A NEWS BULLETIN published quarterly by the NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC SOCIETY (INC)

STEVEN CHAMBERS, DOG HANDLER AT SCOTT BASE, WEIGHS A HUSKY PUP, NOOGIS (NUGIS) WHILE HIS PROUD MOTHER, BETTY, LOOKS ON. NOOGIS WAS BORN ON OCTOBER 24 LAST YEAR. Antarctic Division photo by Mike Brndstock.

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ANTARCTIC PENINSULA 1 Teniente Matienzo arg. 2 Esperanza arg. 3 Almirante Brown arg. 4 Petrel arg. 5 Deception arg. 6 Vicecomodoro Marambio arg. * ANTARCTICA 7 Arturo Prat chile 8 Bernardo O'Higgins chile 9 Presidente Frei chile ex / 500 1000 Kilometres 10 Stonington I. u.k. 13

11 Adelaide I. u.k. j I ABBREVIATIONS:] 12 Argentine Is u.k. ARG ARGENTINA 1 3 P a l m e r u . s a . " AUST. AUSTRALIA 14 Bellingshausen us&r. ;. ■ NZ. NEW ZEALAND S.A SOUTH AFRICA UK UNITED KINGDOM '.tarse'ri':':'; | USA. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA USSR UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST Ice'shelf ? l°0m REPUBLICS I 0 100km eei^*IFilLB(B*lPa(B^ (Successor to "Antarctic News Bulletin") Vol. 8, No.o. 5 5 89th ISSUE MARCH, 1978 Editor: J. M. CAFFIN, 35 Chepstow Avenue, Christchurch 5. Address all contributions, enquiries, etc., to the Editor.

CONTENTS

ARTICLES

ENVIRONMENT STUDY •••• 152

POLAR ACTIVITIES

NEW ZEALAND 138-146 UNITED STATES .... 147-155 AUSTRALIA 156-161 UNITED KINGDOM 162-164, 168 SOVIET UNION .... 165-167 ARGENTINE 169-170 NORWAY .... 170 SOUTH AFRICA ...... 172

SUB-ANTARCTIC

SCUBA DIVERS ... 146

GENERAL

"MAGNETIC LADIES" 171-172 THE READER WRITES .... 173 BRITISH CLIMBERS .... 174 TOURISM 174-175 OBITUARIES .... 175 ANTARCTIC BOOKSHELF .... 176 • Jill**™.,, "-***

ANTARCTIC NEW ZEALAND SEASON MARIE BYRD LAND TO VOSTOK

New Zealand's Antarctic research programme for the 1977-78 season, which ended last month, called on the services of more than 150 men and women during the four summer months. Fourteen field parties worked out of Scott Base and Vanda Station in the Wright Valley, and participation in international or United States programmes enabled New Zealand scientists to range as far as Marie Byrd Land, the Ross Ice Shelf, and Vostok, the most remote Soviet station on the Polar Plateau. Now 13 men — 11 at Scott Base and Drake (science technician, Hawera), two at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Russell Arnott (cook, Queenstown), Station — remain in Antarctica to Paul Dennison (Post Office radio tech await the spring flights of the new nician, Wellington), Randolph Waller season. The Scott Base party began its (postmaster, Clyde), and Steve Cham seven months of isolation officially on bers (assistant maintenance officer February 6 when the summer leader, and dog handler, Waiouru). Mr Bob Straight, of Motueka, relinq uished his responsibilities to the For the third year New Zealand is winter leader, Mr John Lythgoe, of co-operating with the United States in Wellington, who had been his deputy the meteorological programme at the during the summer. Pole Station. Thirty-five year-old John Waller, of Wellington, is no Mr Lythgoe, who was an assistant stranger to isolation. He was chief maintenance officer at Scott Base in meteorological officer at Raoul Island the summer of 1967-68, and his 10 in the Kermadecs during the 1968-69 companions will not see new faces season, and spent three months at again until September when the first Vanda Station as a meteorological pre-season flights by United States observer in the 1970-71 season. Kevin Navy Hercules aircraft will bring mail Bisset, of Cambridge, who is 23, is a and fresh food. New Zealand's men at telecommunications officer on a the Pole Station, Messrs John Waller year's le'ave from the New Zealand and Kevin Bisset, will have to wait Army. until November before their isolation ends. MAPPING PROJECT MEN AT POLE One of the main field events of last season's programme was a geological Deputy-leader at Scott Base this mapping project in the region between winter is 25-year-old John Thomson, the Foster and Blue Glaciers. These of Temuka, who is the base engineer. are between the Royal Society Range He wintered at the base in 1975. His to the west and McMurdo Sound to the companions are: Barry Hiscock (fitter- east. A Geological Survey team led by mechanic, Temuka), Mike Lord (fitter- Dr D.N.B. Skinner spent 79 days in the electrician, Howick), Warwick Will field from October 29 to January 15 iams, (senior science technician, Rev- with U.S. Navy helicopter support, esby, New South Wales), Will Kimber and using motor toboggans and (science technician, Rotorua), Dean sledges to cover an area of some 1000 March, 1978 ANTARCTIC

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Ice-filled depressions called "kettles" and a frozen lake in the mouth of the Garwood Valley, South Victoria Land where a New Zealand Geological Survey party worked last season. Antarctic Division photo. square kilometres. the south where Dr Skinner's Geolog ical Survey team worked in the 1975- Heavy snow storms and katabatic 76 season. Mr R.H. Findlay's task was winds gusting up to 90 knots from the to make a detailed structural analysis Polar Plateau hampered the geologic of the region between the Renegarand al work, and in December the party Blue Glaciers. was tent-bound for eight days. No movement was possible on three days, For the geological mapping section and on one day the weather was too of the project the object was to comp bad for flying. To complete its detailed lete in the region of the Foster and geological investigations the party Renegar Glaciers the work done in had to work its motor toboggans down 1975-76, and to do more regional crevassed glaciers, and climb vast reconnaissance mapping between the rock screes and jagged ridges to exam Renegar and Blue Glaciers. Regional ine rock outcrops. mapping was done in the region of the Foster and Renegar Glaciers, and One aim of the project was to estab lish lithostratigraphic and meta- detailed studies were made between Heald Island and the Hobbs Glacier. morphic correlations with the region of study, and to extrapolate this work An Auckland University geologist, into the region of the Taylor Valley to Miss Anne Wright, did reconnaiss the north and the Skleton Glacier to ance sampling of some of the Mc- fe* ?■'■'' -

