TRAPPED IN THE ICE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1956 THE VETERAN SOVIET RESEARCH AND SUPPLY SHIP OB DRIFTED 450 MILES IN 90 DAYS FROM THE KING GEORGE V COAST TO THE DAVIS SEA UNTIL SHE BROKE FREE ON JULY 22 WITH THE AID OF HIGH WINDS, WAVES, AND EXPLOSIVES. BESIDE HER ON THE ICE IS HER MI-8 HELICOPTER, USED TO TRANSFER 67 SCIENTISTS AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE CREW TO THE NAVARIN AND THE PROFESSOR ZUBOV. — Novosti Photo

Registered at Post Office Headquarters. Vol. 6. No. 11 Wellington, New Zealand, as a magazine. September 1973 DRAWN BY DEPARTMENT OF LANDS A SURVEY WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND, AUG 1969 3rd EDITION ^iiFr^iilE©!1!!©^ (Successor to "Antarctic News Bulletin") Vol. 6 No. 11 71st Issue September 1973

Editor: H. F. GRIFFITHS. 14 Woodchester Avenue, Christchurch 1. Assistant Editor: J. M. CAFFIN, 35 Chepstow Avenue, Christchurch 5. Address all contributions, enquiries, etc., to the Editor. All Business Communications, Subscriptions, etc., to: Secretary, New Zealand Antarctic Society (Inc.), P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch, N.Z.

CONTENTS ARTICLES NEW ZEALANDERS WORK IN ANTARCTIC VOLCANO POLAR ACTIVITIES NEW ZEALAND UNITED KINGDOM SOVIET UNION JAPAN UNITED STATES AUSTRALIA SOUTH AFRICA SUB-ANTARCTIC CAMPBELL ISLAND GENERAL WHALING QUOTAS FIXED THE READER WRITES ANTARCTIC BOOKSHELF

This issue of "Antarctic" is the last to be produced under the direction of Mr H. F. Griffiths, who has retired after more than three years as editor. The produc tion of a publication recognised internationally as an authoritative guide to the field activities of all nations engaged in Antarctica is a demanding task; Harold Griffiths has brought to it energy, enthusiasm, and understanding. "Antarctic" is more than a guide to Antarctic field work. For many years it has published articles of scientific and historic interest, book reviews, and reports which have faithfully recorded change and development on the continent since the Heroic Age of exploration. A long association with Antarctic affairs and the expeditions of the past 40 years has enabled Harold Griffiths to maintain the high standards set by the first editor, Leslie Quartermain, and to expand and maintain the bulletin's accurate and authoritative coverage of Antarctic events. All concerned with Antarctica in and beyond New Zealand owe much to Harold Griffiths for his dedicated interest in "Antarctic". The New Zealand Antarctic Society, which publishes the bulletin, is also indebted to him, not only for his editorship but also for his devotion to its interests as founder of two branches—Dunedin and Canterbury—and as a past president. ANTARCTIC September 1973 N.Z. PROGRAMME MAINLY IN DRY VALLEYS New Zealand's Antarctic research programme for 1973-74 will include full responsibility for all drilling operations needed in the Dry Valley Drilling Project—a major three-year programme developed by United States, New Zealand, and Japanese scientists. Last summer New Zealand drillers on Ross Island were part of a team drawn from the participating countries, but responsible to the National Science Foundation.

This season the New Zealand team is New Zealand and Japanese scientists attempting to drill the deepest hole in will participate in the first phase of the Antarctic rock—to a depth of 3000ft—at project. Dr S. B. Treves, of the Univer a site near the earth sciences laboratory sity of Nebraska, who is the project at the foot of Observation Hill, scientist, says the main purpose of the McMurdo Station. To test the drill rig three-year programme is to obtain a the bore hole which reached 558ft last season has been re-drilled to 435ft. geological history of the continent, covering the last 100 million years. Thermo-couplings have been installed to About 117 men and three women will take heat layer measurements through the summer. be involved in various aspects of scien Later the drill rig will be transferred tific research this season. Much of the across McMurdo Sound to the Wright scientific work will be done in the dry Valley. There a hole will be drilled in valleys where the New Zealanders will the floor of Lake Vanda. near New Zea co-operate with Italian and Russian land's Vanda Station. Drilling sites will scientists. An unusual experiment will then be established on or near Lake be conducted by the Antarctic Division Vida. Don Juan Pond. Lake Bonney, of the Department of Scientific and Lake Fryxell, and on the shoreline of Industrial Research. It will attempt to New Harbour. Seven holes, each 1980ft harness thermal power from the water deep, will be drilled by the end of next of McMurdo Sound beneath the pressure February. ridges in front of Scott Base. Winter Teams at Bases Fourteen men have been selected to SCOTT BASE winter at Scott Base and Vanda Station Harry Jones (47), Auckland (see "Ant in 1974. Another man from the summer arctic," June, 1973, Page 340). support staff will join the Scott Base team at the end of the season. Vanda William Johnson (45), Lancashire, Station will have a winter team of four England. Base engineer. He is work for the first time since 1970. shop manager at Burnham Military The leader at Scott Base is Mr H. W. Camp, Christchurch. E. Jones, a former New Zealand Army Robert Grant (25), Invercargill. Fitter officer. Vanda Station's leader is an mechanic. He is an automotive diesel Englishman, Mr T. Curphey, who has mechanic at Twizel. worked with the British Antarctic Chris Wilkins (23), Tauranga. Elec Survey. . trician. Formerly an electrician with an Members of the winter parties arc: Auckland firm. September 1973 ANTARCTIC

Raymond Colliver (40), Auckland. Cook. An Englishman, he has had much Italians to work cooking and catering experience, and had his own cake shop in Auckland for in dry valleys many years. Garth Cowan (22), Palmerston North. Technician. Does the same job in the Five Italians will spend six weeks in the dry valleys this summer in an attempt Royal New Zealand Air Force. to relate certain conditions found there Anthony Smith (26), Wellington. Tech nician. A technical trainee in the chem to those in tropical deserts. Led by ical engineering section of the Depart Professor A. G. Segre, the team of three ment of Scientific and Industrial Re scientists and two technicians, will study search. the glacial morphology, petrography, Stuart Clarke (23), Te Kuiti. Tech geochemistry, and micro-meteorology of nician. Formerly with the Institute of the valleys. Nuclear Sciences, Lower Hutt. Four of the five, including Professor Robert Gibson (25), Chatham Islands. Segre, have been in the Antarctic before. Postmaster. He has served two terms as They were with the New Zealanders a radio operator at the Chatham Islands. during the 1968-69 summer. The party, John Warriner (23), Te Kuiti. Post which represents the Italian National Office technician. Does the same job in Committee of Scientific Research, will the Post Office. be self-supporting except for transport by New Zealand. VANDA STATION Ian Curphey (31), Greymouth. Leader. ^X^*3> He is a draughtsman, an experienced mountaineer, and has had extensive experience at British Antartic Survey bases. Antony Atkinson (26), Christchurch. Senior technical officer. He is an elec tronics technician. Peter Thompson (24). Dunedin. Tech nician. He has had considerable elec tronic engineering experience overseas. Tony Bromley (28). Wellington. Meteorological observer. Works for the research section of the Meteorological OPOSSUM FUR FOR Service in Wellington. PARKAS New Zealand opossum fur will replace Canadian wolverine fur on parkas worn by members of the New Zealand Ant ON TOP OF THE arctic research team this season. Although not as good as wolverine fur POLE the opossum fur was tested on two parkas last summer and found to be a In about five years the main building suitable substitute. of the new Amundsen-Scott South Pole Previously the Antarctic Division, Station is likely to be directly on the D.S.I.R., has imported wolverine fur geographic South Pole. The station is from Canada at a cost of $15 a foot. being built about 400vds from the actual It has now received its first consignment Pole, but the constant drifting of the ice of 100 opossum pelts. They cost $2.85 cap beneath it is expected to put it each, and it is estimated that 4ft of fur exactly at the bottom of the world. strips can bc obtained from one pelt. ANTARCTIC September 1973 Field Projects for Summer

