Pary that met in 1960 at programme for geology, in addition Cambridge consisted: to classical studies, special attention R. W. Willett (Chairman) should be directed to: A. Cailleux V. E. Fuchs (a) The terrain beneath the ice as T. Gjelsvik revealed by seismic studies. L. M. Gould (b) Post-glacial and/or Quaternary M. M. Somov geology at coastal stations. (c) Paleoclimatic studies. The group heard reports on pro (d) Paleomagnetic studies. gress of geological work in Ant (e) Submarine geology. arctica and discussed future pro grammes. Out of these discussions The third meeting of SCAR, in the Group proposed a number of Canberra, 1959, appointed reporters recommendations to guide Antarctic June, 1969 ANTARCTIC geological work. These recommen (f) that the Oceanographic Group dations, accepted by the SCAR Plen be urged to continue work on ary session, are reproduced below: submarine geological studies. It is further recommended that (a) That member nations when preparing regional geological deep samples by the piston cor maps do so sheet by sheet, ing method be obtained. The each sheet carrying a brief, Working Group draws atten tion to the desirability of more approximately 5,000-word, sum mary of the geology thereon. rapid publication of batbymet- This is in no way considered ric and echo-sounding data. to replace geological reports The Working Group notes the exis and bulletins, but is designed tence of overlap in the proposed work to enable tbe maps to be programmes of several participating available for other specialist nations and suggests that these differ workers without the inevitable ences be resolved bi-laterally in order delay arising from the pre to prevent any unnecessary waste of paration of bulletin texts; man-power and logistics. ">) that where possible geological The recommendations of this Group map series be published on gave rise to some amendments of the the same scale as the cor original recommended scientific in responding topographic map vestigations approved by SCAR. The series. For large-scale maps it changes called for some attention to is recommended that SCAR systematic mapping as will be seen member nations consider, for in the amended recommendations discussion at next SCAR meet published. ing, the possible uniform use of certain large scales for de Systematic regional mapping on tailed geological maps; sheets based on the recommendations of the Working Group on Carto (c) that the member nations of SCAR continue geological map graphy. ping in the Antarctic. That Although the nature of the geology colour schemes, symbols, and and the area of exposures will control abrevialions be circulated to scale of sheets, it is recommended all SCAR member nations for that each participating country re comments, and that a correla tain one scale throughout for the tion of these comments be regional geological maps in the sec presented to the next SCAR tors in which it has agreed to work. meeting; In addition to regional mapping and its ancillary studies (penological, (d) that, prior to the next meetins palaeontological), the Antarctic calls of SCAR, the member nations tor attention within the basic frame give consideration to the fol work of regional geology: lowing points for discussions: (i) production of geological (a) Geomorphology and Quater maps, nary geology including work of (ii) geological symbols and ice, frost and wind. colours, (iii) stratigraphic and forma (b) Palaeoclimatic studies. tion names, correlation, proposals to be prepared (c) Palaeomagnetic studies. for next meeting, (d) Geochemical studies of rocks (iv) co-ordination of isotope and minerals. dating of Antarctic rocks, (v) any other relevant matter. (e) Terrain beneath the ice in asso ciation with geophysical stud (e) that the Soviet proposals for ies. geological mapping in the Ant arctic be circulated with a view (f) Volcanology, study of past and to discussion at the next SCAR present volcanisms and its meeting; products. ANTARCTIC June, 1969