ANTARCTIC March, 1978 Murdo volcanics between Heald mouth of Roaring Valley. Island and Lake Miers. Mrs Margaret Clark, a geomorphologist and well- Geological studies of Dismal Ridge known mountaineer, was the field and the eastern end of Rucker Ridge leader for the project. ended on November 30 when the party moved to Pipecleaner Ridge. Stormy Results of the field party's work will weather kept the party confined to its enable the rocks of the Skelton and tents on December 4,5,6 and 8. Heavy Koettlitz Glaciers area to be correlated snow from the storn of December 4-6 with those between the Renegar considerably hampered geological Glacier and the Victoria Valley area. work on Rucker Ridge after they Also the geologists will be able to moved there on December 9. produce a detailed structural and BAD WEATHER metamorphic history of the rocks in the Skelton and Renegar Glaciers Work on Rucker and Pipecleaner region, and in the region of the Ridges led to an investigation of the Koettlitz and Blue Glaciers. geological structure at the west end of .Storms delayed the departure of the Dismal Ridge where the helicopter lift tarty from Scott Base until October was completed on December 14 just !9, and it made its first camp on the before low cloud closed in. The northern side of the Foster Glacier in a weather stopped work on December 25-knot wind. During the next two 15. It was completed the next day, and days the wind speed rose, gusting to then the party had to remain in its an estimated maximum of 80 knots. tents on December 17 and 18. Work began on November 1, and on On December 19 there was another November 8 a route to the Renegar lift to the Chancellor Lakes. Geologic Glacier was reconnoitred. al work was completed by December 21, the party had an enforced rest on SLEDGES DAMAGED December 22, and on December 23 moved to Lake Miers where it camped On November 10 the party travelled at the eastern end. After Christmas by motor toboggan to the southern celebrations mapping began on Dec side of the Renegar Glacier. The route ember 26 and was completed on involved a descent of 400 to 500m over December 29. The weather was unsuit a distance of four to five metres, but able for flying on December 30, but the travel was easy despite white-out next day the party moved to Hobbs conditions. But the double-ended dog Peak where geological mapping was sledge and the manhaul sledge were carried out along the east and west damaged a few minutes before the ridges on the first two days of the New party made camp on moraine at the Year. confluence of the Renegar and Koett litz Glaciers. Results of this and previous work necessitated a move to the mouth of After the party moved to the north the Garwood Valley on January 3 to eastern side of the Renegar Glacier on investigate type sections described in November 14 its move to Heald Island the Marshall and Garwood Valleys in was delayed for three days by bad 1963. The results of this work and that weather. The damaged sledges, the at Lake Miers led to a visit to Lake rough ice of the Renegar, and even Vanda to compare the gneisses and rougher ice on the Koettlitz, prevented granites of Lake Miers and those in the party from travelling to Heald the Garwood Valley with those in the Island by motor-toboggan, and it was Wright Valley described in 1962. lifted there by helicopter on November 20. Mapping was completed on Nov From the Garwood Valley the party ember 22, and the party moved to was lifted to Lake Pewe on January 6. Dismal Ridge by helicopter on Nov Dr Skinner and Miss Wright returned ember 25, camping on moraine at the to Scott Base to pack rocks for ship- ANTARCTIC ment to New Zealand, and flew back to she found no plankton, only fine Lake Pewe on January 7. Mapping organic debris. there was completed on January 8, but the weather delayed the move to Before Dr Bradford went to the Vanda Station until January 13. R.I.S.P. drilling site she did additional marine biological work from Scott Granites at the east end of the Dais Base. She studied plankton samples were investigated on January 13, and taken last winter from beneath the ice those on the floor of the Wright Valley of McMurdo Sound by Mr J. S. Oliver, between Vanda and Bull Pass the next of the Scripps Institution of Oceano day. The results necessitated resamp graphy, to work out the development ling granite at the type locality by stages of copepods. Lake Vida. This was done on January 15 during the flight to Scott Base when VOLCANO ACTIVE the helicopter put clown for 15 minutes at Lake Vida. The party reached Scott A series of eruptions from the inner Base late in the afternoon, and crater of Mount Erebus prevented a returned to New Zealand on January French-New Zealand team from ach 19. ieving one object of its scientific study of the volcano — a descent into the ROSS ICE SHELF crater to obtain hot gas samples from the active lava lake. Because of the Three scientists from the New volcanic activity two French chemists Zealand Oceanographic Institute took worked from the rim of the main crater part in a major international event — during their two weeks on the mount the Ross Ice Shelf Project — last ain, and could collect only cold gas season. In the 1976-77 season they were unable to work with the project samples from the inner crater. because technical drilling problems Violent eruptions in 1971 forced a prevented completion of the hole New Zealand-French-United States drilled through the ice shelf in an expedition to abandon a proposed attempt to discover whether life descent into the inner crater after the existed in the water and the seabed scientists had spent more than three below. weeks near the summit of Erebus. This time the plan for a descent was But in the second week of December shelved before the French party was the drilling team penetrated 377m of flown to the mountain. ice, and scientists were able to examine the water 182m from the In December Mr Peter Farrell, field bottom of the ice shelf, and the seabed. leader of the team, and Dr Philip Kyle, Later in the month the New Zealand a New Zealand geologist working with ers, Dr Janet Bradford, Bill Whitley, the United States research pro and Paul Anderson flew to the drilling gramme, spent five hours near the site 664km south-east of Scott Base, summit, and reported intense volcanic- and worked there for a week. activity. They saw between 20 and 40 fresh lava "bombs" on the floor of the Before they left Bill Whitley was main crater, and one nearly 2m across able to lower a sampling dredge of his on the rim of the crater. During their own design down the hole to the sea reconnaissance they saw two relative floor. The dredge brought up sand and ly large "bombs" hurled 120m to 150m gravel containing mollusc shells, from the inner crater to the edge of the bryozoa (acquatic organisms) and a main crater. small snail. Because of the intense activity from Dr Bradford, a specialist in tiny the inner crater two New Zealanders, planktonic animals called copepods, Dr Werner Giggenbach, of the Chem was not so lucky. Although she istry Division, D.S.I.R., and Dr filtered about 1000 litres of sea water Graeme Lyon, of the Institute of pumped up from the murky depths, Nuclear Sciences, both of whom have ANTARCTIC worked on Erebus before — Dr occasion to minus 32deg. Giggenbach was with the 1974 exped ition — did not join the team. The New SIX ERUPTIONS Zealanders who worked on the mount During their fortnight on Erebus the ain in January were Peter Farrell, a team observed as many as six brief leading mountaineer, of Christ eruptions daily from the active inner church, Brad Scott (technician, Roto- crater. These threw up ash and rua), and Russell Brice (field assist "bombs" — semi-solid blocks of lava ant, Christchurch). — from the lava lake which is twice as FRENCH PARTY wide as it was in 1974. On the night of January 12-13 one eruption showered One of the world's leading vulcan- lava "bombs" all around Dr Tazieff ologists, Dr Haroun Tazieff, who has and Mr Farrell, and they were spatter been studying volcanoes all over the ed with small pieces of rapidly cooling world for 30 years, led the French lava. party. He was disappointed that ne descent could be made into the inner Although Dr Tazieff was unable to crater because this was the second descend into the inner crater, he time his plans were foiled — he was observed something in the lava lake the leader of the French party in the which he had never seen before in 30 1974 expedition. With him this year years of vulcanology. He and Mr were two chemists, Drs Rene Faivre- Farrell saw a huge bubble 100m across Pierret and Georges Polian. form in the lake. In five or six seconds the bubble burst into long, viscous Because of the risk of altitude threads 2m to 3m wide which rose to a sickness parties on Erebus (3779m) height of 120m. usually spend some time in the Fang Gas vulcanology is a relatively Glacier camp at 3048m on the north unknown field in the study of volcan east slope to acclimatise. This time, oes, and the two chemists in the however, only Dr Kyle, who was on French party spent their time on Erebus for the sixth time, and his field Erebus measuring the composition of assistant, Mr William McPherson, of the gases rising from the inner crater, the University of Colorado, Boulder, and their radioactivity. They collected acclimatised before they worked at the gas samples with a pump on the rim of summit. the main crater. On January 3 Dr Tazieff and the rest of the party were lifted to the Fang EVIDENCE OF LIFE Glacier by a United States Navy Evidence of life near the summit of helicopter, but they spent only two hours there, and then were flown Erebus was found by three other direct to the summit camp 100m below scientists from the University of the main crater rim. As a result all Waikato. They discovered a small, suffered from altitude sickness, and dark-coloured moss growing on geo- Mr Farrell had to use oxygen for seven thermally warmed ground in an air hours. temperature of minus 27deg C. Dr Keith Thomson (botanist), Dr Benno Four helicopter flights were needed Meyer-Rochow (zoologist), and Mr to establish the team at its camp, and Don Cowan (post-graduate student), a fifth was made to move gear to the made a special helicopter trip from crater rim. From January 4 to 17 the Scott Base to search for the moss. team worked on the eastern and northern rims of the main crater in Dr Thomson says that the volcano's low temperatures and chilling winds heat held in by a thin covering of earth of up to 19 knots. During the day over the moss seems to enable it to temperatures ranged from minus 26 survive. The scientists also believe deg to 27deg Celsius, and at night they that among the moss there may be dropped to minus 30deg, and one tiny animals — mites and tardi- March, 1978 ANTARCTIC grades. These are among the very few mouth, set it firmly and hung on tight. organisms which can survive under After a brief tussle he was able to walk fluctuations of temperature in an back to Scott Base with his "catch" extraordinarily harsh environment. After it had been examined the cod Dr Meyer-Rochow, who has studied served another useful purpose. Cut the eyes of the giant Antarctic slater (Glyptonotus antarcticus) for several years ("Antarctic", December, 1977, Page 112) was able to obtain fresh specimens of this bottom-feeding sca venger which lives in depths of up to 3000m in the chilly waters under the sea ice of McMurdo Sound. One specimen was found to have another pair of eyes under its head. They are smaller and simpler in form, and are probably a special adaptation used when the animal swims on its back. The discovery throws new light on Dr Meyer-Rochow's continuing studies of vision in cold water specialist crusta-

MITE SPECIMENS Dr Meyer-Rochow made another discovery in the waters of McMurdo Sound — a tiny, unusual deep-water mite, one of few ever found in Antarctic waters. From a depth of 140m near Scott Base he collected several specimens of the mite on sponge fragments in a fish trap. The mite is a quarter of a millimetre long, and has four pairs of hairy legs and two red stripes on its abdomen. This mite appears to be of a species new to science, according to Dr Meyer- Rochow. Most mites live on land, in fresh water or between tides. One 10 species have been discovered in deep Antarctic waters. Early in January Dr Meyer-Rochow crowned his research by catching a 17kg Antarctic cod (Dissostichus mawsoni), something he and his coll eagues had been trying to do for nearly two months. The catch was made first by a Weddell seal which surfaced at an ice hole with the cod in its mouth. Dr Meyer-Rochow took advantage of the seal's poor vision and waited Antarctic fisherman Dr Benno until the fish's head was clear of the Meyer-Rochow with his 17kg cod. water. He dropped a hook into its Antarctic Division photo. ■ ^^ ▶"i^F.-.^'W »WfBv

ANTARCTIC into steaks and baked in butter by the logy, glaciology, and geophysics. Also base cook, Russell Arnott, it provided at Vanda for the annual summer task a meal for 36 people. However, it was of monitoring selected dry valley only a "tiddler". Dissostichus maw- glaciers, the flow of the Onyx River, soni grows up to 70kg in weight. and the levels of Lake Vanda and other major dry valley lakes were two SNOW CHEMISTRY Ministry of Works and Development hydrologists, Messrs Trevor Chinn For the first time New Zealand and Tim Omundsen, and two survey scientists worked at Vostok, known as ors, Messrs John Palmer and Nigel the coldest place on earth, which is Nalder. 1250km from Scott base. Professor A.T Wilson and Dr C.H. Hendy, flew Vanda Station was manned last there on December 18 to continue the season by Messrs Eric Saxby (leader, University of Waikato Antarctic re Queenstown), Chris Longson (tech search unit's studies of the geochem nician, Auckland), Brad Scott (tech istry of Antarctic snow. nician, Rotorua), and Russell Brice (field assistant, Christchurch). They Originally the scientists planned made climatological observations, re only to study the snow surface at corded solar radiation, and made reg Vostok and complete a programme ular measurements of the Onyx carried out at Byrd and Plateau River's flow and the ice thickness and Stations in 1967-68 and Pole Station in temperature of Lake Vanda. 1964-65. But because of transportation difficulties they had to remain at Vostok longer than expected. When the snow surface studies were comp St Paul's Mountain leted they carried out similar studies climbed on ice cores taken from the 950m hole drilled by Soviet scientists through Two New Zealand soil scientists, the polar ice-cap. who combined mountaineering with Vostok sits on ice more than 3500m their studies of old weathered soils in South Victoria Land, climbed what is deep, and drilling has been done there for several seasons. With Soviet co- believed to be a virgin 2700m peak on leration the New Zealanders, who the north side of the Taylor Glacier ent a month at the station, were able last season. Drs Graeme Claridge, of to measure the accumulation rate Wellington, and Ian Campbell, of down the whole length of the ice core. Nelson, made a six-hour ascent of St This enabled the various sections of Paul's Mountain from their camp in the core to be dated. The 950m level of the Taylor Valley. the Vostok core was found to be 51,000 To reach the summit of the jagged, years old. steeply-cliffed peak, the two climbers FIELD PARTIES had to work their way along a steep and sheer-faced ridge. They examined Vanda Station in the Wright Valley rocks and debris around the summit, 130km west of Scott Base was almost and were rewarded for their strenuous as busy as the main base during the climb by a magnificent view of Mt season. The normal summer populat Erebus 150km across McMurdo ion is four, but it began to grow early Sound. in November, and for periods of one to three months during the summer there St Paul's Mountain (77deg53min S/ were seven field parties living and 160deg 20min E) is two miles nprth- east of Round Mountain on the north working near the station. side of the Taylor Glacier, and is Activities of those field parties joined to Round Mountain by a high covered a wide range of the earth ridge. It was named by the National sciences, including soil studies, geo Antarctic Expedition (1901-04). ANTARCTIC Colder summer stops river flow

Summer in Antarctica was un Usually the waters of the Onyx usually cold last season. Meteorolog begin their inland flow down the 30km ists at Scott Base reported that the course to Lake Vanda about mid-Dec summer there had been one of the cold ember, and by January should be flow est since operations first began in ing freely. For several seasons New 1957, and the average temperature for Zealanders at Vanda have held a December at Vanda Station in the sweepstake based on the date water Wright Valley was minus 1.6deg Cels from the Onyx will top the weir at the ius — a drop of minus 1.7deg since the station. Last season they waited in station was established in 1968. Between 1957 and 1975 a gradual warming trend has been recorded at Scott Base. But there has been a change since then, and last season was the first in which the December and January temperatures did not reach a plus figure. In December last year the average daily temperature at Scott Base was a Record cargo load record — minus 7.5degC. The January figure dropped to minus 8.4deg. This carried was the lowest average for January A record cargo load was carried since 1960 when the temperature south for McMurdo Station and Scott dropped to minus 8.8deg. Base last season by Hercules aircraft One result of the unusually cold of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. summer was that the Onyx River, the only river on the Antarctic Continent worthy of the name, failed to flow for the first time in 20 years. Fed by melt water from the Lower Wright Glacier south before the runway on the sea ice the Onyx rised at the coast end of the in McMurdo Sound became unusable for wheeled aircraft. Wright Valley, and is one of the few rivers in the world that flows inland. Because of the load distribution re quirements of the United States About 240 men and women, mainly Navy's ski-equipped Hercules air Americans, took part in snowcraft craft, the R.N.Z.A.F. was called on to and survival courses conducted by fly in the largest item of cargo — a 13- New Zealand mountaineers from tonne tracked vehicle. This was Scott Base last season. Three men, needed at McMurdo Station to replace Peter Farrell and Bryan Carter, of equipment taken to a field camp. Christchurch, and John Horsley, of Wellington, ran 36 courses in three Six Royal Australian Air Force air months for the Antarctic Division crew were observers on the flights. D.S.I.R. Next season the R.A.A.F. will use its new C-130H Hercules aircraft for four These courses are held every season flights between Christchurch and for Americans and New Zealanders on McMurdo Station. In return the Ross Island. New Zealand field part United States Navy will make two ies, the Scott Base summer support flights for the Australians between staff, and the winter team, all took McMurdo Station and Casey, a dist part last season. ance of more than 200km.