Scientists from five universities, the Graham Boddy, leader and hydrologist, Ministry of Works, Geological Survey, John Fenwick and Peter Anderton, and the Oceanographic Institute, will hydrologists, G. Horrell, assistant take part in the summer activities of the hydrologist, John Rothery, surveyor. 1973-74 research programme. They will Geological Survey. Geochemistry in work at or from Scott Base, Vanda Koettlitz Glacier region. Peter Blattner, Station, and Cape Bird, in South Vic leader, Michael Chapman-Smith and toria Land, and the Shapeless Mountain David Fcary, geologists, Max Tunni area of the Boomerang Range, about 150 cliffe. field assistant. Dry Valley dykes: miles from Scott Base. Jim Lowery, leader, Howard Dengatc, There will be 57 men and three field assistant. women in the summer support staff. Mrs Janet Crump will be the scientific leader Oceanographic Institute. Current of the Victoria University of Wellington studies and hydrological measurements in McMurdo Sound. Ron Heath, oceano- expedition, and another member, Mrs Rosemary Kyle, will also be going south grapher. for the second time. Miss Joy Woods Victoria University of Wellington. Dry will work as a technical assistant with valleys geology. Mrs Janet Crump, scien the University of Canterbury party at tific leader, Ken Blackwood, field leader, Cape Bird. Mrs Rosemary Kyle, J. McPherson, John This season five Italian scientists will Keys. Russell Plume, Graham Rowe, work in the dry valleys for several geologists. Dry valleys geochemistry. weeks. Three Russian scientists are ex Philip Kyle, leader, Paul Luckman. pected to join in New Zealand activities geologist. in the same area and will also visit the Waikato University. Dry valleys South Pole Station. biology and sedimentology. Dr Alex SCOTT BASE Wilson, leader. Dr T. Healy, Dr Chris Hendry, R. Holdsworth, scientists, J. Shaun M. Norman. Denuty leader. Gumbley, A. Field, C. Reynolds, stud Christchurch. An Englishman who has ents. been with the British Antarctic Survey as a base commander, meteorologist, and Auckland University. Blowing dust profile, Vanda Station. Frank Blair, general assistant. He held the same leader. Steven Warder and Gerald position in the 1972-73 season. Gordon Nation. Storekeeper. Christ Straka, technical assistants. church. Otago University. Zoology of Weddell Brian Fischer. Carpenter. Danncvirke. seals. Warren Fatherston, leader. Canter William Whitely. Assistant mainten bury University. Penguin and skua ance officer. Dunedin. studies, Cape Bird. P. Sagar, leader, Miss Robert Newland. Assistant mainten Joy Woods. J. Early, C. Paulin, tech ance officer. Wellington. nical assistants. Weddell seal census, T. Frederick S/ydlik. Information officer. Clement. Wellington. Dry Valley International Drilling Robert Chambers. Assistant post Project. Jack Hoffman, drilling super master. Chatham Islands. visor, Leon Oliver, George Murphy, Peter Ramsden. Technical trainee. Bain Webster, Jim Gupwell (foreman Wellington. drillers), J. Starr, Peter Fowler, Max Williams. Allan Oliver, Brent Caldcr FIELD PROJECTS (drillers). Tan Nelson, assistant mainten Ministry of Works. Hvdrology and ance officer, Michael King, field assist glaciology, Vanda Station region. ant. September 1973 Thermal Power Experiment in Antarctic Waters Thermal power from the waters of the Antarctic may become a reality if an experiment planned by the Antarctic Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is successful. The experiment in the waters of McMurdo Sound 35ft deep beneath the pressure ridges of Scott Base will be designed to generate power by using the warm surface temperature of the water with the colder temperature of the lower region. Mr R. B. Thomson, director of the of electric power. Provided the experi Antarctic Division, says that the "nega ment is reasonably successful, the Ant tive pelagic thermal power" project was arctic Division might progress to using first suggested as a possible way to a one-kilowatt unit which could provide provide power and heat in the Antarctic the power needed to run the small re by a British scientist, Mr Francis de search laboratory at Cape Bird. Latour, who retired to live in New Zea land and died this year. His knowledge of thermo-dynamics convinced him that Saucer from Byrd this idea was the easiest and cheapest Ship's Crockery method of obtaining thermal power. He Ship's crockery from Rear-Admiral E. was obsessed with the potentialities of Byrd's 1933-35 expedition seems to have the idea for more than 50 years but found its way into the homes of Dunedin never succeeded in attracting commercial residents as "unofficial" gifts from interest. members of the crews of tbe Bear of Mr Thomson says that for the best Oakland and the Jacob Ruppert. Early possible results in the experiment there this year the Canterbury Museum re should bc a reasonable temperature ceived a meat plate from the Bear of differential between the surface and sub Oakland for its Antarctic collection. It surface temperatures. There is a greater was presented to the donor's mother by difference in the temperatures of the members of the crew. water in McMurdo Sound than in most Now a porcelain saucer overprinted other parts of the world. with a transfer of the expedition's air Studies of Mr de Latour's proposals craft has been given to the museum by have been made by Mr H. W. E. Jones, Mrs M. Nunn. It was acquired by her the leader at Scott Base for 1973-74, who family in Dunedin, and was made by the is a mechanical engineer. He will con same china company which made the struct the prototype model for the meat plate. But there is some confusion experiment and install it near Scott Base. about the name of the firm. In one Not much equipment is needed for report it is described as the Franfaltcr the experiment. A considerable length China Company, Zanesville, Ohio; in of rubber hose filled with carbon dioxide another it is called the Traumfclter gas will be looped at the top and bottom China Company. of the water. Because of the differences Another gift to the museum last month in temperature the gas will circulate, and was a sample of kenyte from Mt Erebus, at one stage will pass through the rotors Ross Island. It was taken in March, of a turbine, which, in turn, will drive 1911, and sent from Cape Evans by an alternator to produce the power. Captain Scott to Mr J. J. Kinsey. Mr Theoretically the experiment should Kinsey, later Sir Joseph, was Scott's work, according to Mr Thomson. If it is business representative in Christchurch successful the model would be capable for both expeditions. The kenyte was of generating a maximum of 360 watts given to the museum by Mrs I. Watson. 'i,'„^W; ANTARCTIC September 1973

BRITISH SURVEY NEWS Sir Vivian Fuchs Retires After 26 Years Service After 26 years with the British Antarctic Survey Sir Vivian Fuchs retired from his post as director on September 10. He will be succeeded by Dr Richard Laws, who has been head of the Survey's life sciences division since 1969, and like Sir Vivian Fuchs, has worked in East Africa.

Sir Vivian Fuchs began his association was given leave of absence for three with polar exploration in 1929 when he years to organise and lead the Common was a member of a Cambridge Univer wealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, sity expedition to Greenland, led by Sir which made the crossing of Antarctica James Wordie, who served with Shackle from Shackleton Base to Scott Base in ton on the 1914-16 expedition in the 1957-58. Endurance. His association with the Since 1958 Sir Vivian Fuchs has been Antarctic began after the Second World responsible for the logistics as well as War when he was appointed field leader the scientific work of the British Ant of the Falkland Islands Dependency arctic Survey. He has served on various Survey, as B.A.S. was then called. He advisory committees for many years, and was in charge of seven Antarctic bases is also a past president of the British carrying out a comprehensive pro Association for the Advancement of gramme of survey and scientific work, Science. and spent two years himself at Stoning ton Island, Marguerite Bay. Before the Second World War Sir Vivian Fuchs worked in the tropics. He was with four expeditions to East Africa, studying the geology and archae ology of the Great Rift Valley. These gave him sound knowledge of field craft, and provided material for his doctoral thesis in geology. Two years as field leader of F.I.D.S. gave Sir Vivian Fuchs valuable experi ence in the art of extensive polar travel. His final dog sledge journey to the southern end of George VI Sound was more than 1000 miles. For his work in this period he was awarded the Royal Geographical Society's Founder's Medal in 1951, and the Polar Medal in 1953. When he returned to Britain in 1950 Sir Vivian Fuchs was given the task of establishing a F.I.D.S. scientific bureau to handle all information coming from British bases in the Antarctic and arrange for publication of the scientific results. This he did until 1955 when he SIR VIVIAN FUCHS September 1973 ANTARCTIC

His successor, Dr Laws, graduated sidered preferable to treat Butterfield at from Cambridge in 1947 with first-class the base rather than attempt to evacuate honours in zoology. He spent 1948 and him. His fracture and other injuries have 1949 at the F.I.D.S. base on Signy Island been treated successfully, and he is in the South Orkneys, and 1951 on South making a good recovery. Georgia, studying the elephant seal. Then for two years he worked on his FIELD WORK material, gaining his Ph.D. degree in 1953. Work has continued on the new base After a season on South Georgia as a buildings at Halley Bay. They should be whaling inspector, Dr Laws joined the ready for full occupation in the summer. National Institute of Oceanography in Access shafts have been extended as the 1954 and continued to work on whales. present huts have been drifted over by In 1961 he became director of the snow. Nuffield Unit of Tropical Animal Routine observations have been con Ecology in Uganda, and for eight years tinued at all bases. In addition, field worked particularly on the ecology and parties from Stonington Island were able behaviour of large mammals. to work on the plateau and glaciers Since 1969 Dr Laws has been respon north of the base until the beginning of sible for the B.A.S. life sciences division, June, and on the glaciers and a nearby which is located at the Monks Wood island in July. Halley Bay glaciologists experimental station of the Nature Con were able to work locally, and at the servancy. He is chairman of the Argentine Islands good sea ice provided S.C.A.R., sub-committee of specialists on a welcome opportunity for some of the seals. men to get away for a few days from the Dr Laws received the Bruce Memorial narrow confines of Galindez Island. Medal for his Antarctic work in 1954, On South Georgia, with its less severe and the Scientific Medal of the Zoo climate, short trips to various field huts logical Society of London in 1965. His have been possible, and also to Barff publications include a number of papers Peninsula to work on the reindeer herd, on seals and whales. and check the scismological equipment. In between such trips the "fleet" has been overhauled. This includes a 31ft WINTER ACTIVITIES whale towing boat and a 21ft scalers' Long periods of bad weather have launch, both bought from the old Gryt restricted outside activities at all the viken whaling station, and a 25ft steel- B.A.S. bases. Much of the time has been hulled launch which will bc taken to spent on routine chores, redecorating Signy Island as soon as a slipway can be buildings, repairing installations, and built there. This was scheduled for last overhauling vehicles and sledging equip season, but persistent ice prevented the ment in preparation for the resumption relief ships from delivering the necessary of field work. materials in time. Three dinghies, one One of the men at the Argentine fibreglass and two inflatable, complete Islands base, Michael Butterfield, was the "fleet". injured when he lost his footing on a The men on South Georgia are living smooth ice slope, and slipped over a 30ft on a somewhat less varied diet than ice cliff, landing on hard sea ice. In usual since a fire in June destroyed the addition to a broken femur he suffered chicken house and 16 of the 18 birds in some internal injuries. it. Unfortunately those that perished There is no doctor at the base, but as were completely incinerated, so the men there were adequate medical supplies could not enjoy a sudden glut of roast and regular medical advice and instruc chicken. Since then an all-night fire tions could bc given over the teleprinter watch has been maintained. or radio from London, the Falkland Mid-winter Day was celebrated at all Islands, and Adelaide Island, it was con bases in appropriate style. The South MM} ANTARCTIC September 1973

Georgia men also organised a competi Only one foreign visit was recorded tion to see who could spread the most during the winter. The Russian trawler widely believed and outrageous rumour. Salekbard arrived at South Georgia During the winter darts and chcc seeking medical help for an injured matches have been played between the member of the crew. As there is no bases, and with the Americans at Palmer doctor at the base, arrangements were Station, on Anvers Island, and with the made for the man to be taken to the South Africans on Gough Island. Falkland Islands.

SOVIET NEWS EXPEDITION WILL BE LARGEST SINCE 1956 Russkaya, the new Soviet station at Cape Burks, on the Hobbs Coast of Marie Byrd Land, will not be opened for a year. The 18th Soviet Antarctic Expedition failed to establish the station—one of its main tasks—because bad weather prevented the supply and research ship Ob coming closer than 200 miles to the ice-bound shores of the Hobbs Coast. This year the Soviet Union will send more than 400 scientists and specialists to the Antarctic. The 19th Soviet Antarctic Expedition, which will leave next month, will be the biggest since Soviet Antarctic operations began in 1956, according to the leader, Mr D. Maksuvov.