(g) Structural geology. connection with the seventh meeting of SCAR. This was accepted and the The fifth meeting of SCAR at Wel Working Group were asked to work lington, New Zealand, January 1962, out details. Although the Working saw another meeting of the Working Group did not meet at Boulder, a Group in Geology. Those present report was presented by the Chair were the following: man on the progress following the various recommendations accepted R. W. Willett (Chairman) at the fifth SCAR. K. E. Bullen R. H. Clark A. B. Ford The 1963 Symposium on Antarctic Sir Vivian Fuchs Geology was the first bringing to T. Gjelsvik gether of geologists of all member H. M. Pantin nations of SCAR. The success of this R. N. M. Panzarini meeting exceeded initial expecta M. J. Ravich tions, for delegates were able to dis F. C. Truter cuss the results of at least five sea R. H. Wheeler sons' work, and as a result the critical points and areas of Antarctic geology Again, as at other meetings, the showed up most clearly. The papers Working Group received reports and presented were published in single made a number of recommendations volume in 1964 (edited by Dr. A. J. concerning Antarctic geological work. Adie), a volume which has had a The most important was that recom wide sale. mending a Symposium on Antarctic Geology. The following is the recom At the seventh SCAR meeting held mendation itself and was accepted at Capetown in 1963, the Working by the final plenary of SCAR: Group on Geology met and reviewed the progress of action arising from RECOMMENDATION V.G-7 early meetings. The following were present: "In view of the complexity of the problem of stratigraphic and for- R. W. Willett (Chairman) mational names and rock defini R. J. Adie tions, the Group recommends that P. Bellair a meeting of Antarctic geologists T. Gjelsvik be held in 1963 under SCAR aus L. M. Gould pices and preferably in conjunction I. R. McLeod with a SCAR meeting. A prelimin D. C. Neethling ary programme for this meeting E. F. C. H. Rohwer will be drawn up by the Chairman E. S. W. Simpson for circulation before the next W. J. Talbot SCAR meeting. It is the opinion of T. Tatsumi the Group that such a meeting F. C. Truter should not be in conjunction with any other large geological confer Among the recommendations, all ence as it is felt that this meeting later accepted by the final plenary should be attended by Antarctic of SCAR, was one that all future geo geologists only. Also, it is con- logical symposia should be under the joint auspices of SCAR and IUGS (International Union of Geological Sciences) and that the next meeting oe held in 5-7 years' time. The rising knowledge of Antarctica should be tide of knowledge of Antarctic geo- correspondingly greater, hence the loey was being reflected in the need opportunity for profitable discus to" prepare new geological maps of sions would be increased." the whole of Antarctica. The nomi At the sixth SCAR meeting at Boul nation of R. J. Adie (FIDS) as a vice- der, U.S.A., August 1962, South Africa president for Antarctic geology in confirmed its invitation to hold the the Commission for the Geological Geology Symposium at Capetown in Map of the World is significant. ANTARCTIC

Recommendations were also con the paper of such meetings which is cerned with the Stratigraphic Lexi of great assistance to the chairman con of Antarctica, list of isotope and the meeting. dates and translation. The Working Antarctic geologists will meet again Group also recommended the setting in Oslo in 1970 but this time their up of two depositories of published geophysical colleagues will be with geological information, with rock them and the Working Groups are specimen and fossils at Geology De- sure that the Capetown success will tartment, University of Capetown, be repeated but on a broader base, louth Africa, and at University of really an Antarctic earth science Canterbury,' New Zealand. This has been accepted and does function. meeting. Aware of certain unique geological New Zealand has played an impor sites in Antarctica, the Working tant role in the Working Groups con Group sought to draw to all Antarctic cerned with earth sciences. Dr. personnel the importance of preserv Robin Adams is now secretary of the ing such sites. Working Group on Solid Earth Geo physics, a post formerly held by Dr. The Working Group did not meet E. I. Robertson, and the author has again until the 1968 tenth SCAR meet been chairman of the Geology Work ing in Tokyo, and acting on a recom ing Group since its inception, and is mendation from the nintb SCAR at present also IUGS representative 1966, joint meetings were held with at SCAR. the Solid Earth Geophysics Working Several collective efforts organised Group. There were present at Tokyo by the Working Party on Geology will for the Geology Working Group the be completed or near completion by following: the time of the Svmnnsjuni in 197u, R. W. Willett (Chairman) iap of Ant R. J. Adie (Secretary) arctica, stratigraphic lexicon, revised N. H. Fourcade list of Antarctic minerals, revised I. R. McLeod compilation of all Antarctic rock ages T. van Autenboer to be published in English and Rus J. Nougier sian, an atlas of metamorphic rocks. T. Tatsumi The importance of the 1970 Sympo Y. Harada sium and Working Group meeting to K. Kizaki the collective thinking and consolida K. Suwa tion of Antarctic geology is obvious Y. Yoshida and it is hoped that all nations active T. Yoshikawa in the geological and geopbysical field L. E. Kent will be represented. C. Craddock M. G. Ravich The Geology Group met for a week in addition to the joint meetings with ANTARCTIC REUNION the Solid Earth Geophysics Group. The joint discussion on common pro IN AUCKLAND blems, the contributions to geologi cal problems by geophysicists and the Following the receipt of a list of greater understanding by geologists Antarctic people in Auckland from of the results of geophysics in Ant Mr. Donnelly, the Secretary of the arctica were but a few of the real Wellington Branch, Mr. Keith Wise, benefits. In addition, it was agreed was able to organise a muster of 20 that the recommended 1970 Sympo people to a convivial and film even sium at Oslo be sponsored jointly by ing in Auckland. After suitable re the two working groups and of freshments three films covering the course by SCAR and IUGS. The suc Ross Dependency area and the Auck cess of the Tokyo meeting owed land Islands were shown. The even much to the fact that R. J. Adie has ing was voted such a success that it agreed to act as Secretary, which is hoped it will prove to be the first means there is someone to look after of a series. ANTARCTIC