■ ^QY^*,» ANTARCTIC March, 1978 Caretakers for historic huts

Two members of the New Zealand knowledge ot or interest in the historic Antarctic Society will have the opport huts, and the conservation of fauna unity to spend three weeks in the and flora. Other suggestions are that Antarctic next season working on the applicants should have practical ex repair and maintenance of the historic perience in some trade or profession, huts at Cape Royds, Cape Evans, and and mountaineering and/or tramping Hut Point. Applications to the Canter experience. bury and Wellington branches of the society close on May 30. The selected caretakers will be required to attend Macquarie scuba the training camp at Tekapo for the Antarctic research team, and will go divers south in December. There have been caretakers working Three Americans and a New Zea- on Ross Island every season except lander spent last summer on Mac one since the 1969-70 summer, and the quarie Island collecting, studying, and photographing fishes and marin" project is part of the New Zealand Antarctic research programme. The invertebrates around the coastline two caretakers will be selected by the down to a depth of 20m. They also studied the fauna of the fresh-water superintendent of the Antarctic Divis ion from nominations made by the two lakes on the island plateau. branches of the society. South Island Collections were made chiefly by members can obtain application scuba diving and a variety of meth forms from the Canterbury branch ods. Mesh bags were used to sample secretary, P.O. Box 404, Christchurch. sediments, "slurp guns" to catch North Island members can apply to scavengers, and an anaesthetic (rote- the Wellington branch secretary, P.O. none) to collect fish. Some tiny marine Box 2110. invertebrates were collected by plac ing household plastic pot scourers on Special clothing, transport, food the ocean floor. These made ideal and accommodation, are provided by homes for the small animals, and were the Antarctic Division, which has easily collected at the end of the suggested certain qualifications of value to anyone applying. These survey period. include interest in one or more of the Of the party three had worked pre Antarctic research projects, particul viously in the zoology department of arly biology or meteorology, and the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. They were Dr Jim Lowry, curator of Crustacea at the Australian Museum, Sydney, who spent three seasons with the univers ity's Antarctic biological research "Antarctic Record", a new publicat unit on Ross Island; Dr Don Horning, ion produced by the Antarctic Divis who led the 1975-76 expedition at Cape ion of New Zealand's Department of Bird, and has made four expeditions to Scientific and Industrial Research, the sub-Antarctic Snares Islands; and will make its first appearance next the New Zealander, Dr Gary Poore, month. It is designed to give up-to-date now with the National Museum, scientific and technical information Victoria, who did his thesis at the on New Zealand's Antarctic research university. The third American was programme, and will be distributed in Mr Rob Ricker, of the University of New Zealand and overseas. California. March, 1978 ANTARCTIC Signs of life beneath Ross Ice Shelf After four years of research and financial and technical setbacks, one of the major projects in the United States Antarctic research programme was successful last season. Scientists drilled through 377m of the Ross Ice Shelf to open up an undersea world never before seen by man, and found evidence of life in the frigid, sunless waters beneath the shelf, which have been hidden by ice for at least 120,000 years. under the shelf. But there was another More than 330 330 scientists scientists worked worked on on initial setback — sea water gushed up 90 projects in the programme during flooded the hole, and then froze before the 1977-78 1977-78 summer. summer. In In Marie Marie Byrd Byrd closed-circuit television cameras could Land they found a new link in the be lowered into the hole to study the volcanic "ring of of fire" fire" which which encirlces encirlces water and the seabed far beneath. the Pacific Ocean, and in South Victoria Land they discovered 310 Success came on December 13, a meteorites, two of which may be year after the first unsuccessful carbonaceous chondrites, the "first attempt to drill through the ice shelf at carbon-bearing meteorites ever found J9, the drill camp 644km south-east of under conditions of minimum terrest- McMurdo Station, and 482km from trial contamination. Algae, bacteria, the edge of the ice. In slightly more and fungi were discovered living just than nine hours the drill cut through below the surface of rocks strewn over 377m of ice, and two days later a more than 100 locations in the dry television camera was lowered down valleys, and in the Cumulus Hills of the hole which had an average the central Trans-Antarctic Mount diameter of 457mm with a minimum ains scientists collected 116 fossil diameter of 279mm at one depth. remains of amphibians and reptiles which lived in Antarctica 230 million Then the scientists had their first years ago. sight of life in the "lost world". Twice swimming organisms which appeared In the 1975-76 season field activities to be tiny fish swam slowly across the of the Ross Ice Shelf Project, which field of vision near the seabed. Other began in 1973, had to be deferred be signs of life were seen in the form of cause of restriction on spending and tracks, trails, and burrows. The sea the temporary loss of two aircraft. bed appeared paved with small an Drilling through the ice shelf in gular rocks, most of them less than December, 1976, was terminated when 152mm across, and apparently cover ice flowing under the pressure of its ed with a thin veneer of sediment. own weight blocked the drill assembly when the hole had reached a depth of SEABED SAMPLES 330.3m. Later analysis of the video tape FLAME DRILL suggested that the tiny fish might be crustaceans. Various arthropods were All attempts to free the drill last seen as they approached the bait season by means of hot water circulat attached to the TV assembly, and one ion failed. On December 2, however, a crustacean was captured. Foramini- new flame-jet drill normally used in fera, arthropods, and possible worm cutting granite, burned through 420m trails were also observed on the of ice to the waters of the Ross Sea camera screen. ANTARCTIC March, 1978 Samples recovered from the surface part of the Pacific. of the seabed contained abundant various fragmented diatoms of mixed Discovery of 310 meteorites, espec ranges, including some Late Miocene. ially those believed to be carbonac A gravity core 29cm long contained an eous chondrites, is regarded by United abundance of well-preserved plank- States authorities on meteorites as tonic diatom flora which appeared to significant as the recovery of moon be in place and not reworked. rocks. Of the world's supply of about 2000 meteorites only 25 are known to Thirty-six scientists from six nat be carbonaceous chondrites, so named ions — Australia, Norway, the Soviet because of their high abundance of Union, New Zealand, Denmark, and carbon. the United States — hoped to spend the rest of the summer studying the If analysis of the two samples at the National Aeronautics and Space Ad biological, chemical, and physical characteristics of the environment be ministration's Lunar Receiving Lab neath the shelf. Crustaceans (isopods, oratory at Houston confirms that they are carbon-bearing, the meteorites arthropods, and euphausids) were could give scientists new clues about trapped or photographed, and water tests and measurements were made. the origin and evolution of the solar But efforts to keep the hole open by system, and possibly of the origin of means of a dangling heated cable life on earth. Carbonaceous chond rites come closest to representing the failed, and it froze solid. unaltered, very old material from Closure of the access hole to th which planets are formed. waters under the ice shelf did not EARLY FINDS prevent scientists from collecting ice cores from another hole drilled mech Because the Antarctic ice and cold anically at another site. To prevent ice protected the meteorites from chem closure the hole was kept open by fill ical reactions, contamination, and ing the lower half with Arctic diesel erosion, the specimens found last fuel. season could give scientists clues which were denied them before. Met VOLCANIC ACTIVITY eorites found elsewhere lost much of Early last season United States their pristine qualities because they Navy Hercules aircraft flew from become contamined and weathered by McMurdo Station to establish a field exposure to the elements. camp on the Hobbs Coast of Marie All the meteorites were found in Dec Byrd Land at 76deg 45min S/135deg ember and January by a United States W. A geological and geophysical — Japanese team of four scie"**0*0 survey of the coastal area was made When they first camped ne by United States scientists, who travelled to study areas in three Allan Nunatak about 200km noi west of McMurdo Station they found helicopters flown in by the Hercules 21 meteorites in one day. The Ameri aircraft. cans were Dr William A. Cassidy, of This survey, which will contribute the University of Pittsburgh, and Dr towards a reconstruction of the geo Billy P. Glass, of the University of logical history of West Antarctic, Delaware, Dr Keizo Yanai and Mr M. included a study of volcanoes and Funaki, of the National Institute of volcanic rocks between 140deg and Polar Research in Tokyo, were the HOdeg W. In the Hal Flood Range, Japanese representatives. whose mountains are at least partially of volcanic origin, scientists discover Since 1969 Japanese geologists ed fumaroles on Mount Berlin (3169m). have discovered more than 1000 This was the first hint of current meteorites on the surface of bare ice volcanic activity along 5632km of areas in the Yamato Mountains about coastline flanking the southernmost 300km south of Syowa Station. Dr

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0I10UV1NV 8£6l 'M0JB1AI ANTARCTIC March, 1978 Yanai, who was a member of a party could be peeled away. Widespread which found 663 meteorites in three colonies of microbes were found weeks during the 1974-75 season, fractions of an inch below the surface, worked with Dr Cassidy and Dr where sunlight could penetrate and Edward J. Olsen, curator of mineral moisture might reach. ogy and meteorites at the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, MICROBES' AGE in Victoria Land during the 1976-77 Dr Friedman believes the microbes season. found in the rocks have been there for at least 200,000 years ever since the Dr Yanai discovered the first met dry valleys reached their present eorites in Victoria Land. Two speci climatic condition. They probably mens were found at Mount Baldr in burrowed into the rocks through the Upper Wright Valley, and nine cracks and pores, and then swelled came from Allan Nunatak. Dr Cass outwards just below the rocks' outer idy formed the theory then that the mountains west of McMurdo Sound layers. The microbes survive on nitrogen that leaks through cracks in impede the flow of ice off the polar the rocks from the atmosphere, on plateau, leading to an accumulation minute traces of minerals in the soil of meteorites that have fallen on the covering the rocks, and on tiny traces ice over many centuries. Dr Cassidy of moisture that melts into the rocks believed that these meteorites might from the little snow that falls in the be preserved uncontaminated in the dry valleys. deep snow and ice, and eventually would be exposed by wind action. FOSSIL REPTILES Therefore the team concentrated its Fossils of four-legged amphibians search last season in areas of old ice and reptiles which existed in the free of snow. temperate to sub-tropical environ LIFE IN ROCKS ment of Antarctica during the contin ent's Triassic period 230 million years In the 1976-77 sei._. ago were found last season by a Friedman, a biologist from Florida United States-Australian team of State University, made a survey in the scientists in the Fremouw Formation dry valleys of South Victoria Land for of the Cumulus Hills, a massive bare endolithic algae. These blue-green rock feature in the central Trans- algae had been found under the Antarctic Mountains 725km south surface of rock samples from the dry east of McMurdo Station at 85deg valleys. Both the organisms and the 15min S/175deg W. The team, led by type of growth were similar to those Dr Dr John W. Cosgriff, of Wayne State Friedman had found in hot deserts. University, recovered 116 fossil verte This was the first evidence of primary brate specimens, the largest such find producers in the cold Antarctic desert to date in Antarctica. ecosystem. Many of the fossils, including forms Last season Dr Friedman returned previously unknown from Antarct to the dry valleys with his wife, Roseli ica's Triassic period, were complete or Ocampo-Friedman. They collected largely so. They were found scattered rock samples from more than 100 about sandstone ledges in the Cumul locations, and found that they held us Hills. The skeletal remains of the just below the surface microbes of four-legged amphibians and reptiles three different kinds as well as algae ranged in sizes from less than 304mm and fungi. This life in the dry valleys in body length to the size of a deer. was less primitive and of more variety than life found in hot deserts. Antarctica's Triassic period began 230 million years ago, and lasted 50 On their field trips Dr Friedman and million years. The scientists' objective his wife heated rock samples until was to collect fossils of amphibians, they broke apart and their outer layers reptiles, and fish of the early Triassic March. 1978 ANTARCTIC period. They went to the Fremouw the Antarctic fauna of the Triassic Formation, Cumulus Hills, because it period demonstrates that the contin contained proven fossil fields which ent existed then in a temperate to sub were sampled in the 1970-71 season, tropical environment. This is in sharp and their rich find was the outcome of contrast to the Cumulus Hills of today previous work there. where a few small and widely scattered lichens constitute the only FORMER CLIMATE noticeable life form. Thirty of the fossils found last season are of particular importance to Another party from Ohio State scientists because of their complete University also worked in the Cumul- ness and quality of preservation. is Hills last season. Drs James W. Many of the species found entombed Collinson and Kenneth O. Stanley, in the barren rocks are also known in and Mr Charles L. Vavra studied the contemporary rock deposits in Africa, stratigraphy and sedimentary petro Australia, and India. This adds to logy of the Lower Triassic vertebrate- existing geological and geophysical bearing beds in the area. Their evidence which suggests that Antarct purpose was to reconstruct the depost- ic, Australia, Africa, South American, ional environment and provenance of and India, formed one land mass the Fremouw Formation, to determine during the Triassic period. the occurrence patterns of fossilifer- ous beds, and to locate additional Dr Cosgriff says that the nature of fossil beds.