As in past years the new Soviet expe For the 19th expedition in the coming dition will participate in research season the scientific programme will studies under international scientific co cover a whole range of studies of the operation programmes. Polish biologists nature of Antarctica from its crystalline will study Antarctic fauna at Bellings foundation to outer space. The pro hausen Station on King George Island gramme includes the use of rockets for in the South Shetlands, and gcodesists sounding of the upper atmosphere, and from the German Democratic Republic completion of the study of the moun will work at Molodezhnaya Station. tains inland from the MacRobertson There will also be an exchange of Soviet Coast of the Davis Sea near the gigantic and American scientists. Amery Ice Shelf. Although Russkaya could not bc estab Tests will be made of new meteoro lished last season, food and equipment logical facilities for the automatic collec were left there for the party which will tion of weather information. A com spend next winter at the seventh Soviet puter centre with three computers will research station in the Antarctic. The Ob start functioning at Molodezhnaya, the took a winter party, food, and equip main Soviet research centre in Ant ment early this year. Three temporary arctica. Mr Maksuvov says that con houses, food, and some equipment were struction of buildings will bc a major flown to Cape Burke by the ship's large part of the programme of the new twin-engined Mi-8 helicopter, but work expedition. Two-storey houses, pre had to be discontinued because of icing fabricated from heat-insulated panels, of the Ob. will be assembled at Mirny, the oldest September 1973 ANTARCTIC

Soviet station. For strength and durabil Many interesting and often surprising ity they will bc built on rock not cov discoveries were made in the winter. The ered with ice. long "lakes" in the strange, ice-free area Research associates of the U.S.S.R. of Bunger's Oasis, thought to be a gulf, Academy of Sciences Institute of proved to be fresh water reservoirs Zoology spent 2000 hours under the Ant deprived of all life. A complete hydro- arctic ice in the course of 18 months. biological cross-section of Adams Island This group of scientists conducted in McDonald Bay showed that some 400 summer and winter investigations of the animal species live near Mirny. underwater world in the Davis Sea off Investigations by Ukrainian geophysi Mirny Station. cists have shown Antarctica's age to bc The idea of biological observations 4000 million years, not 2000 million as from one base for a whole year was was believed earlier. They analysed advanced by Mr M. Propp. organiser of granite-like rock and crystalline shales the first expedition of scuba divers to collected in Enderby Land, not far from the Antarctic in 1965-66. At that time Molodezhnaya Station. The age of the scuba diving off the coast of Antarctica rock and shales was determined by the was regarded as something fantastic. correlation of uranium, thorium, and Before that nobody had seen the under lead in samples. water world in these places "from Professor E. Sobotovich, of the Insti within" because of difficult ice condi tute of Geochemistry and Mineral tions. The first systematic observations Physics, Ukrainian Acadcmv of Sciences, by Soviet biologists will provide the says that such old granite-like rocks arc ground for more work by scientists a great rarity on the surface of the studying the Antarctic coastal zone. planet. Similar crystalline shales have been found bv American scientists r Greenland and by Soviet explorers in the WINTER RESEARCH Far East. Thev proved to be a bit In summer observations were con younger than the Antarctic finds—3900 ducted from the coast, and in winter million years. through unfrozen patches of water over Professor Sobotovich savs these new which tents were pitched. The scientists facts arc of great importance in the wanted to find out how marine organ elucidation of the processes which took isms adapted themselves to winter since place on earth in the distant nast. They the two-metre thick ice floes and drifting also contribute to understanding of the snow do not let the sun's rays penetrate, formation of the terrestrial crust and the the water temperature always remains planets of the solar system. below zero, and phytoplankton can be found only for a few months. Investigations were made at a den'h MANY TOURISTS of up to 60 metres. So thev would not Since it was built five years ago have to go through prolonged decom Bellingshausen Station has become an pression the scuba divers remained at a Antarctic tourist attraction. Tt has been denth of more than 50 metres not more visited bv 500 tourists from more than than 15 minutes. Thev not onlv observed 20 countries. Among the station's guests the life of the marine animals and col last season were the underwater evnlorcr. lected some tvoes of submarine inhabi Commander Jacques Cousteau, his son tants, but also took pictures of the Ph'line. and the crew of the oceano oceanic flora and fauna. graphic research ship Calvpso. Underwater photography often makes Pplliivshnusen Station is on Waterloo it possible to cast a new look at the Island, known to the British as King quantitative and oualitative evaluation George Island. It has a "wet" climate— of animals. The Institute of 7oo1ogv has pouring rain, snow falls or thick fog developed a special lens to obtain high- occur nearly cverv dav—and the men quality pictures. there have to cope with a combination ANTARCTIC September 1973 of ice-crusted ground and stormy winds. and is in an area where ships can be Despite these difficulties the 18th Soviet used (without the aid of ice-breakers) expedition built an oil depot, a mess- for six to eight months of the year. room and a radio station, last season. Permanent weather observations can be The scientific programme at Bellings made, and radio sounding balloons can hausen Station last season included the bc launched from ships to study the study of plants and animals. A collec upper atmosphere and forecast cyclones. tion of tbe rare flora, including algae, Moving with a speed of 50 to 60 kilo mosses, and lichens, was gathered by a metres an hour, these often cause storms biologist, I. Nikolayev. He found in the South Atlantic and are a serious cereals and imprints of leaves of arau- threat to ships in the area. caria, which grew in the Antarctic some 200 million years ago. This magfinicent From Bellingshausen Station Soviet scientists make observations of the evergreen still grows in Brazil, Chile, and the South Seas to a height of 150ft. stability of radio-wave propagation in The collection of flora has been placed the higher latitudes of the Southern in the Botanical Museum in Leningrad. Hemisphere. These are of great import Waterloo Island is between the Ant ance for sea, air, and space navigation arctic Peninsula and Tierra del Fuego. and communications. CARETAKERS AS TOURIST GUIDES Two members of the New Zealand interest in the Antarctic, and has been Antarctic Society who will go to Cape a member of the Antarctic Society's Royds this summer to look after the Wellington branch for a number of historic huts there and at Cape Evans years. He served in the New Zealand will have an extra job. They will act Army during the Second World War as guides to 90 American tourists who with the rank of captain. He has been will visit McMurdo Sound in late a keen alpinist. December aboard the cruise ship Lind Mr R. B. Thomson, superintendent of blad Explorer. 'he Antarctic Division, has arranged for There have been volunteer caretakers the two men to go to the Antarctic in from the Antarctic Society for the last mid-December so that thev will be at four summers by arrangement with the Cape Rovds while the Lindblad Exnlorer Antarctic Division of the Department of is in McMurdo Sound. Their job will be Scientific and Industrial Research, which to see that the penguins and historic provides special clothing, transport, food, huts are not unduly disturbed by the and accommodation. This season the tourists, and to act as guides. caretakers, selected from a number of The Lindblad Explorer will leave applicants, will be Messrs L. E. Kerr, Bluff on December 22. and on her aged 49, a schoolteacher, of Christ journev to the Antarctic will call at church, and G. E. Madgwick. aged 60, a several sub-Antarctic islands. She is due business administrator, of Wellington. in McMurdo Sound on January 8, and Mr Kerr was a member of the Otago 'he tourists will visit Scott Base the next branch of the Antarctic Society from day. After the shin leaves McMurdo 1951 to 1954, and joined the Canterbury Sound, she will sail to the Antarctic branch when he came to Christchurch. Peninsula where she is due on January He served in the Royal New Zealand 16. The cruise will end at Punta Arenas. Air Force in the Second World War, and Chile, on January 25. trained in Canada. He is a member of Two more cruises to the Antarctic the Otago branch of the New Zealand Peninsula will be made bv the Lindblad Alpine Club. Explorer this summer. Both will start Mr Madgwick has had a lifelong and finish at Punta Arenas. September 1973 ANTARCTIC Ob Breaks Free From Ice After 450-mile Drift

Trapped in heavy pack ice for 90 days the veteran Soviet research and supply ship Ob finally broke free on July 22. She was caught first in the ice off the King George V Coast and drifted 450 miles to the Davis Sea in the Indian Ocean sector of Antarctica. High winds and waves broke up the ice field of the Ballcn Massif which held the ship fast, and dynamite was used by the crew to break up the 16ft high hummock ice which had surrounded her since early May.

Six scientists left aboard the Ob used ice which built up to a height of 9ft their enforced imprisonment in the ice to 16ft. to good advantage. They set up tents There were 140 men aboard the Ob and makeshift laboratories on the ice when she was trapped. The cargo ice around the ship, and were able to study breaker Navarin. which was at Fre conditions in an area where no ships can mantle when the Ob reported she Was navigate in winter. Dr Yevgeny Tolsti- in trouble, took fuel and fresh food kov, the veteran Soviet Antarctic author south. She and the research ship Pro ity, who headed the snecial commission fessor Zubov, which was sent from set up to assist the Ob, said after the Leningrad in mid-May. took 67 men off ship had broken free, that some of the the Ob. which used her Mi-8 helicopter scientists were even glad to find them and Antonov 2 aircraft in the operation. selves in such a situation because they Fiftv-five men from the Ob returned had never studied drifting ice in the to Fremantle aboard the Professor Davis Sea. and thev were interested in 7ubov on Julv 3. The others were trans the relationship of the ship and the ice. ferred to the Navarin. Fiftv members of A review of Soviet activities in the the crew. 17 airmen, and six scientists remained on the Ob. hoping that the Antarctic last season comniled for "Ant arctic." corrects some of the newspaper shin would be freed when she drifted rcnorts on which our report about the into the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean in the spring. Ob in the June issue was based. Although the Ob was unable to establish Captain .Sergei Volkov. master of the Ob. comnlctcd another task a few d^vs the winter party at Russkava. the new after his shio broke free. LTc picked up station on the Hobbs Coast of Marie 40 men from Molodezhnava Station on Bvrd Land, she performed most of her his wav back to Leningrad. Thev arrived other tasks. home several months later than expected. When the Ob left Leningrad on The Ob has now joined the company December 4 last year she took scientists of the Belgica. the Deutschland. and the and several thousand tons of cargo for Aurora. Mr Boris Krutsk'kh, deputy the 18th Soviet Antarctic F.vocd-tion to director of the Arctic and Antarctic Mirnv, Molodezhnaya. and Leningrad Institute, says her entrapment will un skaya. off the Oates Coast. But she still doubtedly go down in the history of had winter parties to pick un when she world polar research. He describes the was hit bv a Force 12 gale off the King episode not only as an example of cour George V Coast. Unusually low tem age by seamen and scientists but also as peratures caused ice formation, and the a valuable contribution to science about ship was soon surrounded by hummock the nature of Antarctica. Flights to McMurdo Sound start of U.S. Operations United States operations in the Antarctic for the 1973-74 season began early this month when two ski-equipped Hercules aircraft flew from Christchurch to McMurdo Sound with mail, milk, and fresh fruit and vegetables for the 158 men of the winter party on Ross Island. The air craft also took scientists who will do early research, drillers for the Dry Valley Drilling Project, and an advance party to prepare Williams Field, six miles from the station, for the start of the summer scientific programme on October 9.

This summer Starlifters of the United be belter equipped for work in the Ant States Air Force Military Airlift Com arctic; in November and December it mand will make 32 flights south with will have two of its three new Hercules men and materials for scientific and aircraft, provided by the National construction work. United States Navy Science Foundation. They can carry Hercules aircraft of VXE6 Squadron more than the present aircraft. will ferry more than 450 tons of cargo Major projects in the research pro and supplies from McMurdo Station to gramme will include participation in the the South Pole in November and Decem international Dry Valley Drilling Pro ber. Men of Mobile Construction Bat ject with the New Zealanders and the talion 71 (Seabees) and civilian con Japanese. The work will be supported tractors will work to complete the major by helicopters of VXE6 Squadron. Later portion of the new Amundsen-Scott in the season preliminary work will South Pole Station so that scientists can begin on the Ross Ice Shelf survey. A winter there in 1975. field team of scientists from several A survey to decide whether a blue ice disciplines will visit a small grid net runway for wheeled aircraft can bc estab work of stations. The National Science lished in the Dufek Massif region of the Foundation plans to use a Twin Otter Pensacola Mountains, about 500 miles aircraft flown under contract for the from the South Pole on the Weddell Sea survey, with tracked vehicles providing side of the continent, will be made this secondary support if necessary. season by a team from the United States Last season the United States naval Army Cold Regions Research and support force completed the new Siple Engineering Laboratory. Three prospec Station at the foot of the Sentinel tive sites were selected near the Dufek Mountains in Ellsworth Land, 1250 Massif last season but the survey could miles from McMurdo Station. Since not be made because of the shortage of February four scientists have worked Hercules aircraft. This season the field there on magnctospheric and ionospheric party will be flown to the area with two investigations, which are linked with the tracked vehicles. station's geomagnetic conjugate at The Pensacola Mountains survey will Roberval, Quebec, Canada. be made to determine whether there are The first winter scientific activity at areas of blue ice which could support the station since 1970 has provided heavy cargo aircraft without extensive much revolutionary data. This summer site preparation. Such a site would make supporting and correlative experiments future air operations in the Antarctic will bc conducted to allow monitoring Peninsula and Weddell Sea areas more of interactions between the various flexible. This year VXE6 Squadron will phenomena observed. The station's Kt?