THE READER WRITES Sidelights of Antarctic Research

Letters, preferably not longer than Describing his years in the depart 500-600 words, are invited from ment, Dr Cumpston said it had been readers wbo bave observed some a most interesting and rewarding little-known facet of Antarctic life period, but over the years he felt the or who have reached conclusions of department had lost "some of the interest on some Antarctic problem. personal touch." —Ed. Dr Cumpston went to Canberra in 1928 and joined the Commonwealth Dear Sir, Crown Solicitor's Office in 1933. He I am a boy of 20 years of age. I collect stamps and letters. Six iBWHSBMMHM montbs ago I began to collect In 1939, together with Mr E. P. stamps of the Antarctic Territories. Please can anyone give me any information about stations, ships, ll»l»lQ «»!»•■ Ml* I territories. later commanded a company of ski I would be happy to make pen friends from members of any of tbe expedition bases or from the He then served in the Allied Geo Post Offices in the Antarctic. graphical Section of General Mac- I hope that you can perform my Arthur's headquarters. wishes. Uew Riippel, He opened the Australian Legation 415 Krefeld in Chile in 1949 and in 1950 became Dilbornstrasse 10 Official Secretary at the Australian Western Germany High Commissioner's Office in Wel lington, and then became Australian DR. CUMPSTON RETIRES Consul in Noumea. He has been de partmental historian since 1960. An Australian who has a long and close association with the New Zea Dr Cumpston was in Wellington land Antarctic Society is due to re when the N.Z. Antarctic Society was tire on July 2 from the Australian advocating a New Zealand Expedi Department of External Affairs, after tion, and he was most helpful in ad serving for 33 years, longer than any vice and assistance during his so other officer in the Department. journ here. Dr John Cumpston, 60, of Camp bell, joined the department when it Over the years John has been a had only eight members. Today there very good friend to the Society, and are more than 2,000. has made his collection of cuttings During the past nine years Dr from the Australian Press Cuttings Cumpston has become well known Agency available free of charge to through his published works as the the Editor, and thus has enabled departmental historian. His works items which would not otherwise include a guide to shipping arrivals been available to be noted. and departures at Sydney, 1788-1825, a pictorial record of the siege of To- We greatly appreciate all he has bruk and a history of Macquarie Is done for the Society, and wish him land. a long and happy retirement. June, 1969 ANTARCTIC