One woman remains for winter Women working in the Antarctic wanted to stay at the Amundsen-Scott during the summer are no longer a South Pole Station this winter, but it novelty. There were three at the South has been a strictly masculine preserve Pole last season — a communications since 1957. This year there are 22 men operator, a cook, and her helper— and at the Pole, 19 Americans, two New United States and New Zealand Zealanders, and one Soviet scientist, women scientists were in the field at Dr R.M. Galkin. His field is geomag- many places — the Trans-Antarctic netics, and he is carrying on work Mountains, the Ross Ice Shelf, the dry started by his compatriot, Dr Alex valleys, the South Pole, and Wilkes ander Zaitsev, who spent last winter Land. at the Pole. But few women remain to work One American is spending his during the winter. Only three Ameri winter with the Soviet team at Vostok, can women scientists have wintered the coldest place on earth, deep in the at McMurdo Station. The fourth is heart of the continent. He is the there now, sharing isolation with 73 United States exchange scientist, mr men. She is Miss Sue Williams, of the Robert Gregory, an electronics tech University of Texas, who works in the nician from Stanford University. geodetic satellite observatory. Including Mr Gregory, there are 105 Last year Mrs Donna Oliver spent a Americans wintering in Antarctica winter at McMurdo Station with her this year. There are 74 at McMurdo husband, and in 1974 Dr Mary Mc- Station, 19 at the Pole Station, five at Whinnie was station scientific leader Siple Station in Ellsworth Land, and during the winter. Another scientists, six at Palmer Station on Anvers Sister Mary Odile Cahoon, shared the Island off the Antarctic Peninsula. isolation. New Zealand has a winter population of 13 — two at the Pole and 11 at Scott Two women and a married couple Base. *7,.y?.V '■^BTfff

ANTARCTIC March, 1978 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY OF RESEARCH PROGRAMMES

Studies of the environmental and in Antarctica will be assessed in impacts of the United States Antarct the D.E.I.S. The consultants will also ic research programme, and the devel try to assess the possible effects of oil opment of American bases in the next spills, and the impact, if any, of air 30 years, have been commissioned by traffic on wildlife, particularly the United States National Science penguin rookeries and seal colonies. Foundation. A long-range planning Waste disposal has also been team headed by a Californian archit covered in the study. This is a problem ect, Mr Dennis McBreen, and Cali at field camps if they are in environ fornian engineering and environ mental consultants, were engaged in mentally sensitive areas. The D.E.I.S. these studies last season. will evaluate the long-term effects of the present methods for dealing with Basically the function of the solid wastes — burning, burial in the planning team is to suggest how ice or disposal at sea. Other disposal development should proceed over the methods will also be considered. next 30 years, and the goal is to make McMurdo Station more cost effective in supporting scientific operations. At present the National Science Foundat U.S. support force ion spends nearly $50 million in command Antarctic research, and of this about $7.5 million is for scientific grants. The rest goes towards support, and the After five seasons in Antartica Captain C.H. Nordhill will relinquish planning team says that six people are command of the United States Navy's needed to support each scientist. Antarctic support force officially in Another goal of the planners is how June. His successor is Captain D. to make McMurdo Station more Westbrook, who has had 23 years' attractive. Mr McBreen says: "Its^not service in naval aviation. Captain a pretty place. In the long run we have N o r d h i l l w a s o n c e h i s fl y i n g to try to consolidate and rebuild it." instructor. To produce a draft environmental Captain Nordhill, who first went impact statement on the United States south in 1970, commanded the Navy's Antarctic research programme the VXE-6 Squadron in 1971 and 1972, engineering and environmental and has been the support force consultants, Davis and Moore, will commander since 1976. Captain West- have to analyse the environmental brook, now the National Science impacts of the activities at McMurdo, Foundation's division of polar pro Amundsen-Scott South Pole, Siple, grammes, has flown a wide variety of and Palmer Stations, and temporary aircraft. He has served aboard aircraft field stations. Their study will carriers, and commanded a training consider also the long-range squadron in Texas. environmental effect of all forms of Captain Westbrook has degrees in -lectrical and aeronautical engin eering from the Navy's graduate land vehicles. school for senior officers in Monterey, Improved methods of monitoring California. He has also studied at the and controlling air and land travel to United States Naval War College. March, 1978 ANTARCTIC Critical flights made to Siple Station One of the busiest places in Antarctica last season was Siple Station, 2250km from McMurdo Station at the base of the Sentinel Mountains in Ellsworth Land. For weeks United States Navy Hercules aircraft maintained almost a shuttle service to the remote station, performing a most vital task in support of the research programme — an airlift of men and nearly 350 tonnes of materials to build a new Siple Station. station; they also had to fly in the Time and the unstable weather in summer and winter research teams, Ellsworth Land made the operation and the supplies and fuel needed to critical. Usually there are only 54 days support them. each summer when aircraft can fly in to Siple, and bad weather at McMurdo BUSY MONTHS Station early in the season, which As in past seasons the Hercules lasts slightly more than 12 weeks, aircraft flew to other remote parts of the first flight until the last Antarctica to support the scientific- week of October. But VXE-6 Squad projects. In their two busiest months ron's crews and their Antarctic work — October and November— they flew horses kept on flying day after day — 30 flights were made in November — 1600km from McMurdo Station to and enabled the construction crew, establish a field camp on the Hobbs also working against the calendar, to Coast of Marie Byrd Land, relieved the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Stat complete the first stage of a two-year ion, carried a United States Geological project. Survey party 2278km to the Orville Siple Station (75deg 56min S/84deg Coast of the Weddell Sea in three 15min W), which was first occupied all flights, and later in the season made the year round in 1973, has to be two flights to the Soviet station, replaced because it is slowly being Vostok, 1110km from McMurdo Stat crushed by the weight of ice and snow ion on the Polar Plateau. on its buildings. The new station will Other inland flights in support of consist of 24 prefabricated modular the research programme were to th" rs under a metal arch 75m long Leverett Glacier and the Cumulu and 13m wide. Expected to last 10 Hills in the central Trans-Antarctic years or more, the station will accom Mountains. VXE-6 Squadron helicop modate eight persons, and should be ters were transported to Marie Byrd ready for occupation in January next Land for field operations, and others year. shuttled back and forth across Mc Everything needed for Siple Station Murdo Sound to Vanda Station, New was carried there by air, each flight Harbour, the Foster and Blue Glac taking 10 hours. A temporary summer iers, and to various areas in the dry camp was built to accommodate the 32 valleys. Local flights included lifting men of the construction crew, who had French scientists to the summit of to work under pressure to assemble the Mount Erebus, and visits to Cape modular buildings and erect the metal Evans. arch before the season ended. VXE-6 FRENCH HELP Squadron aircraft carried all the men and materials needed to build the new For the first time a United States «^W«