September 1973 ANTARCTIC buildings and equipment will be checked workers), and 60001b of cargo, including and rehabilitated where necessary to off mail, milk, fresh fruit and vegetables. set the effects of snow accumulation. The first left at 2.30 a.m. and the second Since the National Science Founda at 3 a.m. They landed on the Williams tion became responsible for United Field ski-way at 10 a.m. and 10.45 a.m. States scientific operations in Antarctica Most welcome item in their cargo, next it has allotted an increasing number of to the mail, was the fresh milk. The 157 activities to civilian contractors. This Americans and one Russian exchange season Palmer Station will be trans scientist have had to make do with ferred from the naval support force to powdered milk since February. a civilian contractor. The research Both aircraft stayed on the ice only vessel Hero, which is based at the station long enough to be unloaded and re on Anvers Island, off the Antarctic fuelled. They were back in Christchurch Peninsula, has been operated under at 7.38 p.m. and 8.50 p.m. respectively. a civilian contract, and it will now be On September 5 the two aircraft left under the station management. Christchurch at 1.30 a.m. and 2 a.m. Another change will be made at with another 60001b of cargo and 24 McMurdo Station this season. Twenty- passengers, including nine New Zealand five civilians will be provided by Holmes drillers who will work on the Dry Valley and Narver Incorporated, the National Drilling Project. They reached the Science Foundation's principal con Williams Field ski-way at 9 a.m. and tractor, to work in the station mess hall. 9.30 a.m. and touched down at Christ They will relieve men of the naval church Airport at 6.25 p.m. and 8.15 support force. p.m. Last season the winter party at One passenger on the first flight south McMurdo Station had to wait longer was a woman, the Chinese wife of Dr A. L. DcVries, of the University of Cali than expected for its first fresh food and fornia, San Diego. She and her hus mail for nearly seven months. Bad band will continue last season's research weather delayed the pre-season flights, on the adaptations which prevent some and aircraft had to turn back twice on Antarctic fishes from freezing although the way south from Christchurch. This they spend their lives at the freezing month, however, high winds, low clouds, point of seawater. Other scientists from blowing snow, and limited visibility at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and McMurdo Station, delayed the first flight State University, and the Scripps Institu of the two VXE6 Squadron Hercules air tion of Oceanography flew south to craft for only a day. study the modelling of Antarctic fresh In the early hours of September 3 the water and terrestrial ecosystems, and the two aircraft left Christchurch with 26 physiology and biochemistry of the fish passengers (scientists and construction in McMurdo Sound. •.-..,I

^ Seabees to Work for Last Time at Pole Station

Seabees, men of the United States Navy's Mobile Construction Battalions, will work in the Antarctic for the last time this season. Since the Navy began its support of scientific activities nearly 20 years ago all major construction has been done by Seabees. ANTARCTIC September 1973

Now civilian contractors for the Williams Field, six miles from McMurdo National Science Foundation will do the Station. construction projects in future years. But For the fifth successive year the tanker the Seabees of Mobile Construction Maumee will deliver more than six Battalion 71 will finish the job they million gallons of fuel at Winter Quar started three years ago—the $3.5 million ters Bay, McMurdo Station. Both the complex of buildings which will form Maumee and the Private John R. Towle the new Amundsen-Scott South Pole are expected to berth at the man-made Station. ice wharf. Seabees built the first station at the The Royal New Zealand Air Force South Pole in 1956. This season they will assist the Navy's logistic support will build three connected two-storey effort. Its Hercules aircraft will make buildings inside the geodesic dome—55ft ten flights between Christchurch and high and 164ft in diameter—which they McMurdo Station. finished on January 8 this year. But the new station will not be occupied winter and summer until 1975. To provide the logistic support for the TWO WOMEN TO United States Antarctic Research Pro gramme this season nearly 2000 men WINTER from the Navy, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard, and other specialised units, Two women biologists will spend next will be involved, and about 1500 of winter in the Antarctic—the first Ameri them will spend the summer in Ant can scientists of their sex to do so. They arctica. For the first time the Navy will are Dr Mary A. McWhinnie, professor take a woman officer, Lieutenant Ann of biological sciences at Dc Paul Univer Coyer, to McMurdo Station to serve as sity, Chicago, and Sister Mary Odilc administration officer of the support Cahoon, of Minnesota. A Polish scien force. tist will work with them in their studies More than 200 scientists, 10 of them of krill, the shrimp-like crustaceans endemic to Antarctic waters. women, from 23 American state universi Dr McWhinnie has been a frequent ties, 14 specialised research agencies, and six foreign nations, will conduct research visitor to New Zealand since her first Antarctic cruise aboard the scientific projects for the National Science Foundation this year. The research research ship Eltanin in July, 1962. She has sailed south from many ports, in planned will be done from six American Antarctic stations, and aboard two cluding Wellington, Auckland, and Lyt United States Coast Guard icebreakers telton. The two women will be among more working in Antarctic waters. than 175 scientists engaged in the United Urgently needed cargo for this States Antarctic Research Programme, nmer's construction programme is whose research will involve 65 projects. being brought to Lyttelton by the Mili These range from ionospheric studies to tary Sealift Command cargo ship Private an analysis of cores from rock drilled John R. Towle. Most of the 2300 tons beneath the dry valley lakes which never will be flown from Christchurch to freeze over. McMurdo Station early in the season on Other projects will include studies of the 32 United States Air Force Starlifter the role of the Antarctic in relation to fiights—the first of which will bc made the world's weather patterns, and a con on October 9. tinuing evaluation of the continent's In the five months of the season Navy mineral resources. Hercules aircraft will deliver 500 tons of This year's Antarctic research grants supplies, spare parts, and about 100 tons from the National Science Foundation's of fresh food and mail to inland Office of Polar Programmes amount to stations. They will operate from SUS7.5 million. September 1973 ANTARCTIC WINTER MAIL DELIVERED TO 169 MEN ON ROSS ISLAND Men of three nations wintering in the Antarctic received mail from home last month for the first time since February instead of waiting for it until October. To make the first winter mail delivery on August 1 a Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion of No. 5 (Maritime) Squadron made a non-stop flight of 4500 miles in 12 hours from Dunedin to McMurdo Sound and back.

Six canvas mail bags attached to small separated from their parachutes and parachutes were dropped from the Orion dropped like rocks, bouncing 6ft as they into the winter gloom—barely equal to hit the snow. twilight—above the ice runway of As the Orion passed overhead on the Williams Field. Inside the bags were second run Lieutenant R. Hudson, the letters, newspapers, and magazines, for co-ordinator of the mail recovery party, the 11 New Zealanders at Scott Base, suddenly remarked: "Hey; it's raining and the 157 Americans and one Russian mail." He was right. One of the mail exchange scientist at McMurdo Station. bags had split open, showering its As well as mail the aircraft dropped a contents into the wind. container of special medicine, and a So the recovery party could start plastic part to repair one of McMurdo chasing the contents of the split bag the Station's four washing machines, which final run was expedited. The parachutes had broken down. did not separate, and the bags landed Wing Commander P. J. McKay, com right on the target. But the men waiting manding officer of No. 5 Squadron, was for their mail had some anxious in command of the Orion, which loaded moments until they learned that the split 8401b of personal mail, 501b of it for bag contained no personal mail, and the Scott Base, at Christchurch on July 30. It priority cargo in it was safe. The re then flew to Dunedin, but was unable to maining contents were magazines and make the flight to McMurdo Sound on newspapers, more than half of which July 31 as planned because a fault was were recovered. discovered in the generator system of Thank-you messages were relayed to one of the engines. Wing Commander McKay and his crew by Commander G. Blessing, the com manding oflicer at McMurdo Station, EASY FLIGHT and Major P. G. Frazer, leader at Scott On August 1 the Orion took off at Base. By 7.15 p.m. when the 169 6.54 a.m. for McMurdo Sound. The McMurdo Sound residents had long flight south at 28,000ft was uneventful, finished reading and re-reading their mail and shortly after mid-day the aircraft from home, the Orion was back at was ready to start its descent to Williams Dunedin. Field where the weather was overcast with light snow and a 10-knot wind. When the Orion came out of the cloud cover at 12.21 p.m. and began its descent to the lighted runway it turned on its landing lights. On the first run at a height of 700ft the first two mail bags, which each carried two small lights, ANTARCTIC September 1973 Drilling near Mizuho Camp in Japanese Programme

Ice core drilling to a depth of 1650ft near Mizuho, the small inland camp 185 miles south-east of Syowa Station, by a group of glaciologists for three or four months next winter, and inland glaciological traverses in the summer of 1974-75, are among the planned activities of the 15th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE 15) for 1973-75. Forty men of the expedition, led by Mr Masayoshi Murayama, director of the Polar Research Centre, National Science Museum, will leave Tokyo aboard the icebreaker Fuji, which is commanded by Captain Mamoru Morita.