CfiPTFTV MFWQ , sPeciaI guests of the evening were Ov/\j>J.JLi 1 X ilJuff 0 the Mayor and Mayoress of Christ- church, Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Guthrey, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ayres and Mrs. CANTERBURY BRANCH Robin Foubister, wife of the present Mr. Randall Heke, the Canterbury leader at Scott Base. Branch's president, writes as follows: A special item of interest was the On March 3 Admiral Abbott, Jnr.. playing of a tape recorded message from Mr. C. R. Ford, one of the last two survivors of Captain Scott's first expedition to the Antarctic in '01-04. Mr. Ford went south at the age of 21 as chief steward of the The slides illustrated how the vast "Discovery." amount of money spent in the Ant arctic was used in maintaining the Notwithstanding the cold wintry established facilities, logistic support weather, it was a most successful and scientific operations. and enjoyable evening, notable for the number of young people who The Annual General Meeting was attended and men who had previ held on May 8 and the elected office ously been to Scott Base. bearers are: Congratulations to Pamela Young President: Mr. R. M. Heke. on being selected to accompany hus Vice-Presidents: Miss R. McLean, band Evan Young to the Antarctic Mr. H. C. Gray. this coming summer. Mrs. Young will share the experience of Marie Immediate Past President: Mr. H. Darby and Dorothy Braxton, two F. Griffiths. other lady members of the branch Hon. Secretary-Treasurer: Mrs. who visited McMurdo Sound in 1968. Barbara Burley. Hon. Auditor: Miss I. O. Orchard. Committee: Rev. J. Keith; Messrs. B. Duffell, A. Anderson, F. Gur- WELLINGTON BRANCH ney, J. Claydon, J. Mather, S. A well-attended meeting on April Smith, B. George; Mesdames C. 10, at the National Club Lounge, W. Collins and M. Williams. Customhouse Quay, heard a most The membership of the branch interesting address on Macquarie now numbers over 200 and continues Island, one of the sub-Antarctic Is to grow. It has been a pleasant lands regularly mentioned in the surprise to see so many of the 1968 Bulletin. Antarctic tourists renewing their Chris Thomas, now with the Fish subscriptions, and many have writ- eries Division of the Marine Depart- ""-'"•j opciii u lnunuib ui macquarie appreciation in the Bulletin and alsc and aboard one of the Danish vessels r>t the pleasure of visiting New Zea- relieving the Australian Antarctic ind and of the hospitality they bases. He spoke of his experiences, ceived on their journey south. and showed a film entitled "Margin This year the Mid-Winter Dinner for Life," the material for wbich he was held on Saturday, June 21, at filmed whilst at Macquarie as a bio the Sign of the Takahe, Cashmere logist, and which has recently been Hills, Christchurch. Guest speaker produced by Pacific Films of Wel for the evening was Les Quarter- lington. main who retired last year as Editor The Branch hopes that it may be of the Bulletin. Les spoke on what possible to sponsor one or more he thought would be the future de members to work again for a short velopments in the Antarctic within period at Cape Royds as Curators -3 next ten years. No doubt his at the penguin rookery and the his rophesy will be watched with great toric hut. This may also extend to interest by those fortunate enough Hut Point and Cape Evans if the to hear his outstanding address. tourist influx develops to any extent. ANTARCTIC June, 1969