ANTARCTIC March, 1978 Navy Hercules flew to the French the experts confirmed this opinion, base, Dumont d'Urville, on the coast and a recovery attempt will be made of Adelie land. The flight of 1500km next season. from McMurdo Station was made to enable Navy and civilian experts to VXE-6 Squadron aircraft also oper visit a disabled Hercules abandoned ated in Wilkes Land last season in about 1060km from McMurdo Station support of the French research prog in December 1971, and decided wheth ramme. They made several flights to er it could be retrieved and put back Dome C to enable a team of glaciolog- into service. ists to carry out a deep drilling project on the ice-cap. After the successful recovery of three damaged Hercules aircraft from Last season United States Navy Dome C in Wilkes Land during the and Air Force aircraft carried twice as 1975-76 and 1976-77 seasons, the Nat much cargo to Antarctica as they did ional Science Foundation and the in the 1976-77 season to support the research programme and maintain Navy considered the recovery of the fourth aircraft. This, No. 148321, was the inland stations. downed on December 4, 1971, because The tonnage carried by sea was nearly of a malfunctioning JATO system, at twice that shipped to McMurdo Stat 68deg20minS/137deg31minE, about ion in the previous season. 225km inland from Dumont d'Urville THREE ICEBREAKERS after it had resupplied a French traverse party. Support for supply operations by sea was provided by three icebreakers Expeditions Polaires Francaises as instead of the usual two. The United sisted the experts and a support team States Coast Guard's most powerful to reach the aircraft which is at a icebreaker, the new 13,000-tonne Polar point, D59, on the traverse route. The Star made her debut in Antarctic operation had to be carried out in waters. She worked with two veterans, stages because Dumont d'Urville has the Glacier, which has operated in no facilities for Hercules aircraft, and southern waters since 1955, and the no landings could be made on the ice Burton Island, which was to have unless a skiway could be prepared been decommissioned at the end of the first. 1975-76 season, but was called back to service again in the 1976-77 season. SKIWAYS BUILT Later in December the three ice A skiway was constructed about breakers cut a channel through 25km 19km inland by the winter team at of sea ice in McMurdo Sound to enable Dumont d'Urville. Then a French the supply ship Schuyler Otis Bland support team was flown from Mc and the tanker Maumee to reach the Murdo Station. It made a traverse ice wharf in Winter Quarters Bay. The from the small inland base, Carrefour, task took only 32 hours; in the 1976-77 to D59 and built a skiway there. Next a season the older and less powerful ice team of experts from the Navy and the breakers Burton Island and the North- aircraft manufacturers flew in from wind took 13 days to cut a 35km McMurdo Station, and a temporary channel. camp was established. But the Polar Star's maiden voyage United States aerial and French produced problems. Her variable pitch surface observations over the last six propeller system, which had to be years, knowledge of the actual dam redesigned and strengthened after age to No. 148321, and the experience trials in Bering Strait ice, again gained in the recovery of the other caused her trouble in the Antarctic. aircraft at Dome C, indicated that the She returned to Wellington with a abandoned Hercules could be repaired fault in a propeller bearing, and then and returned to service. Inspection by went back to Seattle for repairs. ^Jk-. V March, 1978 ANT A When the Polar Star has been repaired she will work in the Arctic during the northern summer, but she is not expected to return to the Antarctic to Antarctic until the 1979-80 season. Her sister ship, the Polar Sea, will Arctic come south for Antarctic ice trials in December this year. CRACK IN HULL One of the last of the polar explorers, Wally Herbert, who led the British After the supply ship Schuyler Otis Trans-Arctic Expedition in 1968-69, is Bland reached Winter Quarters Bay attempting to circumnavigate Green on her first trip early in January a land, the world's largest island. One of hairline crack near the waterline was his two companions is a New discovered on the starboard side of her Zealander, John Bitters who, like hull. The crack, about 2m long, Herbert, has served with the New allowed some salt water to enter one Zealand Antarctic research hold, but no cargo was damaged, and programme. the ship was able to return to Welling ton for repairs. Using dog teams and umiaks (large kayaks) Herbert, Allan Gill, another On her second trip south the Bland Englishman, and Bitters, left Thule was delayed at Lyttelton for several on January 26. Three Eskimos days while repairs were made to her travelled with them on the first 643km boiler feed pump. Her cargo for of their 11,265km journey, which they McMurdo Station included a number expect to complete in 15 months. The of prefabricated buildings for use in British North Polar Expedition, 1977- the construction of Williams Field II, a 79, has the patronage of Prince new airfield complex on the McMurdo Charles, and is supported by the Ice Shelf. London "Sunday Times". Before she sailed from Winter Before he led his 1968-69 expedition Quarters Bay direct to Port Hueneme, across the Arctic from Point Barrow to California, on February 21, the Bland Spitzbergen Wally Herbert worked loaded about 4200 tonnes of margin with the British Antarctic Survey. ally contaminated soil from the site of Then he went to Greenland to buy the nuclear power plant on Observat dogs for Scott Base, which he brought ion Hill. In the previous season she to New Zealand in 1960. He wintered took 7908 tonnes of contaminated soil at Scott Base in 1961, and in the 1961- back to the United States. 62 season led a field party which followed part of Amundsen's route i^ast, but the most vital, supplies for back from the South Pole down the the winter and next summer, arrived Axel Heiberg Glacier. in the tanker Maumee. On her ninth visit to McMurdo Sound she discharg John Bitters, of Napier, was ed 4.7 million gallons of aviation and formerly a sergeant in the New Antarctic diesel fuel. Zealand Special Air Service. He was an assistance maintenance officer at Scott Base in the 1972-73 season, and was the dog handler with the winter party in 1973. He was the first New Zealander to make a parachute descent in the Antarctic. In 1972 he made two jumps from a helicopter with a United States Navy airborne rescue team on to the Ross Ice Shelf in a temperature of minus 15deg C, and from a height of 1097m. lW»m -f ** ui*j*-a-ji _^ wmm

ANTARCTIC March, 1978

A.N.A.R.E. REPORTS Marine Research to be Expanded Australian plans to expand marine research in Antarctic waters, and to co-operate with New Zealand and the United States in air transport to the continent, were initiated during the 31st summer programme of Australian National Antarctic Research Expedit ions. Studies of the Southern Ocean were made during the relief voyages of the Nella Dan and Thala Dan, a fisheries scientist took part in a West German krill research expedition, and Royal Australian Air Force crews flew with the Royal New Zealand Air Force between Christchurch and McMurdo Station to prepare for their support role next season. Co-operative flights with New Zeal major Soviet traverse from Mirny into and and the United States will begin Wilkes Land, and during this autumn in November and December when the and spring the winter party at Casey R.A.A.F. will make four flights with will make a traverse 900km inland its C130H Hercules aircraft from from the station as part of the I.A.G.P. Christchurch. In exchange the United studies of the East Antarctic ice sheet. States Navy will make two flights to Collection of rock samples for age Casey more than 2000km from Mc Murdo Station in January next year. determination was the main geolog ical priority in the Enderby Land These flights will enable Australian project last season. This was done by scientists to make more short-term two Bureau of Mineral Resources visits to Antarctica during the sum geologists, Messrs Lance Black (geo- mer. The American ski-equipped Herc chronologist) and Lyall Offe. Also in ules aircraft will use a snow airstrip the programme were Dr Edward S. about 13km inland from Casey, which Grew, a specialist in metamorphic was inspected last season by Mr Tom rocks from the University of Californ Petry, assistant director (engineering ia, Los Angeles, Dr Pat James, a and operations), Antarctic Division, structural geologist, of the University the aviation officer, Mr Alf Argent, of Adelaide, and a post-graduate and the officers-in-charge at Casey in student, Mr Adrian Griffin, of the 1977 and 1978. University of Melbourne, who did detailed mapping of rock outcrops in CASEY TRAVERSE the Beaver Glacier area. Four years ago ANARE began a programme of geology, geophysics, Remeasurement of the positions of glaciology, and aerial mapping in ice marker poles set up on the traverse Enderby Land. This programme was route between Mawson and Mount continued last season for six weeks by King in 1976, and the establishment of scientists who worked from a base more such markers in the region, were camp at Mount King, and covered an the main features of the glaciology area of some 200,000 square kilo programme. Two glaciologists, Messrs metres. In addition glaciologists con Peter Keage and Joe Jacka, of the tinued their involvement in the Inter Antarctic Division, were flown from national Antarctic Glaciological Pro the Nella Dan to a tractor train ject. An Antarctic Division glaciol- waiting at an ice movement marker ogist, Mr Neal Young, took part in a 40km south of Knuckey Peaks. ^H v\^ Kfl March, 1978 ANTARCTIC

Macquarie Island station of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions seen from Wireless Hill. This month marks 30 years' continuous occupation of the station by members of Australian expeditions. The main station area is in the foreground, with Hasselborough House, the women's quarters at left and the new stores building at right. Antarctic Division photo by JuttO Hose! This tractor train, which set up the East. This completed the task comm- Mount King camp, travelled back to enced in 1976 when all but the extreme Mawson, stopping at each marker for western sector of Australian Antarctic several days to determine positions by Territory was photographed in this the use of signals from United States manner. Navy satellites. When the tractor traverse ended Mr Jacka and a surv- When the major portions of the eyor were flown by helicopter to var- aenal photography programme were ious points in Enderby Land to estab- finished, Mr Keage transferred to the lish more ice movement markers in the aircraft to begin ice-thickness meas- high flow rate areas of a number of urements along the line of the markers glaciers. with the Antarctic Division's ice radar. The programme completed After its support in the establish- measurements made in the 1976-77 ment of the Mount King base camp, summer, the fixed-wing Pilatus Porter aircraft, flown by Captain Chris Galvin, of the PreliminaryPreliminary studies studies of of the the Southern Australian Army, was used to do vert- Ocean Ocean as as part part of of the new marine ical colour photography from a height researchresearch programme programme werewere carriedcarried out of 6000m between 45deg and 48deg duringduring the the first first voyage voyage of of the Nella ^i<^c^>oii>^^

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8^61 'qoJBiAJ 0113 UVINV

^H ANTARCTIC

was flown to the station by helicopter WINTER PARTIES to take part later in a major Soviet traverse into Wilkes Land towards From Mawson the Nella Dan sailed Dome C, which is part of the Internat 650km east to Davis, arriving on ional Antarctic Glaciological Project. January 6. The 1977 winter party was Mr Young took part in a similar relieved, and 13 men under the officer- traverse during the 1976-77 season. in-charge, Mr Philip Barnaart, of Quenbeyan, New South Wales, took over the station. Stores and equipment PACK ICE for the next 12 months were unloaded ' After the call off Mirny the Nella with the assistance of a four-man Army detachment which used amph Dan proceeded westward to Mawson. ibious vehicles to ferry cargo from Pack ice prevented her approaching ship to shore. A start was made on a . closer than 40km so helicopters were major rebuilding programme which used to transfer men and equipment. will continue for the next few years. Bad weather and ice conditions caus ed some delays to the operation. On January 13 the Nella Dan left Among the men transferred to Maw Davis for Fremantle where she arriv son were some of the winter party, and ed on January 23 with 16 men who had the officer-in-charge, Mr Ken Chester, spent 15 months at Davis and Maw of Brisbane. son. She left behind the new party at Davis to continue studies in upper After this operation the helicopters atmosphere physics, biology and mic flew some 370km south-west to Mount robiology, and the collection of meteo King, forward base of operations for rological data. This is the 18th year the Enderby Land summer project. men have wintered at Davis. From this camp, established by a traverse party from Mawson early in Three more members of the Davis December, scientists from Govern winter party, and 14 of the Mawson ment departments, and Australian winter party were aboard the Nella and overseas universities, began their Dan when she left Fremantle on Jan investigations of the glaciology, geo uary 23 to relieve and resupply logy, geophysics, and cartography of Mawson, and bring back the men some 200,000 square kilometres in the engaged in the Enderby Land summer area about Mount King. operations. The expedition leader was Mr Bill Young, of the Antarctic Divis Because of ice conditions along the ion, who was assisted by Mr Andrew coast of MacRobertson, Kemp, and Fleming, also of the Antarctic Divis Enderby Lands, the Nella Dan exper ion, as deputy-leader. ienced delays on her voyage. It took several days to find an ice floe large enough for the fixed wing Pilatus HISTORIC HUT Porter aircraft to take off from. Finally a suitable floe was found, and After a call at Davis to land the the aircraft was assembled and flown three members of the winter party, off to take its part in the Enderby and a large building which will be Land operations. erected later this year, the Nella Dan sailed for Mawson. After just over a During this time the refrigerators on board the ship failed. This meant the week there for completion of the changeover of the 1977 and 1978 replacement of frozen meat destined winter parties, and the unloading of for Davis and Mawson. The refrigerat ors were repaired when the ship supplies and equipment the ship reached Fremantle, and a second ship sailed towards the end of the month iiBPmclvSi fiT«?T«*w5n ment of meat was taken south on the last month. second continental voyage in Jan uary. n^^^l I