Syowa Station's winter party, led by former president of the Science Council Dr Takeo Hirasawa, has completed the of Japan, and Dr Masasi Miyadi, former JARE 14 sounding rocket programme. director of the Tokyo Astronomical The party reported to the Polar Research Observatory. Both are 70 years old. One Centre on August 25 that the last rocket or two exchange scientists from other had been launched successfully on nations will join the summer party at August 23. Seven sounding rockets were the invitation of the Japanese Govern taken to Syowa Station for measuring ment. physical parameters in aurora during the After leaving Tokyo the Fuji will polar night. make her usual call at Fremantle from Dr Hirasawa, an upper atmosphere December 10 to 16 before proceeding to physicist at the University of Tokyo, Syowa Station. She will call at Cape supervised the launching programme. Town and Singapore on the return The first rocket was launched on Febru voyage to Japan, and is expected to reach ary 15 successfully, and there were no Tokyo on April 20 next year. failures in the launching and measure The first helicopter flight from the ment of the others, which reached alti ship to Syowa Station will be made tudes of 60 to 80 miles. about January 1. The formal change All the men at Syowa Station are re over of the JARE 14 winter party and ported well after months of winter JARE 15 will be made on February 20. isolation. Some have gone to Mizuho During the relief operation field observa for glaciological research. Others are in tions will be made in biology, geology, the field for earth sciences observations. geomorphology, limnology, and geodetic JARE 15's leader. Mr Murayama, who survey work will be continued. Oceano will also lead the 1973-74 summer party graphic and meteorological observations of ten men, is a veteran of Antarctic will be made aboard the Fuji during her research. He is returning to Syowa cruise. Station for the seventh time. His last The winter party of 30 will be led visit was in 1967-69 as leader of JARE by Mr Nozomi Murakcshi, chief of the 9, and leader of the magnificent traverse department of expeditions, Polar Re to the South Pole in 1968-69. This time search Centre. He has spent two winters he will be on board the Fuji with nine at Syowa Station, and has been with the men of the summer party for the whole summer party three times. of her cruise until April 20, 1974. Programmes of station observations Two members of the headquarters will cover aurora, geomagnetism, the staff of JARE will join the summer ionosphere, meteorology, earthquakes, mission. They are Dr Kiyoo Wadati. ocean tides, geodesy and cartography, September 1973 ANTARCTIC human physiology, geology, geo Yamanaka (construction engineer); Seizo chemistry, geomorphology, biology, and Noake (logistics assistant). glaciology. Field observations near the WINTER PARTY (1973-75) station will be made in biology, geo Messrs Nozomi Murakoshi, deputy chemistry, geomorphology, and geology. leader (leader of winter party); Takehiko Glacial and meteorological observa Suzuki, Yuji Yasutomi, Norio Hayashi, tions will be made near Mizuho by the Takco Shinohara (meteorologists); group of glaciologists who are con Ichiro Yamazaki (ionosphere physicist); cerned with the winter ice core drilling Hideki Kancko (geophysicist); Isao Shiro. programme. Mr Okitsugu Watanabe, Natsuo Sato (upper atmosphere physi who was a glaciologist with JARE 11. cists); Okitsugu Watanabe, Masayuki will lead the inland glaciological Inouc, Kazuhide Sato (glaciologists); traverse party in the summer of 1974-75. Kiichi Moriwaki (gcomorphologist); Dr It will resurvey strain grids and measure Keizo Yanai (geologist); Messrs Kazu- snow accumulation stakes installed in hiko Watanabe (human physiologist); 1970-71 by JARE 11. Mitsuo Yamanaka (biologist); Masataka Members of the 15th expedition are: Sano (geochemist); Shingo Kancko SUMMER PARTY (1973-74) (diesel mechanic): Nobuyoshi Nagaoka Messrs Masayoshi Murayama (leader); (electric fitter); Takashi Igarashi (mech Ikuji Tokuc (physical oceanographer); anic) and one to be appointed; Shige- Masataka Hishida (chemical oceano kazu Inamura, Kimio Minato, Masafumi grapher): Takaharu Hoshino (marine Igarashi (radio operators); Hideo Koza- biologist); Aiichiro Yoshimura (sur kai. Kancyoshi Hanayama (cooks); Isao veyor): Masakatsu Abe (surveyor); Dr Fujii (surgeon); Yoshitsugu Horikoshi Kcisuke Kobayashi (biologist); Messrs (aviation pilot); Tsugio Imamura (avia Sakae Karasawa (biologist); Masafumi tion engineer); Kci Terai (logistician).

Two Cruises by Spanish Ships

Two Spanish ships will take tourists On the first cruise from January 3 to to the Antarctic Peninsula in the 1973- January 19 the tourists will sail from I season. The cruises have been Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, and then cruise among the islands off the Ant •ranged by an Argentine shipping and arctic Peninsula. Calls will be made at airline organisation, which represents the Mclchior Islands where there is an the Spanish shipping company, Ybarra Argentine naval detachment, and the and Company, S.A., of Seville. scientific stations Almirante Brown in The Cabo San Roque and the Cabo Paradise Bay, the Esperanza at the tip San Vicente will each carry 265 pas of Trinity Peninsula. A call will be sengers. They will call at Ushuaia, the made at Port Stanley before returning most southerly city in the world, on the to Buenos Aires. island of Tierra del Fucgo. and Port The first cruise will bc made by the Stanley, Falkland Islands, which are Cabo San Roque. On the second from known to Argentina as the Tsla Mal- January 11 to January 27 the Cabo San Vicente will also call at Montevideo. ANTARCTIC September 1973 A.N.A.R.E. Automatic Observatory to Be Set Up South of Casey After two years of field trials of unmanned observatory instruments the Antarctic Division of the Department of Science is planning for next year an exercise to establish an observatory complex about 320 kilometres south of Casey along the Casey-Vostok line. This automatic geophysical station will record auroral, geomagnetic, ionospheric and mico-meteoro- logical data on digital magnetic tapes for periods of a year, maintaining timing accuracy within one second, and consuming 1.3 watts of power.

During this winter trials have been motor toboggan parties in June and July. made of equipment for down-hole A dog sledge left Mawson on July 30 sampling, and for deep meltsonde prob for the rookery at Fold Island. ing in the Casey area. For 1974 it is Recent biological investigations at planned to core-drill a hole near to bed David Station have included the cultur- rock a few kilometres upstream from ing of fungi and studies of plankton. the previous Cape Folger hole at a Seven different types of diatom were also position where the ice thickness is still observed. less than 500 kilometres. The records from an auroral radar, The aim is to fill the hole after drill recently erected at Mawson, will co- ing to enable horizontal shear to be relate station data from Davis, including measured over a long period by pre riometer, all-sky camera, VLF, magneto venting closure of the hole. Temperature meter, and magentic micro-pulsation and inclination changes will be logged, records. A second auroral radar, re and the ice from the hole returned to cently erected at Casey, will look in the Australia for detailed analysis. Later direction of the auroral "invariant" pole. next year it is planned to drill a deeper The gllaciological field party which hole further inland. left Casey on March 15 to make obser The field party from Mawson, which vations along the Casey-Vostok line established a fuel depot at Moore ("Antarctic," June, p. 354) returned to Pyramid, 200 miles south of the base the station on May 24. Another glacio ("Antarctic," June, p. 354) was expected logical field party, equipped with a Nod- to return by the end of May. But the well vehicle and a Caterpillar D5 tractor, return journey of the six men was with caravans and sledges, left Casey on dogged by continuous bad weather. High July 22 for a planned six-week traverse winds, poor visibility and heavy drift on the Law Dome in order to take melt greatly inhibited travel, and one week sonde readings and make geoceiver the party covered only five miles. It surveys. battled its way into Mawson finally on An extensive Concrete foundation was June 14. poured at Macquarie Island in June in Emperor penguin counts were made at Taylor Glacier, 50 miles west r' preparation for the new meteorological complex which will bc erected there this Mawson, and the Austcr rookery, 35 summer. The work was done in spite of miles to the east, by dog sledge and persistent bad weather. f^-rz

September 1973 ANTARCTIC WHALING COMMISSION FIXES QUOTAS FOR 1973-74 SEASON

Whale catch quotas for the 1973-74 Antarctic season and the 1974 season elsewhere were reduced by 1100 when the International Whaling Commission held its 25th annual meeting in London. For the second time the commission rejected a United States resolution calling for a 10-year moratorium on all commercial whaling for all species. The resolution failed to gain the necessary two-thirds majority from the 14 member nations represented.

Catch limits set by the commission failed to obtain the necessary three- were based on information provided by quarters majority in favour. its scientific committee, and are ex Last year the commission asked the pressed in stock units. Quotas for the chairman to appoint a committee to three major whaling regions are: make proposals for implementing the ' Antarctic: 1450 fin whales (with the recommendations by the United Nations provision that the taking of this species environmental conference at Stockholm should cease at the end of the June. 1976, that the commission should bc strength season); 4500 sei and Bryde's whales; ened to increase international research 5000 minke whales. effort. The report of the committee re North Pacific: 550 fin whales; 3000 sei commending the appointment of a full- and Bryde's whales; 6000 male and 4000 time secretariat headed by a scientist was female sperm whales. accepted but the commission could not Southern Hemisphere: 8000 male and agree on proposals in the report for 5000 female sperm whales. financing the expanded organisation. Consideration was deferred until next FIN WHALES year's meeting. In the case of the fin whale, the limit 14 NATIONS is expected to continue the process of restoring the stock. For each of the All 14 member nations were repre other species, the limit is at or below sented at the meeting of the commission, the replacement yield. the chairman being Mr I. Rindal, of The proposed moratorium was con Norway. Observers from non-member sidered by the commission's scientific nations, the Food and Agriculture committee which agreed that because the Organisation, international scientific concept of individual species manage bodies and conservation organisations ment was now operative, there was no were present, and were given the oppor biological requirement at the present tunity to address the meeting. time for the imposition of a blanket Only six of the member nations of moratorium on all commercial whaling. the commission now do any whaling. A resolution proposing a cessation of They are Japan, the Soviet Union, whaling for ten years, beginning not Norway, South Africa, Australia, and later than three years from the present Iceland. The other members are the time was adopted by the technical com United States, the United Kingdom, mittee by a majority. But the commis France. Argentina, Mexico. Canada. sion did not accept it as the resolution Panama, and Denmark. ANTARCTIC September 1973 EXPLORERS' AIRCRAFT ON STAMPS Three new Australian Antarctic Territory stamps shown here and on the opposite page are part of a set of 12 issued last month for use at ANARE bases in the Antarctic and on Macquarie Island. Six aircraft used by expeditions in the Antarctic during the 1920's and 1930's are illustrated in one set, and the other set of food chain stamps illustrates how creatures in the Antarctic are interdependent for food and survival.

The denominations and titles of the Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition food chain stamps are: lc plankton, 7c (BANZARE) led by Sir Douglas Adelie penguins, 9c leopard seal, 10c Mawson in 1929-31, is shown above killer whale, 20c albatross, and SI sperm (right). Below it is the de Havilland whale. Denominations and titles of the Fox Moth used by John Rymill, an explorers' aircraft are: 5c Mawson's DH Australian explorer, on the expedition Gipsy Moth 1931, 8c Rymill's DH Fox he led to Graham Land in 1934-37. The Moth 1934-37, 25c Wilkins' Lockheed Avro Avian was used for reconnaissance Vega 1928, 30c Ellsworth's Northrop flights in 1934 by the Norwegian whaling Gamma 1935, 35c Christensen's Avro fleet owner, Lars Christensen. In 1933- Avian 1934, and 50c Byrd's Ford Tri- 34 he made a near-circumnavigation of Antarctica in the whaling fleet tanker Motor 1929. Thorshavn. starting from Cape Town and The de Havilland Gipsy Moth used on ending at Montevideo. Flights were the British and Australian, and New made in the Avro Avian off the Lars

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NSCWS AVRO AVIAN 1S3ft

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Christensen's Avro Avian September 1973 ANTARCTIC