ANTARCTIC BOOKSHELF

DICTIONARY CATALOG OF sive. Among the regional atlases are many covering states, counties, and T H E M A P D I V I S I O N cities of the United States. Compre hensive coverage of the 19th-century county atlases and those of New The Research Libraries of the New York City from the middle of the York Public Library. To be pub 19th century enrich the collection. lished by G. K. Hall & Co., 70 There are nearly 11,000 volumes Lincoln St., Boston, Mass., U.S.A. other than atlases including works The Dictionary Catalog of the Map relating to the history of maps and Division, The Research Libraries of the techniques of map making, peri The New York Public Library, will odical articles and bibliographies. be published in 10 volumes by G. K. Maps and articles contained in non- Hall & Co. of Boston. cartographic books, and periodicals housed in other divisions of the library, are represented by analyti This dictionary catalog lists maps cal cards. and other cartographic publications from early American and European The Catalog, with an estimated rarities to up-to-date representations 175,000 cards, will be reproduced in of all parts of the world, including 10 volumes and has a prepublication sheet maps of the Map Division. A price of $585.00 in the U.S. and depository for the U.S. Army Map $643.50 elsewhere. After January 31, Service, the division also has exten 1970, the price will be $730.00 in the sive holdings of maps issued by U.S. and $803.00 elsewhere. foreign governments. Navigation charts before 1900 of the U.S. Hydro graphic Office, the U.S. Coast Sur vey, and the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey are represented in the cata ANTARCTIC MAP FOLIO log by place entry cards. In addi SERIES: Nos. 10 & 11 tion, the catalog contains entries for manuscript maps in the Manuscript Folio 10: "Primary Productivity and Division, early printed maps in the Benthic Marine Algae of the Ant- Rare Book Division, and the Phelps Arctic and Sub-Antarctic." By b. Stokes American Historical Views Balech, S. Z. El-Sayed, G. Hasle, in the Prints Division. W. Neushul, and J. S. Zaneheld. The 6,000 atlases in the Map Divi Published by the American Geo sion from the 17th century to the graphical Society, Broadway at 156 present include the work of Merca- Street, New York, 10032, 1968, 11 tor, Blaeu, Jansson and other early pp. and 15 plates. US.$6.00. cartographers. Analytical entries An Argentinian, a Norwegian and have been made for the maps in three American scientists have join 17th- and 18th-century world atlases; ed together to produce the text and all the works of Ptolemy, Ortehus the maps of this splendid publica and Lafreri in the Rare Book Divi tion. sion as well as atlases published Antarctic biological exploration prior to 1600 are similarly analysed here. There is an extensive collec dates back to the British expedition under James Clark Ross, when Dr. tion of facsimile atlases, covering J. D. Hooker, the botanist and sur many fields; some of them, such as those by Nordenskiold, Jomard, San- geon, called attention to the funda tarem, Kretschmer and Karpinski, mental importance of phytoplank- have their places carefully analysed. ton in the economy of the sea. Later The collection of historical, regional expeditions carried out investiga and thematic atlases is also exten tions of a purely descriptive nature ANTARCTIC on the marine organisms of the Ant values are integrated from the sur arctic regions, and the "Discovery" face to a depth of 150 m.. Investigations, commencing in 1925, Plates 9 and 10 cover the diatom heralded a new phase which stressed flora of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic. the dynamic aspect of Antarctic bio Although diatoms are cosmopolitan logy, with particular emphasis on in their distribution, some species whales and the factors influencing are found only in tbe Antarctic, their migration, food, feeding habits others only in sub-Antarctic waters. and breeding cycle. Again, the IGY The species shown in the plates programme saw scientific investiga were selected as being representa tion in the Antarctic waters expand tive of the approximately 100 species ed, and this programme is still which are present in Antarctic and gaining momentum. sub-Antarctic areas. About 40 data Folio 10 is primarily concerned sources were used in mapping the with the biological productivity and species. related aspects of Antarctic and The maps of Plates 11 and 12 give sub-Antarctic waters. Maps showing some indication of the present the distribution and abundance of knowledge of the distribution of the pbytoplankton standing crop, dinoflagellates south of 35°S. A as well as primary productivity are small number of species wbich are presented. The nutrient chemicals well identified are significant in of these waters are also given in an their distribution, and have been effort to correlate the productivity collected by at least two expedi with the distribution and concentra tions, were chosen for mapping and tion of the nutrient salts. distribution. The highly fertile waters sur The final three plates cover Ben- rounding Antarctica present a mark thic Marine Algae. Because the ed contrast to the cold, rugged and collections of predominantly sub- hostile continent with its sparse tidal marine flora are so scattered vegetation. The special feature of and generally so incomplete, con the southern waters that lead to clusions concerning overall distribu their high fertility are discussed in tion patterns are extremely tenuous. the section under Primary Produc However, field observations carried tivity. Through the mechanism of out along the coasts of Ross Island vertical circulation in certain reg and Victoria Land in the summer ions, including the Antarctic, the of 1963-64 revealed a widespread nutrient-rich deep waters are marine algal bottom vegetation at brought to the surface and luxuriant depths to 35 m. plant growth results, and in these regions many of the world's