ANTARCTIC March, 1978 December 6 on her first voyage south ashore, and a small, prefabricated hut to relieve the 33 men who wintered last was erected. On January 22 the ship year at the French base, Dumont sailed for Casey, and the party began d'Urville, she also had four Australian its work which ended late in February passengers — the Antarctic Division when the last French expedition to party which was to assess the feasib Adelie Land called on its way back to ility of restoring the historic hut built Melbourne in the Thala Dan. at Commonwealth Bay by Sir Douglas Mawson for his 1911-14 expedition. The ship had to be diverted to Mac quarie Island to land the leader and winter parties changed over. The 1978 medical officer, Dr Trevor Tierney, party consists of 23 men, and the who developed a rupture which needed officer-in-charge is Mr Doug Twigg, of medical treatment. Glenroy, Victoria. He has wintered at Macquarie Island in 1956, and at ANARE's second expedition to the Mawson in 1958, and has taken partin Antarctic Continent began on Jan and led numerous summer expedit uary 10 when the Thala Dan sailed ions south since then. from Melbourne to resupply Casey, and carry out the changeover of the During the ship's stay at Casey 1977 and 1978 winter parties. Fifty- where a four-man Army detachment one members of ANARE were aboard assisted in the unloading with amph under the leadership of Mr Tom Petry, ibious vehicles, helicopters were used assistant director (engineering and to transport scientists around the area of the station to carry out various operations), Antarctic Division. investigations. The ship sailed for For the first time an Australian Macquarie Island at the beginning of Parliamentarian accompanied an February, and spent two days there Australian expedition to the Antarctic unloading equipment. Scientific staff Continent. Senator Don Devitt, of who had been conducting research Tasmania, who visited Macquarie since November last year were re- Island in March last year, travelled in embarked, and the Thala Dan return the Thala Dan. ed to Melbourne about the middle of the month. CAPE DENISON From Melbourne the Thala Dan proceeded to Commonwealth Bay where she landed a new Mawson hut party. Because of Dr Tierney's ill ness one member of the original party, Mr Tony Everett, a carpenter, joined the winter party on Macquarie Island. A detailed study of the dynamics and Messrs Guy Macklan (engineer) and thermodynamics of the Martian ice Ray Brookes (carpenter), returned to caps, using techniques developed and Australia after the Thala Dan visited tested on the Antarctic ice-sheet, and Dumont d'Urville, and then joined the data gathered by the Viking space new party led by Mr Rod Ledingham, craft which landed on Mars in 1976 will be undertaken by an Australian officer-in-charge at Macquarie Island group of scientists for the United last year. His wife, Dr Jean Leding States National Aeronautics and ham, who was the medical officer, Space Administration. The group is completed the party. led by Dr U. Radok, of the meteorology Two days were spent at Common department, University of Melbourne. wealth Bay while the hut party was Other members are Dr R. Jensen of the established for its six weeks' stay at University of Melbourne, and Dr W.F. Cape Denison. Helicopters from the Budd, of the Antarctic Division, ship flew the party and its equipment Department of Science. ANTARCTIC Medical emergency flight from Davis to New Zealand Four nations — Australia, New Zealand, the Soviet Union, and the United States — shared in the medical evacuation of an Australian radio technician who collap.1 d at Davis on January 10 and became seriously ill with a bleeding duodenal ulcer. Soviet helicopters and a United States Navy Hercules aircraft flew Mr Colin Perger, aged 36, of Launceston, Tasmania, 7000km from Davis to hospital in Christchurch. He was constantly attended by doctors at Davis, Mirny, and McMurdo Station, and on the helicopters and aircraft which took part in the airlift. Mr Perger, who arrived at Davis in Squadron, was the pilot on the evac the relief ship Nella Dan on January 6 uation flight which took nearly 14 was to have spent 14 months at the hours altogether. Also aboard the station. But he collapsed while Hercules was Captain C.H. Nordhill, unloading cargo from the Nella Dan the support force commander. on January 10, and became seriously ill within 48 hours. Because of the W h e n M r P e r g e r a r r i v e d a t presence of the Nella Dan there were McMurdo Station the doctors decided additional doctors to treat Mr Perger. to carry him to Christchurch on a He was given blood transfusions, and scheduled flight which was delayed the doctors consulted by radio with for the purpose. The Hercules left at specialists in Melbourne. 1.30 a.m. on January 14 and reach Christchurch at 9.20 a.m. Thirty- Davis has extensive medical seven hours after the first request for facilities, but on January 12 the assistance was received Mr Perger doctors decided that Mr Perger's cond was in hospital. After an operation his ition warranted his evacuation. A condition improved rapidly, and he message for aid was sent to McMurdo returned to Australia on January 23. Station. Because Davis, 3150km from McMurdo Station, had no landing New Zealand's contribution to the facilities for ski-equipped Hercules evacuation came from the Antarctic aircraft, arrangements were made for Division, which maintained liaison Mr Perger to be picked up by a Soviet with the Australian Antarctic helicopter from Mirny 700km from Division. It also made the arrange Davis, and for the United States Navy ments for Mr Perger's care and VXE-6 Squadron Hercules to fly treatment in hospital. 2500km across Antarctic to Mirny. On the morning of January 13 the Soviet helicopter picked up Mr Perger, who was cared for by two Soviet doctors on the flight to Mirny. There Few signs of life were noted by a he was transferred to the Hercules for New Zealand Geological Survey party the flight to McMurdo Station. Lieut which worked in the region of the enant-Commander M. Boyer, the Foster and Blue Glaciers of South United States naval support force Victoria Land last season. Bleached medical officer, and a medical orderly, bones of mummified crabeater seals Hospital Corpsman T. Boxberger, were found occasionally on the valley flew with their patient from Mirny to floors, and once the party was puzzled Christchurch. Commander J.W. to find penguin footprints 14km from Jaeger, commanding officer of VXE-6 the sea at an altitude of 700m. &%^m ANTARCTIC March, 1978 B.A.S. NEWS Operations restricted by ice and weather After a series of comparatively ice-free years, conditions in the Antarctic Peninsula area for British Antarctic Survey operations last season were very bad — comparable to those in the late 1950s and early 1960s — and the two relief ships, R.R.S. John Biscoe and Bransfield, were unable to reach Rothera Station on Adelaide Island. Exceptionally bad weather over the peninsula, particularly in January, also severely restricted air operations by the two B.A.S. Twin-Otter aircraft. Eventually, after a few days Although the failure of the relief reconnoitring, an area of fast ice in ships to reach Rothera prevented the one of the creeks was chosen. This was completion of building projects there, only four miles from the station, but field programmes were not affected. the actual route inland was circuitous Men and supplies were flown south and difficult, and the vehicles plying from Damoy Point, Wiencke Island, between the ship and the station with and nearby Anvers Island. Three stat heavy loads required constant ions were relieved on schedule before manoevring and frequent repairs. One Christmas. They were Signy in the large tractor broke through the fast South Orkney Islands, and two ice, but the driver was pulled to safety stations off the west coast of the before it sank. Antarctic Peninsula, Faraday (Argentine Islands), and the United Work at Halley was completed by States Palmer Station on Anvers mid-January and the Bransfield then Island. undertook geophysical traverses in the northern part of the Weddell Sea Some of the summer field workers and in the Scotia Sea as far east as the who had joined the ships in South South Sandwich Islands. Calls were America were landed at Damoy Point, made at Signy Island and South and flown south at the beginning of Georgia en route. In mid-February, the the season. Others were airlifted from ships's co-master and Dr. Raymond a landing strip near Palmer Station. Adie, were picked up from Mar del Grytviken (South Georgia) was reliev Plata, Argentina, and the ship then ed by the Bransfield just before Christ returned to the Antarctic Peninsula to mas, and summer parties were landed revisit the Argentine Islands and at field sites, including Bird Island. then make another attempt to reach The ship then sailed for Halley. Adelaide Island. HEAVY ICE MARINE SURVEY Heavy pack ice was encountered in the Weddell Sea, but the ship was The John Biscoe shared in the relief delayed only a few days and arrived activities at the beginning of the on January 3. As usual, it was difficult summer and also made a mid-season to find a suitable site at which to un visit to Mar del Plata, Argentina, to load on to the ice shelf from which collect her co-master and several there was also easy access to the summer visitors. She then proceeded station. to South Georgia, and in mid-January ANTARCTIC

began work on her main task of the Cambridge, Dr. Peter Clarkson). were season — an offshore biological flown to the Shackleton Range by way survey south of the island ("Antarc of the Argentine General Belgrano tic", September. 1977). This was Station in mid-November and expected to continue for six weeks. remained there until mid-January. The aircraft then ferried the men and Because of the exceptionally bad large quantities of rocks to Halley and weather the air parties had a very Rothera by way of Belgrano. and frustrating season. In January, only six days* flights were possible, and continued the geoceiver programme at the same time. only three of these were complete days. Ferry flights to Rothera from One one flight to Belgrano from Damoy summer air facility and Rothera on February 3, the Twin- Palmer Station, began at the end of Otter's two engines failed and the pilot October when the first party was had to make an emergency landing 32 landed there by the John Biscoe. km from his destination. He and the When the weather permitted, field mechanic discovered the cause of the parties were transported to several problem — water in the fuel which had localities in Palmer Land and on Alex formed ice over the filters. ander Island, and depots were SOVIET HELP stocked. Supplies were also taken to Fossil Bluff field station and the A Russian aircraft which flew over Spartan Glacier glaciological hut. to offer help took three of the men to This season's aeromagnetic flights Druzhnaya and returned with clean were held up by faults in the equip fuel. It then escorted the B.A.S. air ment as well as by the weather, but craft to Druzhnaya where the engines east-west traverses over the peninsula were re-checked before flights were were completed between 64 deg and 66 resumed. deg S., thus extending the previous A week later the B.A.S. aircraft was coverage. reported to be at Belgrano, awaiting LONG FLIGHTS good weather in which to transport specimens and equipment from the One of the two aircraft also Shackleton Range. The Shackleton continued work on the joint U.S. Geo project party was also still at logical Survey — B.A.S. doppler Belgrano, and the second B.A.S. satellite (geoceiver) programme, and aircraft which was to help with the air gravity readings were taken at all est lift was waiting at Fossil Bluff until ablished doppler stations in the area the weather cleared at Belgrano. of the Ronne Ice Shelf and Coats Land. These involved flights as far Work was also carried out on the south as Siple Station in Ellsworth Orville Coast by the senior B.A.S. Land and as far east as Halley. palaeontologist, Dr. M. Thomson, who accompanied a United States geolog Flights to Halley were co-ordinated ical party which flew there from with the logistic requirements of McMurdo Station. His specimens were another major project — the complet picked up from the Sweeney Mount ion of geological reconnaissance ains by a B.A.S. aircraft in mid- mapping of the Shackleton Range, which was begun as a joint British- January. United States project in the 1968-69 An American Survair aircraft season. This season's work was which had participated in the United concentrated at the eastern end of the States Ross Ice Shelf Project and was range. on its way back from McMurdo Station, was grounded at Rothera by The party, consisting of one man the bad weather in mid-February. Un from Halley and three from Rothera fortunately, while it was parked there, (including a senior staff member from it was badly damaged by high winds. ANTARCTIC