Christensen Coast, and the Leopold and Astrid Coast was sighted. The small single-engincd wooden Fox Moth used by Rymill is a reminder of one of the most efficient small expedi tions to have explored in the Antarctic. A South Australian who had been in Greenland, Rymill used an old Brittany fishing schooner rcchristcned the Pcnola. It was a three-masted topsail schooner of 130 tons, fitted with two auxiliary diesel engines. Rymill also used a motor tractor and sledge dogs. mmWtWkWXFP' i. "u DEATH OF TERRA I NOVA VETERAN One of the veterans of Scott's last Australian Antarctic f < expedition. Edward A. McKcnzie, died TV, Territory A in Minster, Kent, last month, at the < age of 85. He was a leading stoker in ■ the Royal Navy when he joined the crew ^^ ___ ^ _ 'm m t of the Terra Nova as a 22-ycar-old from /son's Gipsy Moth H.M.S. Indomitable. T h e r e w e r e f o u r m e n f r o m t h e —i Indomitable aboard the Terra Nova. Thev were Chief Engine-room Artificer William Williams, who became the ship's I engineer. Leading Stokers William < Burton and Robert Brisscnden, and > 4 McKcnzie. Brisscnden was drowned on August 17. 1912. in French Pass when \ the Terra Nova was engaged on a survey < of Admiralty Bay, Marlborough Sourds. before she returned to the Antarctic for the second time. Williams is also dead, but Mr Burton is among the surviving members of the crew. He and William McDonald, an able seaman in the Terra . Nova, both live in Christchurch. After the expedition McKenzie joined the Thames division of the Metropolitan Police in London and served with it for j 27 years. He was a particularly active I man. and was still giving lectures about i vScott and the expedition when he was Australian Antarctic < past 80. He built a working model of T e r r i t o r y 3 c the Terra Nova which is now in the .fjj Science Museum in London. When he x i served in the Terra Nova he used to play MM » m * * * a ajl-J me mandolin: later the banjo became Rymill's Fox Moiiianother musical interest. ANTARCTIC September 1973 SANAE REPORTS Strong Winds Affect Night Programme at Base July this year was one of the warmest so far recorded at South Africa's Sanae Base in western Queen Maud Land. Meteorologically the month was extraordinary with the mean temperature about 12deg C warmer than in 1972. This is ascribed to a high mean wind speed which caused turbulent mixing in the lower layer of the atmosphere.

In July the mean temperature was and senior technician (meteorology), F. minus 25deg C compared with minus Potgieter, technician (meteorology), W. 36deg C in the same month last year. I. Pretorious (radio operator) and J. A. The lowest temperature was minus 43.8 Jacobs (male nurse) have already spent deg C and the highest minus 6.5deg C. a year either in the Antarctic or at one Comparative figures last year were minus of the island bases. The others are 49.3deg C and minus 18.9deg C. Messrs I. M. Nigrini and E. Kriek, Because of unforeseen strong winds technicians (meteorolgy) and J. Pokorny, the night programme at Sanae Base did technician (radio). not function very well. Although The present team at Gough Island is Aurora Australis was very active in July, still playing its part in weather predic the strong winds brought clouds over tion with the aid of weather satellites. the base and very few observations could At present ESSA 8 operating on 137.62 be made. The magnetic field was also mHz is being received by way of the very quiet and virtually no problems stccrable crossed yagi antenna. Time were experienced with radio communica and position predictions for each minute tions. of a pass are received by radio telex, and A wind of 180 kilometres an hour these enable the antenna to be positioned was recorded at Grunehogan where four accurately during the pass. men are wintering. According to the Picture information from ESSA is surveyor, Mr R. Sevcik. who is there for conveyed by means of frequency modu his second consecutive year, it was the lating a carrier, and thus amplitude worst he has experienced in the expedi variations caused by range and altitude tion's working area. variations do not affect the picture Field work will start towards the end information. of August. A party will also depart from With the system on Gough Island this Sanae Base and hoDes to reach the picture information has to be retrans mountain area towards the end of the mitted to the Weather Bureau in Pre month. toria 4000 kilometres away. To achieve this the output of the satellite receiver GOUGH ISLAND which produces the picture information One of the most experienced teams to in an amplitude modulated signal is first leave South Africa for quite a time will passed through an AM to FM converter. sail in the research ship RSA on her This unit converts the signal back to annual relief voyage to Gough Island on a freauency modulated tone varying October 5. Four of the seven members from 2300 Hertz for black to a 1500 of the team, Messrs J. A. Taljard, leader Hertz for white. The signal then •w^r.mf-'

September 1973 ANTARCTIC becomes independent of fades normally scores are being killed continuously, occurring on short wave radio transmis their numbers do not seem to diminish sions, and is transmitted by a one kilo much. watt short wave transmitter to Pretoria. MARION ISLAND In the Weather Bureau at Pretoria the On Marion Island the members of the signal is received demodulated. Finally meteorological team are at last the only it produces a photograph which, regret inhabitants. The 16 members of the fully, the team members never sec. building team from the Department of Because of extremely unsettled Public Works have completed their weather, team members have to stick to work, which included the erection of indoor amusements during the winter. several new buildings, one being an ex Chess is much favoured, and matches tension of Marion House to provide are played with Tristan da Cunha, the sufficient accommodation for further Argentine Islands, off the Antarctic expansion of scientific programmes. Peninsula, and a player in Botswana. The RSA arrived at the island on July Mice races along the passages arc the 27 to pick up the P.W.D. team. En route latest form of amusement. The island a geophysical survey was carried out by teems with mice brought there by old- the Bernard Price Institute of Geo time whalers and explorers. Although physical Research.

Grunehogna, the geological base of the South African National Antarctic Expedi tion, which was established in western Queen Maud Land on May 8, 1971. It is 215 kilometres south of Sanae Base in the Milman Ridge mountain range, and its geographic position is 72deg 02min Olscc South/02deg 48min 03sec West. ANTARCTIC September 1973

On board to join the expedition was studies of social behaviour, adaptive Mr P. Condy, of the Mammal Research value of territories, the role of non- Institute of the University of Pretoria. territorial males, reproductive and He recently instituted research on the mother-young behaviour, and types and behaviour, ecology, and physiology of topography of beaches selected for haul the two seal species—southern elephant seal (mirounga lconina) and southern fur ing out. seal (arctocephalus tropicalis)—occurring Physiological aspects to bc investi gated include reproductive state at on the island. various times of the year, and subse Mr W. Wilkinson, a meteorologist, quent laboratory studies of blood, urine also returned to Marion Island on the and various tissue samples. Special second voyage of the RSA. He hurt his attention will bc given to recruitment eye during the take-over period in April and had to return to South Africa for of the populations, population size and treatment. His eye was not permanently structure, individual growth patterns and damaged and as the RSA was scheduled mortality rates, and the role of vocaliza to visit the island twice in three months tions in communication. because of the extensive building pro Because so little is known of the gramme he was able to return to com biology of the southern fur seal on plete his tour of duty. Marion Island and elsewhere, a con Field work in the seal research pro certed effort will be made to get as much gramme on the island will include information as possible on this species.

$US50,000 GRANT TO MUSEUM

A grant of $US50,000 has been made continent, and of the earth and its en by the United States National Science vironment. In that sense, Christchurch. Foundation towards the Antarctic centre Canterbury, and New Zealand, are truly of the Canterbury Museum in Christ international centres of history and church. Dr H. Guyford Stever. director centres of activity concerning Antarctica. of the foundation, who announced the The Canterbury Museum Trust Board grant last month, said it was most will use the grant to support the appoint important that knowledge of past and ment of an Antarctic curator or librarian current Antarctic events be made avail for a minimum of two years: the con able to the public and visiting scholars struction and presentation of large-scale and scientists. displays of Antarctic wild life; the pur For many years Christchurch and New- chase of Antarctic graphic archives and books; and the provision of specialist Zealand have served key roles in inter technical aids for visiting scientists using national exploration and research in the the Antarctic library. continent of Antarctica, said Dr Stever. The National Science Foundation has Men now legendary have passed this way authorised use of part of the grant to and left their mark. support an overseas mission by Dr R. S. Scientists of many nations continue to Duff, director of the museum. He will cross paths here on their way to search acquaint the Antarctic Treaty nations of out. and later share, knowledge of the the establishment of the Antarctic centre. September 1973 ANTARCTIC New Zealand party works in Antarctic volcano By HAROLD LOWE

When Edgeworth David, of Shackleton's expedition led a party of six to the summit of Mt Erebus in 1908 it was a great achievement for these men, inexperienced as they were in mountaineering. Then, in 1912, when Raymond Priestley, of Scott's last expedition, led the second ascent, three of his party, including himself, had barely recovered from their ordeal of an Antarctic winter in an ice cave. The accounts of these early explorations make fascinating reading as do those of other ascents that have been made since then, but today the helicopter has simplified the task.

Six men of New Zealand's Antarctic delicacies unfortunately were not Research Programme (1972-73) were appreciated because of the effects of carried 35 miles from Scott Base and altitude sickness which had overtaken landed with their equipment and sup sach man. Headache, throbbing of the plies on the north side of the 12,450ft heart, bouts of high temperature for volcano, about 450ft below its crater short periods, loss of appetite, sleep summit. A United States Navy heli lessness, nausea, eye irritations and copter made two trips on December 24 symptoms of the common cold, were last year to land the men: Graeme experienced. Lyon, scientific leader; Werner Giggen However, the whole party crammed bach, chemist; Harold Lowe, field into one tent to partake of the meal as leader; John Shorland, field assistant; appetites permitted but much was Philip Kyle, geologist; and John Kcyes, uneaten. Festive wine was taken like assistant. medicine and there was little Christmas A camp was established on a flat atmosphere until radio contact was area of snow-covered lava and rock made with Scott Base, Vanda Station where three tents were pitched. There and other field parties. seemed to be an awareness of the high The party's main task was the altitude, and over-exertion had to bc collection of gas samples from within avoided although no one had any the crater. This required a descent by immediate symptoms of sickness. The winch and cable into the crater, the men had gone from sea level to 12,000ft walls of which were nearly vertical. in less than half an hour and had work The site selected for the winch was to do. directly above the camp site at a place The sun shone brightly accompanied which appeared to be the lowest part by a light wind, and the temperature of the crater rim. This position pro did not seem to bc -20degC which the vided the shortest distance for carrying thermometer registered. After a light equipment from the camp and the meal two of the party climbed the shortest descent into the crater. Being remaining 450ft of the mountain to the on the Ice side the clouds of steam and crater's edge. gases emitted from the mountain would On the afternoon of Christmas Day not impede the work. three of the party climbed to the sum About 400ft below the selected winch mit, walked round the crater rim and site is an outer crater with an ice- back to the camp, a trip which took covered floor. The active crater is two hours and a half. within this taking up about one-third Late in the afternoon Christmas of the area. The active crater is against dinner was prepared, each tent under the eastern wall of the outer one and taking part of the menu. The extra its depth is estimated to bc about 400ft ANTARCTIC September 1973