largest Folio 11: "Distribution of Selected fisheries are located. Groups of Marine Invertebrates in Waters South of 35 °S Latitude." Plates 1 to 8 summarise what is By A. W. H. Be; H. Boschma and known of the distribution of phyto- T. P. Lowe; J. S. Bullivant; E. W. plankton standing crop, C" uptake, Dawson; J. H. Dearborn and J. A. nutrient salts, and particulate and Rommel; R. K. Dell; S. J. Ed dissolved organic carbon in tbe Ant monds; H. B. Fell and S. Dawsey; arctic and sub-Antarctic waters. H. B. Fell; T. Holzinger and M. These show a surprising amount of Sherraden; M. W. Foster; S. R. variation. Geiger and C. Brahm; J. W. Hedg- In presenting the distribution of peth; N. S. Hillman; D. E. Horley; the productivity parameters in V. M. Koltun; P. Kott; D. L. Paw- Plates 1-8, two types of maps are son; A. Ross and W. A. Newman; used. In one, surface values are D. F. Squires. Published by the plotted, in the other, values are American Geographical Societv, integrated through a column of New York; 1969, 44 pp. and 29 water extending from sea surface to plates. US.$10.00. the depths of the euphotic zone American, New Zealand, Australian, (except for the nutrient salts collect Russian and Dutch scientists bave ed in the Antarctic sector where the combined to present this far-ranging ANTARCTIC account and mapping of the marine But in reality it is a lot thicker, invertebrates or the Antarctic and Soviet geologists report. sub-Antarctic regions. It is estimated Seismic probing techniques they that the Antarctic is 400% more have used in Queen Maud Land productive than the rest of the establish the thickness of the crust oceans. The dominant animal of there as ranging between 20 and 35 the Antarctic is the krill (Euphasia miles. superba), which in the past sup "The study of hundreds of seismo- ported the stocks of whales and grams and analysis of geophysical upon several species of penguins, observations have changed former other birds and many fishes depend. theories of the Antarctic platform Recent estimates suggest that the as a homogenous structure," said potential fishery of Euphasia superba the head of the Soviet Antarctic might exceed that of all the other expedition, Dmitry Solovyov. fisheries of the world combined, but Structure of the crust in Arctic would involve difficult processing and Antarctic regions will now be problems. compared at Leningrad Institute, Most of the information concern Solovyov said. ing tbe distribution of marine life is It will be possible after a study of based on studies of the plankton of the materials at the Institute of the upper layers and of the benthos; Arctic Geology in Leningrad to com considerably less being known about pare the peculiarities or the Earth's the deeper regions. The surface crust in the Polar regions, said waters of the Antarctic comprise a Solovyov. relatively uniform biogeographic Scient'sts also hope to find out region, characterised by very high how this structure is influenced by primary productivity which in turn the ice cover. is associated with a rich zooplank- ton population. While many recent workers, in cluding most of the contributors to this folio, do not find clear evidence of distinct East and West subregions, FIFTH WOMAN SCIENTIST Kolman, in his article, notes differ NAMED ences in the sponges of East Ant arctica, including McMurdo Sound, The last member of the five-woman and West Antarctica, and believes American scientific party has now that this cannot be explained on the been named. She is 19-year-old Miss usual grounds of inadequate collec Terry Lee Tikhell, of Barnesville, tions. Ohio; a third-year student at the The Plates include two sheets each Ohio State University and also on: Planktonic Foraminifera; Pori- attends the Univers'ty's Institute of fera; Nemertea; Pycnogonida; Plank Polar Studies. The ladies will arrive tonic Ostracoda; Amphida Hyperi- in Antarctica in November for a idea; Asteroidea; Ophiuroidea: and study term of three months. Ascidiacea; and one sheet each on: Stylasterina; Scleractinia; Brachio- poda; Bryozoa; Sipuncula and Echi- ura; Benthic Mollusca; Cirripedia; Nebaliacea: Crinoidea; Holothuro- idea; and Echinoidea. NEW MAP FOR "ANTARCTIC" Two members have drawn attention that the map which has been in use EARTH'S CRUST THICKER for many years either on the inside THAN THOUGHT of the cover or on the inside back page of "Antarctic" was no longer The Earth's crust has hitherto been as clear as it should be. The Lands considered, on theoretical grounds, and Survey have kindly drawn a to be not more than 25 miles thick. new map, which will now be used. ANTARCTIC is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December. bubscnption tor non-members of the Antarctic Society $2 50 2110,oiP&yJr°,,. Wellington, SecretaiX New Zealand. New Zealand Antarctic Society, PO Box

Out of Print: Very few left: Volume 1 numbers number 8 1, 2, 9 Volume 2, numbers number 8 1. 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 Volume 3, number 7 number 5

Z^&S&S*,1^ ?^?ho» SUPP'V- Copies of available

~~« ^ «*w also available, 30c each. Copies^of1 ' " " '"* our_ ~°Py> predecessor, except for numbersthe Antarctic 9 and News 10. Bulletin, The cop j •, 7, 11, 17 and 18 are authorised reprints.

The New Zealand Antarctic Society comprises New Zealanders and overseas friends, many of whom SffSiS ^ntarctlca for themselves, and all of whom arc vifa% ofSrch!1 S°me P °f AmarCtiC exPloration> development! . The Society has taken an active part in restoring and main taining the historic huts in the Ross Dependency, aid plans to materialSSSSl^fm or ?eCUr-m?unique interest. SUit3ble locations as repositories ofPola? functionsf„„J-here are are currently arranged two throughout branches of the the year Society y and hJFc^2^£JZ£™ lm^ber- .^^Mand residents

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Branch Secretaries Canterbury: Mrs. B. Burley, P.O. Box 404, Christchurch Wellington: Mr. V. E. Donnelly, P.O. Box 2110, Wellington.