H.M.S. Endurance visited South to one secretary. Clothing stocks Georgia at Christmas and later visited formerly kept in Stanley are now Signy Island. The Governor of the stored and issued in the headquarters Falkland Islands, Mr J.W. Parker, logistics block, which is also used for and Mrs Parker, were on board. The assembling and packing much of the Endurance also assisted field parties cargo for the bases. The teleprinter at South Georgia, and her helicopters link between the Antarctic bases and carried out aerial photography for headquarters, formerly managed by B.A.S. biologists. the Stanley office, is now maintained by Cable and Wireless Ltd. Other summer visitors were Professor R.J. Berry, of the Royal Free Hospital, London, who spent some time working on South Georgia with Mr Nigel Bonner, head of the B.A.S. Life Sciences Division. A geomorphol- ogist, Professor Y. Yoshida, of the National Institute for Polar Research, To k y o , v i s i t e d t h e A n t a r c t i c - Peninsula. Husky pup goes Helicopters from the Argentine ice breaker General San Martin arrived flying at the Argentine Islands in mid- December, and late in January the Huskies in Antarctica usually tra ship called at Halley after relieving vel on their own feet to distant places, Belgrano Station. The German tourist although teams from Scott Base used ship World Discoverer intended to to be flown with field parties to var visit the station on Boxing Day but the ious parts of the Ross Dependency. approaches were blocked by ice. On a After the 1963-64 season, however, second visit on January 10, ice and motor toboggans replaced dogs as weather were still bad, but about 70 pullers of sledges. tourists were ferried ashore. A return to the good old days in one MAMMAL RESEARCH respect was made by Steve Chambers, the Scott Base dog handler, in In December 1977, the Seals December last year when he took a Research Division of the Institute for new husky pup on a 90km helicopter Marine Environmental Research, and flight to Mt Rucker in the Royal the Whale Research Unit of the Instit Society Range. Noogis (Nugis) named ute of Oceanographic Sciences after one of the dogs in Scott's last (formerly Discovery Investigations) expedition, was only six weeks old were combined to form the Sea when he made his first flight. Mammal Research Unit. Like B.A.S., this unit is part of the Natural For most of the outward journey to a Environment Research Council, and New Zealand Geological Survey party is under the direction of Dr. R.M. working on the slopes of Mt Rucker Laws. It is housed in the B.A.S. Cam (3816m) the fluffy, black and tan pup bridge building. kept howling in his cardboard box. On the way home he slept quite placidly. The International Whaling Comm ission Secretariat is also now in Noogis received more attention Cambridge, but is completely separate from the geologists than his handler. from the S.M.R.U. and B.A.S. Dr Dave Skinner, Miss Anne Wright, Mrs Margaret Clark, and Mr Bob As part of the general streamlining Findlay had been in the field for seven of the B.A.S. administration the weeks, and Noogis was their first Stanley office staff has been reduced animal visitor. ANTARCTIC SOVIET REPORTS Molodezhnaya will have heavy aircraft Construction of an airfield for heavy aircraft at Molodezhnaya, the main Soviet station on the Prince Olav Coast of Enderby Land, was one of the main projects of the 23rd Soviet Antarctic Expedition last season. Soviet scientists also made a second traverse from Mirny to Pioneerskaya and then towards Dome C in Wilkes Land. Drilling in the Shackleton Ice Shelf west of Mirny, and observations in the Scotia Sea and the Davis Sea as part of the international global atmospheric research programme, Polex-South, were also carried out. and the north of the Soviet Union. It Six ships and 500 men and women has a maximum payload of 40,000kg, took part in last season's expedition, which is reduced to 32,500kg when which was led by Valery Veniditov, operating from unprepared surfaces. and included scientists from Australia and East Germany. The first There are other advantages in the contingent sailed from Leningrad choice of the IL-76 for Antarctic towards the end of October aboard the operations. Its airframe and four diesel-electric passenger ship Capitan turbo-fan jet engines have been Kondratyev. It was followed later by designed for operation away from the flagship of the Soviet Antarctic ground maintenance for up to 90 days. fleet, Mikhail Somov, and the research Also the aircraft has its own vessel Professor Zubov. mechanised handling system for cargo — four overhead cranes, each of Because of delays in the relief of which can lift 2250kg. Mirny last season's traverse towards Dome C planned to finish at a point Establishment of an airfield for 75deg S/ 129deg E made a late start, heavy aircraft and the use of the IL-76 and did not reach its objective. The cargo transport are expected to reduce traverse, which included two Austral the number of ships engaged in Soviet ian scientists, was part of the Soviet Antarctic operations. Since 1956 all Union's contribution to the Internat supplies and equipment have been ional Antarctic Geological Project and transported by sea, and expeditions in the International Magnetic Study. recent years have relied on several Once again the party used two of the cargo ships in addition to the research improved Kharkovchanka tracked ships each season. vehicles, three of which covered For operations on the continent 2200km and reached a point 300km Soviet expeditions use Ilyushin-L from Dome C in the 1976-77 season. light twin-engined transport aircraft, and Antonov AN-2 single-engined FIRST FLIGHTS biplanes. The Soviet workhorse is the Mi-8 twin-engined turbine transport First flights to the new airfield from helicopter, which is operated by Aero- the Soviet Union will begin next flot. It can carry 24 passengers and a season. These will be made by substantial payload, and is used to Ilyushin-76 aircraft. The IL-76, which transport supplies and equipment can operate from unprepared from ship to shore, for ice reconnai airstrips, is used by Aeroflotin Siberia ssance, and for rescue operations. ANTARCTIC March, 1978

Nine main projects were included in physical polygon in Antarctica" the programme of the 23rd expedition Meteorological observations and a last season. Scientists investigated survey of snow measurements were the following subjects: (1) Climate and carried out during the regular supply circulation of the Antarctic atmos traverse to Vostok. phere; (2) physical and dynamic state of the waters of the Southern Ocean; Complex aerometeorological and (3) morphology, dynamics, and regime hydrological investigations were of the continental ice-cap; (4) ice cover made in the Scotia Sea from the of Antarctic seas; (5) geological Professor Zubov, and in the Davis Sea structure and mineral resources; (6) from the Mikhail Somov. These were ionosphere physics and radio wave part of the international programme. propagation; (7) morphology of geo Polex-South. Simultaneous hydro- magnetic field variations and its logical, ice and aerometeorological secular changes; (8) quick variations observations were also made along in earth's electroc-magnetic field as an the routes of the two ships during their indicator of processes in cosmic space; operations in Antarctic waters. (9) acclimatisation of man in Antarc AIR SURVEYS tic conditions. Seven ships were used by the 22nd A meteorological service was Soviet Expedition in the previous provided by the six Soviet stations — season. They were the Mikhail Somov, Molodezhnaya, Mirny, Vostok, Penzhina, Kapitan Gotskiy, Novolazarevskaya, Bellingshausen, Bashkiriya, and Estoniya, the and Leningradskaya — for ships of Professor Zubov, and the tanker the Ministry of marine fleet and the Gelendzhik. The Gelendzhik carried Ministry of Fisheries cruising in the 10,000 tonnes of oil products to Southern Ocean, and systematic data resupply Bellingshausen, Molo was provided for the Soviet Union's dezhnaya, and Mirny. hydro-meteorological and geophysic al services. A full programme of Druzhnaya operated for the first scientific observations in the fields of two months of last year, and the pro geophysics, glaciology, meteorology, gramme included aeromagnetic and medicine was carried out at all the surveys, photographic reconnaiss stations. ance, and radio echo sounding surveys by two 11-14 aircraft from Molodezhnaya, and based at Druzh SUMMER BASE naya for the summer season. Air Druzhnaya, the summer station on operations included radio echo sound the Filchner Ice Shelf, was the base for ings along the lOdeg W meridian from geological and geophysical Druzhnaya to the South Pole and back, surveys in Coats Land to the investigations, and topographic and east of the station as far as Cape geodetic work on the coast of the Weddell Sea, and in the Shackleton Norvegia. and geological work in the Range and the Pensacola Mountains. Pensacola Mountains and the Shack Scientists used aircraft and helicopt leton Range. ers for their studies. In the Shackleton Range a field As part of the International camp was set up at Mount Provender Antarctic Glaciological Project glacio (8()deg 23min S 29deg 55min W) at logical observations were made the western end of the mountains, and during traverses from Mirny to another 100km to the south-east. Komsomolskaya, and from Mirny to Observations were made at 40 Pioneerskaya and to the point 75deg stations, followed by detailed S/129deg E. These observations were mapping of the selected sites, collect made simultaneously with work on ion of leaf-by-leaf sections. About 1 ()()() the snow measuring project "geo samples of rocks were collected. Two ANTARCTIC American scientists, Dr Edward S. ations were made from November to Grew and Dr Arthur B. Ford, and Dr March in the 1976-77 season by two Hans Paesch, of East Germany, part ships of the 22nd expedition. Route icipated in the Druzhnaya programme measurements were made by the in the first half of February. Mikhail Somov in the region of Molodezhnaya and Mirny, and the ICE DRILLING Balleny Islands. The Professor Zubov made similar measurements in the An aeromagnetic survey at a scale Southern Ocean and in the southern of 1:2000,000 was made over an area of part of the Atlantic Ocean. 300,000 square km in the southern part of the Weddell Sea. On the Filchner Ice Shelf an airborne land 65-year-old camp ing geophysical survey was made over an area of 123,000 square km in 143 site coordinate points (157 physical points A pick-axe stuck into a rocky mound of observation). on the lower slopes of Mount Erebus Work at Novolazarevskaya includ near the Barne Glacier led to the dis ed drilling of two 100mm holes covery of the remains of a camp site through the Lazarev Ice Shelf. One dating back to Scott's last expedition hole penetrated 357m of ice at a point more than 65 years ago. The pick-axe 35km from the ice front, and sediment was discovered by a New Zealand was recovered from the seabed under surveyor, Nigel Nalder, of Nelson, in the shelf. The second hole, 50km from the course of a survey for the the ice front, reached a depth of 447m. production of a large-scale map of the The water layer was found to be 200m western shore of Ross Island. at the first drilling site, and 40m at the Mr Nalder was looking through his second. theodolite when he saw the pick-axe. Deep drilling was continued at The survey party, which included Vostok, and the hole reached a depath Messrs Russell Brice (Christchurch) of about 1000m. This programme and Roger Dunkley (Lower Hutt) began in the 1974-75 season, and in made a one-hour walk to examine the the first two seasons 500 specimens find. Strewn about not far from the were collected. The oldest of these, rusted blade and wind-blasted handle recovered at a depth of 197m was of the pick-axe were bottles, rope ends, estimated to be 8500 years old. and tins, some still containing para ffin. A microbiological research was started in the 1975-76 season, and a Later the pick-axe was found to hole was drilled near the station to a match one at Scott's hut at Cape depth of 207m. In the 1976-77 season Evans. It had the same brand name. drilling was continued to a depth of The camp, between Cape Barne and 304m with ice core recovery. Measure Cape Royds, may have been establish ments of temperature, the inclination ed by Commander Victor Campbell, of the borehole, and wall deformation, leader of the Northern Party. In Dec were made to a depth of 180m. ember, 1912, he made a survey of Cape Royds after the party returned to Cape Geodesic and hydrographic observ Evans. ANTARCTIC March, 1978 LARGE LAKE UNDER ICE