from the outer crater floor. Directly numerous fumarole ice mounds. Apart above the active crater the rim of the from the south-west perimeter of the outer crater is much higher than it is main crater much of the area is free of at the winch site. ice. From this high point the depth to the One thousand feet down to the east bottom of the active crater is estimated of the camp was a United States Coast to be no less than 1000ft. This high Guard helicopter, abandoned in 1970, part of the crater rim was first con and now full of snow. An unusual find sidered for the winch site but was was a pair of rubber sandals. A survival rejected because of the limitations of tent which had been erected alongside the hand winch and equipment and the helicopter had lost its fabric to the because of the activity within. winds, leaving only poles and guylincs. All the equipment had to be On December 30 the winch had to be carried from the camp site. The winch covered with the tent to protect the and attached cable weighed 1201b and operators from the biting wind. All was the polar tent 701b. There were also set for a descent into the crater, but metal stakes, sledge hammer, extra cloud and snow at times enclosed the cable, ropes and other items as well as camp and mountain top, confining the personal gear. men to their tents. On New Year's Day, one of the party collapsed into a semi-coma in his tent WINCH ANCHORED and was unresponsive for 30 minutes. When the tent was carried up the hill Oxygen was administered and he re the winch was already anchored in gained consciousness by the time he was evacuated from the mountain by heli place. As the tent bearers approached, the end of a 200ft length of steel cable copter. was attached to the tent. The other end was slipped through an anchored cara- BAD HEADACHE biner and as it was easily and quickly hauled downhill, the carriers and tent When the patient arrived at the McMurdo Station dispensary he was were, with all haste and much amuse found to be suffering from no more ment, hauled up to their destination. than a moderately severe headache. The Between times the area had been diagnosis was altitude sickness and explored. There were many fumarolcs with ice pinnacles and mounds built up possible chronic carbon monoxide poisoning, but there were no subsequent around their orifices by the emission symptoms in the next 48 hours. of steam which condenses and freezes. Later it was suggested that a con Near the camp a very interesting tributing factor to the collapse may fumarole was discovered and explored. have been a lack of oxygen caused by A 21ft rope ladder hanging from the burning a stove in the tent in the top just reached the bottom. The rarefied atmosphere. diameter of the fumarole at the surface Finally when the weather cleared two was about 10ft and at the bottom about successful descents were made into the 20ft. Two tunnels led from it hori crater and samples were taken. zontally and its sides exposed alternate The completion of this operation and layers of lava and ice. There were, the successful collection of gas just as David's men had found, enor samples has meant that a basis has been mous quantities of "large and perfect established for a more ambitious pro crystals of anorthoclasc felspar two to gramme within the crater. This will three inches long." demand experienced climbers familiar On the western side of the main with face rescue techniques and equip crater there is another fumarole which ment. The high altitude and cold add is now extinct. Here the slopes are to the hazards but scientific and field easy graded and fairly icc-frcc with staffs arc keen to participate. September 1973 ANTARCTIC SOVIET UNION AND JAPAN SEEK ANTARCTIC KRILL Soviet Union stern factory trawlers equipped with machines to produce protein-rich paste from krill, the minute shrimp-like crustaceans found in oceans of the world, are operating in Antarctic waters The Japanese are also interested in exploitation of krill, and last year had a ship working in the Weddell Sea with a target of 1000 tons. Eighteen months ago the Soviet A special pelagic trawl was designed Union announced that it had established to catch the krill and there were also a permanent expedition to explore and difficulties in handling and processing exploit fishery stocks, including krill, in the crustaceans which spoil quickly Antarctic waters. "Australian Fisheries" because they arc small and delicate. reports that as many as seven Soviet To process krill for human consump factory ships operated in the area tion a plant was designed to crush the around the Kerguelen Islands in sub- raw krill to extract the juice, and by Antarctic waters between Australia and heating, to coagulate the protein in the South Africa, and were accompanied by juice. Special arrangements were made about 100 catcher vessels. to store the paste in good condition. It Concentrations of krill are greatest in can be kept for about a year if held at the North Pacific, North Atlantic, and minus 18deg C. Antarctic Oceans. In the Antarctic The Japanese have plans to produce Ocean, where krill is an important food krill extracts experimentally. Last year for baleen whales, the maximum sustain the ship which went to the Weddell Sea able yield has been estimated at between was chartered by the semi-government 60 and 100 million tons annually. Marine Fishery Resources Development Centre. It was proposed to freeze 800 PASTE MACHINES tons of fresh krill, and 200 tons cooked. The Soviet Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography recently COD CATCHES built machines that produce protein-rich Antarctic krill are reported to have paste from krill. Six have been installed attracted the interest of a fishery associa aboard factory stern trawlers, and one tion named Antarktika. which has been has been set up ashore to produce established at Odessa on the Black Sea. protein paste from Black Sea shrimp. No indication has been given of the Each machine, operated by two species of fish which will bc the target persons, can process one ton of fresh for the association's fleet. But in the krill an hour, yielding between 4401b past Soviet fishing vessels have taken and 6601b of protein paste. This is considerable quantities of notothenia, a packed in blocks of either 9oz or 611b. cod-like species found in cold waters, Various agencies in the Soviet Union including the Antarctic. are engaged in a publicity and promotion The new association's fleet consists of campaign to sell krill paste and an Vostok, the world's largest fishing vessel, allied product, cheese with krill paste. the former whaling mother ship Soviet- Recipes for preparation of dishes with skaya Ukraina (32,000 tons), several krill paste are being circulated in food Atlantic class stern trawlers, and the stores, and export prospects are being stern trawler Van Gogh, which special explored. ises in shrimp research and fishing. Russian scientists and technicians over Canneries, processing plants, and came several problems in the develop ship-repair yards in five Black Sea cities ment of the Antarctic krill fishery. will support the association's fleet. ANTARCTIC September 1973

SUB-ANTARCTIC Whales and spring lambs come to Campbell Island Right whales moving up from the south have been sighted regularly by members of the expedition on Campbell Island since early July. Thirty were seen on one occasion in North-West Bay, and the men have watched several hurling themselves completely clear of the water. Spring has come to the island with the sighting of the first skua, and the equinoxial gales have followed. Several tiny spring lambs have been seen, and the drab peat hills are changing in the new season. PIcurophyllum plants are appearing, there are buds and flowers on the dracophyllum spears, and the bulbinella are pushing through the peat to add their lighter shades of green to the slopes. In a report from the island at the site were not so stormy ten parachutes end of last month the leader, Graham landed successfully. At the time the Can field, says that winter has been only mechanical transport—boat—was without its usual extremes of cold. July on survey, and all the stores had to bc produced the highest average pressure carried more than a mile back to camp. ever recorded, 1021.6 millibars, and the A new outlet for the hydrogen shed highest screen temperature minimum of has been dug, the slipway has been 1.1 deg Celsius. relaid, and a new turntable has been A long spell of calm weather has built for the railway system. There characterised this period, although there was a temporary halt when the main has been no stratus cloud cover for any power supply lines to both the iono- length of time. Only 1.5 hours of sun sondc and technical buildings failed shine were recorded in June. within three days of one another. For some months a group of sea- Emergency lines were hastily erected lions numbering up to 60 in some until the main lines were operational. cases was observed battling for control The scientific programmes were reduced of a small harem. Moving from area to rough observations, data being trans to area, staying only to flatten the mitted by radio. Power for transmission tussock and defoul each site, they had was provided by using 100yds of flex one site directly in front of the hostel. plugged into a three-pin socket in the Cavorting about 30ft away, they gave powerhouse. us some sleepless nights. Radio contact has been established Apparently flounders form a large with Scott Base and Macquarie Island part of their local diet. When catching on occasions but atmospheric condi these fish they bring them to the sur tions usually play havoc with circuits. face where they are shaken vigorously With the annual relief only six weeks ' r~rc being eaten. They practise this away there is an expectant air ahout the camp. The work programm •■que on sticks or rocks picked up the harbour bottom when not winding up, and spring clcaninj beginning. actively involved in catching fish. Training for next year's expedition Few sea-elephants have arrived yet is now under way. Rex Firman will but by September harems should bc lead the new team, which includes Bob formed and pups born. Taylor, Allan Yule, Neil Arnold Fresh vegetables and mail were (meteorologists); Peter Wood and John dropped by a Royal New Zealand Air Waldcn (summer support); Jim Barnes Force Bristol Freighter on August 8 [chef); Rob McVinnie (mechanic); Lcs despite easterly winds gusting to 58 Thorn and Dick Roberts (technicians); knots. As conditions at the dropping and Roger Jones (ionosphere observer). September 1973 ANTARCTIC THE READER WRITES Sidelights of Antarctic Research Letters, preferably not longer than 500 to 600 words, are invited from readers who have observed some little-known facet of Antarctic life or have reached conclusions of interest on some Antarctic problem.—Editor.

ISOLATED PARTIES gist), Ken Blaiklock (surveyor and meteorologist), and Jon Stephenson Hawthorn, (geologist and glaciologist). Stephenson Victoria, was an Australian.] Australia. SHACKLETON'S SLEDGE Sir.—In the March issue of "Ant arctic" the correspondent covering the 54 Crofton Road. story of Siple Station mentioned that the Bishopdale, four scientists manning it will be the Christchurch. smallest isolated group to winter over since' 1934. Sir.—In the March issue of "Ant Either the correspondent is restricting arctic" on Page 314 there is an article his statement to American parties or is about Shackleton's motor sledge which completely unaware of at least two other refers to its Simplex engine being groups of four or less members winter brought back to New Zealand through ing over, and both without the additional the good offices of Rear-Admiral D. F. comforts provided by the modern Welch, a former commander of the American logistics. United States Navy's Antarctic support A group of three manned South Ice force. station inland from Shackleton base for The Simplex engine was returned to six months and a half during the 1957 New Zealand by favour of the Antarctic winter before setting out on the trans- Division, D.S.I.R. I was storekeeper r' Antarctic crossing. Later in 1968 four Scott Base for the 1970-71 season. Australians wintered for ten months on During a caretaker trip to Cape Evans I the Amery Ice Shelf, living in two small collected the motor and returned it per caravans. sonally to Scott Base. I crated the motor There are undoubtedly other occasions, and returned it to the Antarctic Division but the above examples are probably the in Christchurch for forwarding to the best known. Canterbury Museum. Yours, etc., Yours, etc., G. W. NATION. M. J. CORRY. [We are glad to give credit to Mr [If the article about Siple Station had Nation and the Antarctic Division for described the four scientists as the their part in Operation Simplex. In the smallest American group all would have March, 1971, issue of "Antarctic", Dr been well. We arc grateful to Mr Corry R. S. Duff, director of the Canterbury for his reference to the three men at Museum, was quoted as saying that Rear- South Ice, and agree that there must Admiral Welch had offered to re-unite have been similar small parties at other the Simplex engine with the sledge, Antarctic bases. For the record South provided the engine could be obtained Ice was manned by Hal Lister (glaciolo and shipped in the 1970-71 season.] ANTARCTIC September 1973

ANTARCTIC BOOKSHELF THE ROSS DEPENDENCY By F. M. Auburn Published by Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, Holland, 1972. 82 pages plus index and extensive bibliography.

"The treaty states that it does not It has even older connections with the mean that contracting parties are re "spheres of influence" philosophy which nouncing claims to territorial sovereignty guided the colonial division of Africa in Antarctica. It states that it does not and finally reached a climax in the Con mean that the contracting parties agree gress of Berlin in 1884. But in the to renunciation or dimunition of claims Antarctic, because sector claims arc to territorial sovereignty. It states it does based on the conflicting criteria of not prejudice the position of any parties proximity and discovery, the degree of with respect to their recognition or non- overlapping would lead to impossible recognition of the right or claim of any complexity if this alone guided claims. other State. It does not state, however, New Zealand, for example, has claimed what it does mean." a much larger sector in the Ross Depend This confusion, expressed with a wry ency than its geographic position would humour by Senator Gruening, of Alaska, justify. And if claims can be based when the American Senate was debating the Antarctic Treaty more than a decade simply on drawing southward lines of longitude which intersect no other ago, might be taken as the basic theme country why should Sri Lanka, the Mala of Mr Auburn's extended discussion of gasy Republic, and Indonesia, to name New Zealand's position in Antarctica but a few countries, not lay claim to and the terms under which any claim to portions of Antarctica? the Ross Dependency might be Sus tain^ In the Northern Hemisphere this problem has been solved largely by a position as an expert on lational law at the. University of as written the administration over th most extended and authoritative account for Canada it has even invoivec lendency which is the paraphenalia of a Court to an Arctic fe has drawn heavily l and Norwegian island where an offence is alleged to Arctic and has brought have occurred so that Canadian jurisdic together, in one slim, entertaining tion can be shown to bc effective. volume, a mass of evidence which will But, according to Mr Auburn—and it delight anyone interested in the com is difficult to refute him—New Zealand's plexities of Antarctic legalities—or the claim to the Ross Dependency is, so far. vagaries of international law. a good deal more tenuous. It rests partly The "sector theory", the convenient on proximity and the drawing of seg mechanism by which the Antarctic was ments, partly on a British claim which tentatively divided, like a large round of has only been transferred by implication cheese, between States which were to New Zealand, and partly on a tenuous willing and able to make claims in the occupancy which might certainly be dis heroic days of Antarctic exploration, has puted by the United States were it pre a respectable, if confused history in con pared to lodge any territorial claims in nection with the northern polar cap. the Antarctic. September 1973 ANTARCTIC

And the claim is complicated by the lateral proposal from Wellington t< peculiar nature of the Ross Sea. Does internationalise the territory would New Zealand claim sovereignty or juris renounce New Zealand's claim without diction over the Ross Ice Shelf? If so. necessarily gaining anything for this does it extend the claim, as it logically country from the other signatories of might, to those segments of the shelf the treaty; and that the viable solution which break off and become giant ice might lie in forming a condominium bergs? Does the claim extend to the with the United States. territorial shelf underneath the ice. This, in fact, is surely what already These arc not merely academic questions exists. New Zealand and the United when the possibility of mineral explora States know that if the questions were tion and exploitation under sea ice is pressed—as it might bc if, for example, becoming a reality. a United States civilian were to be To attempt to reduce Mr Auburn's accused of murder in the Ross Depend arguments to the compass of a review ency—there is an unresolved dispute would be to do him an injustice and to about sovereignty. To form a con confuse the very complex technical dominium would be to admit the dispute questions involved. Readers who care— and recognise that it can continue un and that should mean everyone in New resolved. But in the meantime, an effec Zealand with an interest in the Antarctic tive administration could bc provided, —ought to read this book. But the not unlike that which exists between author's conclusions do deserve the Britain and France in the New Hebrides. widest possible audience. A condominium, according to Mr He argues that New Zealand's Ant Auburn, would be the only form of arctic programme has been wrongly administration not inconsistent with the directed if this country intends seriously treaty, which has so far worked well to lay claim to exclusive or even limited and been scrupulously observed. It sovereignty over the segment of Ant would unite the rights of the United arctica which lies closest to these shores. States mentioned in the treaty with the Scientific endeavour which depends for claim of New Zealand which antedates its logistic support on the United States the treaty. is hardly a valid expression of Such a solution would involve some sovereignty. Instead, New Zealand diminution of New Zealand's claim to officials should be asserting this country's sovereignty over the whole Ross Depend claim by demonstrating a determination ency. But, as Mr Auburn concludes: to administer the Ross Dependency "The struggle to reconcile political and which extends beyond the issuing of diplomatic reality with the exigencies of occasional sets of postage stamps for the juristic logic is now beginning. The time territory, especially when most of the has come for a review of New Zealand's inhabitants—American servicemen—are Antarctic programme and policy in the not required to use them. light of the advance of technology and Mr Auburn suggests that New Zea international law." land's interests demand a viable regime for the Ross Dependency; that any uni —N.H. 2IE^2S5E-Esi THE POLAR ROSSES By Ernest S. Dodge Faber and Faber, London. 1973 Pp. Illustrations, maps, index. English price, £2.95. In the very first words of his preface waited until now to have a book devoted the author says. "It is curious that two to them." explorers as eminent as Sir John and This is fair comment but the pity is Sir James Clark Ross should both have that having undertaken the task, Mr ANTARCTIC September 1973

Dodge, who is an American with his textual description hardly supports several historical works to his credit, his dictum. should now have confined his writing Ross Island, lying some 50 miles from to one of a series of books on "great the Antarctic mainland and separated travellers." from it by McMurdo Sound (Ross's This means that from the large amount McMurdo Bay) must be the most his of material available on these two toric portion of Antarctica, but not notable explorers the author has crowded once docs the author refer to it by its his story into some 260 pages. As he present name. He twice calls it by admits "(it) makes it necessary to limit Ross's name High Island (Page 199) this work largely to their explorations without any cross reference, not even in and related activities." the index. Here let it bc said that when dealing This first voyage, which did so much with the Arctic voyages of the two for Antarctic history, opening as it did Rosses, the author has covered the the gateway for the great expeditions ground well. However, from this review of the early years of this century, er's standpoint it is unfortunate that the important Antarctic voyages of Sir deserves a great deal more than Mr James are dismissed in one chapter— Dodge has given it. a total of 36 pages! The illustrations are adequate but the It is fairly evident that whatever Mr maps are little help The Antarctic Dodge knows of the Arctic regions and map on Page 197 is too small and their history he has less knowledge of there are no ships' tracks shown. More the Antarctic. While he concludes his over, Mt Erebus has been moved to a account of J. C. Ross by stating "this point some 150 miles along the face of was one of the greatest voyages of the Barrier (Ross Ice Shelf) from its discovery and exploration ever made", true position on Ross Island.—H.F.G.

MORPHOLOGY OF THE EARTH IN THE ANTARCTIC AND SUBANTARCTIC By B. C. Heezen, Marie Tharp. and C. R. Bentley, Antarctic Map Folio Series, Folio 16, American Geographical Society, New York, 1972. 16 p., 8 plates.

This folio continues the high standards history, Plates 1 and 3 especially will established in the earlier folios. The serve as basic reference maps. eight plates arc: (1) Submarine and sub- A wide range of data sources, Ameri glacial topography; (2) Soundings and can, French, Russian, British, New earthquakes; (3) Physiographic and tec Zealand and many others some as recent tonic provinces; (4) Submarine topo as 1971, has been used in the prepara graphy of the Scotia Sea; (5) Sea floor tion of the maps. Plates 2 and 8 show profiles (sheet 1); (6) Sea floor profiles the basic data in the form of submarine (sheet 2); (7) Subglacial topography and subglacial sounding lines coded (8) Subglacial soundings. according to reliability and earthquake The main maps are those showing the epicentres. The authors caution that submarine topography and morphotec- several areas are inadequately sounded tonic provinces of the Southern Oceans, for fully accurate maps to be compiled. south of approximately 30deg S. A To bridge these gaps the cartography is polar stereographic projection is used, "conceptual". and the maps thereby serve an import In their contouring the authors have ant secondary function by showing "been guided by a uniformitarian better than normally the shapes and steady-state philosophy of morpho relationships of the major southern genesis," which is to say that in their landmasses. With the current intense concept each major segment of oceanic interest in global tectonics and crustal crust has evolved by spreading from a September 1973 ANTARCTIC mid-ocean ridge. Consequently, as The accompanying text summarises known from areas of detailed soundings the soundings, voyages, and techniques in the Southern Oceans and in Northern used, presents and defends the carto Hemisphere seas, each mid-ocean ridge graphic philosophy adopted, and dis should be topped by a rift-valley, bc dis cusses the major features delineated by located by transverse fracture zones, and the maps. Provided one accepts the towards the bounding continents on cartographic philosophy adopted, criti either side pass into an abyssal plain, cisms are few. New Zealand's geology unless detail shows otherwise. Areas of is misrepresented in detail, if not in sparse data are contoured accordingly. general, and one suspects detail else Errors have resulted, as more recent where may have been bent to fit the data collections show, but they do not adopted concepts. I would like to have deny the value of the maps presented. seen the east and west meridians dis The map showing the subglacial topo tinguished on all maps, and the compiler, method, and the date of the sounding graphy and the probable preglacial lines shown. shoreline of Antarctica is especially The maps are excellently printed and useful, and complements the maps of submarine topography. It serves to rein coloured, and together comprise an force the separate geological character important addition to our map catalogue. of East and West Antarctica, and will be PETER B. ANDREWS, Ph.D., used widely by scientists investigating SEDIMENTATION LABORATORY. crustal evolution in the Southern Hemis NEW ZEALAND GEOGRAPHICAL SURVEY, phere. CHRISTCHURCH.

ES^Mmm ^^M y±W%fr TV STATION IN ANTARCTICA

Antarctica's first closed circuit tele ship Private John R. Towle. When the vision system should be operating at sets arrive in late December they will McMurdo Station by mid-November. be placed in lounges and clubs at the After that servicemen and scientists will station, at the Williams Field camp near enjoy 62 hours of programmes weekly, the ice runway, which is six miles away, and only a week after the programmes and at Scott Base. are screened in Los Angeles. The television station will provide Thirty receiving sets will be shipped information, news, and entertainment, to McMurdo Sound aboard the cargo and also live programmes.

*oJ>- "ANTARCTIC" is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December. It is the only periodical in the world which gives regular up-to-date news of the Antarctic activities of all the nations at work in the far South. It has a world-wide circulation. Yearly subscription for non-members of the Antarctic Society NZ$3.50. Overseas NZ$4.50, includes postage (air mail postage extra), single copies $1.00. Details of back issues available may be obtained from the Secretary New Zealand Antarctic Society (Inc.), P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch, New Zealand. Overseas subscribers are asked to ensure that their remittances are converted to New Zealand currency.

The New Zealand Antarctic Society (Inc.)

The New Zealand Antarctic Society was formed in 1933. It comprises New Zealanders and overseas friends, many of whom have seen Antarctica for themselves, and all of whom are vitally interested in some phase of Antarctic exploration, development, or research. The society has taken an active part in restoring and maintaining the historic huts in the Ross Dependency, and plans to co-operate in securing suitable locations as repositories of Polar material of unique interest. There are two branches of the society and functions are arranged throughout the year. You are invited to become a member, South Island residents should write to the Canterbury secretary, North Islanders should write to the Wellington secretary, and overseas residents to the secretary of the New Zealand Society. For addresses see below. The yearly membership fee is NZ$3.00 (or equivalent local currency). Membership fee, including "Antarctic", NZ$5.00.

New Zealand Secretary Mrs B. Hale, P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch.

Branch Secretaries Canterbury: Mrs E. F. Cross, P.O. Box 404, Christchurch. Wellington: Mr R. H. Blezard, P.O. Box 2110, Wellington.