A large lake — the first discovered in Another 5000km of on station flying West Antarctica — was located under was done in East Antarctica, covering the ice close to the flank of the Ells the coastal area in the direction of worth Mountains by a Scott Polar Dumont d'Urville and Casey. This Research Institute team which made a was to fill in part of the grid previously glaciological and geophysical explor flown in the International Antarctic ation of the Antarctic ice-sheet last Glaciological Project. The team also season by airborn radio-echo sound filled in the grid east of the geographic ing. Dr David J. Drewry, co-leader of South Pole. the field team, reported that there was a definite body of water in the area Although the S.P.R.I. team was under 2'/>km of ice. unable to assess the West Antarctic material immediately, it did locate the This was the Scott Polar Research first large lake under the ice sheet. te's fifth season of radio-echo Also it was able to establish the ng of the ice-sheet. The work was part of the International Antarc position of the Filchner Ice Shelf grounding line, and discovered differ tic Glaciological Project, and is done ences of up to 60km. in co-operation with the United States National Science Foundation and the As an international project the echo- Technical University of Denmark. sounding programme was a combined Most of the sounding equipment has effort by British, United States, and been designed and built by the Danish investigators. Dr Drewry and Technical University of Denmark, Mr D.T. Meldrum were co-leaders of and installed in a Hercules aircraft the field team, which included Mr M. provided by the National Science Pallisgaard, of the Technical Univers Foundation, and flown by the United ity of Denmark, a New Zealander, Mr States Navy's VXE-6 Squadron. C. Brown, of Victoria University of In earlier seasons most of the sound Wellington, and Mr L. Irons, of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, one ing flights have covered wide areas in of the co-ordinating team for the Ross East Antarctica. But in the 1974-75 Ice Shelf Project and the Ross Ice season the team also worked in Marie Shelf Geophysical and Glaciological Byrd Land because of interest in the Survey. The Hercules made detailed stability of the West Antarctic ice- sheet, and in interpretation of ice cores soundings on a flightover the Ross Ice from Byrd Station. Flights were made Shelf, some of them for R.I.S.P. then in the area between the Trans- Field trials of an airborne magneto Antarctic Mountains, the Ross Ice meter system in the Hercules were Shelf, Rockefeller Plateau, and Byrd conducted on the radio-echo sounding Station. flights by a team from Johns Hopkins University with which the S.P.R.I. Last season the team worked in team worked. Both teams were able to West Antarctica east of Byrd Station, use the airborne research data sysem and towards the Ellsworth Mount installed in the aircraft. The A.R.D.S. ains, and the Filchner Ice Shelf. The receives, records, displays, and prints Hercules was based at McMurdo out atmospheric research data, air Station, and used the Pole Station and craft altitude information, and other the Byrd Station field camp for refuell data as needed by the investigators. ing. To investigate the complicated geological junction between West and East Antarctica the team did 12,000- km of on station flying. March, 1978 ANTARCTIC

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Mrs Silvia Morello de Palma holds her two-week-old son, Emilio Marcos, the first child born in Antarctica, while her husband, Captain Jorge Palma, examines gifts sent to the infant by Argentina's President Jorge Videla. Captain Palma is the commander at Esperanza, the Argentine Army base on the Antarctic Peninsula. Associated Press photo. ANTARCTICA'S FIRST BABY WARMLY WELCOMED Population and politics attracted world-wide attention to Esperanza, the Argentine Army base on the Antarctic Peninsula early this year. Mrs Silvia Morello de Palma, wife of the base commander, Captain Jorge Palma, gave birth on January 7 to the first child ever born in Antarctica, and President Jorge Videla welcomed the arrive of Emilio Marcos Palma as a reaffirmation of "the inalienable role of Argentines in those far lands". Esperanza, which is in Hope Bay on children women had been seen at the the Trinity Peninsula at 63deg 24min base only during the summer when S/ 56deg 59min W, has been an they came ashore from tourist cruise Argentine Army base since 1952. ships. The arrival of the Palmas Until Captain Palma and his wife marked the first stage of the Argent arrived late last year with three young ine Government's plans to establish a ■ ■ ■ >.' V.r ;-•:, \VJl V .1: .:!.'•

ANTARCTIC March, 1978 colony at Esperanza. Palma, and officiated at what is believed to be the first wedding on the When President Videla sent his con Antarctic Continent. gratulations to Captain Palma, he said that the birth reaffirmed the role Esperanza's normal winter populat of the family in Argentine society. ion of 18 men now includes eight wives Two weeks later he sent a special and 19 children. There will be an emissary, General Ramon Camps to increase in the population before Esperanza with official gifts for the spring comes to Hope Bay again. Two infant Emilio Marcos. These included of the wives, like Silvia Morello de gold medals, silver plate, and two Palma, were pregnant when they left volumes of Argentine history. Argentina. Reports from Buenos Aires suggest Emilio Marcos Palma weighted 3.6kg that the Argentine Government at birth. He is regarded as an Argent decided to colonise Esperanza to deter ine citizen. mine whether Antarctica is suitable for family life, and to reinforce its territorial claims. The project began New Argentine when the Palmas and another Argentine Army couple arrived at Icebreaker Esperanza in November. Environmental considerations Five other soldiers arrived with have influenced the design of the their wives and 15 children last Argentine Navy's new icebreaker, month. The party also included an Almirante Irizar, which is expected to come into Antarctic service in the engaged couple, two teachers and a Roman Catholic chaplain. There was summer of this year. Equipment on work for the chaplain soon after his the vessel, which replaces the ice- arrival. He baptised Emilio Marcos strengthened General San Martin, includes a sewage treatment plant for liquid waste, and an incinerator for oil Second Norwegian sludge and combustible waste. Now under construction in a expedition Finnish shipyard, the Almirante Irizar is expected to cost 865 million. Norway sent another expedition to Designed to carry 100 passengers and Antarctica last season to continue the a substantial amount of cargo, she work done in the 1976-77 summer by will be able to winter in the Antarctic the expedition which spent two for six months with 210 aboard. Her months in western Queen Maud Land tonnage is 12.000 tonnes, and she is and the Weddell Sea. It was Norway's 119.Mm long and 25m wide. Fitted with first independent scientific expedition diesel-electric engines, she is expected to go south since 1960. to do 16.5 knots in ice-free water. Equipment includes a 60-tonne towing Organised and led by the winch, and two-16-tonne hydraulic- Norwegian Polar Institute, last cranes to handle helicopters, landing season's expedition also used the craft, and cargo. chartered 500-ton icebreaker Polarsirkel. The Polarsirkel was Built in West Germany in 1954, the chiefly engaged in oceanographic General San Martin has participated work, and two parties from the ship in Argentine Antarctic operations also worked ashore. One was on the ice since 1955. In that year she sailed into •s-helf-.-.a.n.d. ..the^.other in the Kraul the Weddell Sea with the expedition Mountains of the Princess Martha which established Argentina's south ('oast — both about 400km north-east ernmost base. General Belgrano, on of Halley, where the expedition called the Filchner Ice Shelf at 77deg 46min on January 22. S/ 38deg llmin W. March, 1978 ANTARCTIC Mawson veteran meets last of "magnetic ladies" When Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition (1911-14) returned from Adelie Land its chief magnetician, Eric Webb, spent a year preparing for analysis many of the thousands of observations made at Cape Denison, and on his journey with Bage and Hurley to locate the South Magnetic Pole. Mr Webb, a New Zealander, and now one of the last two survivors of the expedition, was unable to complete his work at Canterbury University College, where he had been a civil engineering associate, because he went off to serve in the F i r s t W o r l d W a r . „ „ at Cape Denison. In 1912 he and two While he was away 12 young women Australians, Bob Bage and Frank students in the physics department Hurley attempted to locate the South worked in their spare time on his Magnetic Pole. They manhauled magnetic observations. They became sledges through blizzards and sub known as "the magnetic ladies of zero temperatures a distance of Canterbury College", and "the 960km, and made their last camp at Mawson Club". That was in 1915. 89deg 53min S within 80km of the Sixty-two years later — December 20, Pole. 1977 — when Mr Webb returned to Christchurch to visit his brother and Three years earlier on the Shackle sister, the five survivors of the original ton expedition Mawson, Edgeworth "magnetic ladies" met him for the first David, and Mackay, manhauled their time. sledges from McMurdo Sound a dist ance of 200km and established the Mr Webb, now 88, was the guest of South Magnetic Pole at 72deg 25min honour at a reception arranged by the S. Since 1912 the Pole has keep University of Canterbury to pay moving towards the coast, and is now tribute to one of its distinguished at sea near the French Antarctic base, graduates. There he chatted to the five Dumont d'Urville. "Mawson Club" members — Miss Beatrice Smith, Mrs Bertha Jones (nee After the First World War in which Rhodes), Miss Kate Leonard, Miss he served in Egypt and France with Joyce Robinson, and Miss Chrystobel the Royal Australian Engineers, and Robinson. was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross, NO COMPUTERS Mr Webb worked on engineering projects in many parts of the world for Sixty-two years ago the "magnetic a Swedish engineering company. In ladies" had no computers to help the Second World War he joined the them. Mr Webb says that their work was mechanical, arithmetical, and English Electric Company. When he clerical — needing some dexterity, retired he assisted in the preliminary much concentration, and conscient planning of the Churchill Falls hydro ious care in recording and handling electric power project in Labrador, the largest power project in the Western figures. "Altogether, it was an world. admirable exercise in compilation and tabulation", he says of the results. WESTERN PARTY One of four New Zealanders with Mr Webb flew over the area of the Mawson,mawson, Mr Webb was a member of South Magnetic Pole on December 1 the main jparty of the expedition based last year when he was a special guest

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ANTARCTIC March, 1978 British climbing expedition believed lost at sea

Eight members of a privately tic," December, 1977. Page 127). The financed British expedition which expedition also hoped to survey the planned to climb peaks in the Antarc island, visit King George Island and tic Peninsula area and on South Deception Island, and work its way up Georgia have not been heard of since the west coast of Graham Land. Its they sailed from Rio de Janiero for the last call was to have been at Palmer Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) on Station on Anvers Island before November 1 last year. Their ship, a 35- sailing on to South Georgia. year-old ice-strengthened Dutch tug, En Avant, was reported overdue late Originally the expedition was ex last month by two New Zealand pected to last 12 months, four of which would be spent in the Antarctic. Some climbers, Messrs David Kilcullen and minor repairs were made to the En Gary Ball, who were to have joined the Avant when she reached Rio, but expedition at Port Stanley. apparently there were no problems on Led by Simon Richardson, a 28- the voyage out. year-old British climber, who bought the En Avant for $1440, the expedition When Mr Kilcullen returned to New sailed from Southampton at the end of Zealand after waiting several weeks July, 1977. Among those aboard were for the En Avant to arrive, he said the noted British mountaineer, navig there seemed to be little hope for the ator, and author, Major H.W. Tilman, ship's crew. There had been a force 9 leader of the 1938 Everest expedition, gale over the tug's route in early who planned to celebrate his 80th November. birthday in the Antarctic, and an A thorough search of the coastline American climber, Joe Dittamore. was made by the Argentine Coast Guard, and after the En Avant was Three ice-capped peaks on Smith reported overdue inquiries were made Island in the South Shetlands, Mts. by the British Foreign Office through Foster, Pisgah, and Cristi, were the all Lloyd's agencies in the Argentine, expedition's main objective ("Antarc Brazil, and Uruguay.

TOURISM More Australian day trips to Antarctic Another 1500 Australians saw Each aircraft carried about 300 Antarctica from the air last month as passengers. The charterers were a passengers on day trips by chartered service club near Sydney, a Melbourne Qantas aircraft. Between November travel firm, and Dick Smith Elec 17 and December 1 last year Qantas tronics Pty. Ltd, which organised the operated four charter flights south. first tourist flight in February last This year there were six on February year. 4, 6, 11, 12, 13, and 20. On the flight from Melbourne the Of the four flights by chartered Boeing 747 flew to the location of the Boeing 747 aircraft three were made South Magnetic Pole off the coast of from Sydney and one from Melbourne. Adelie Land, and then across the

i^u^^''^S '.&/«'« March, 1978 ANTARCTIC continent to McMurdo Sound, return and ended at Adelaide. The route was ing by way of Hobart. Two Sydney by way of Hobart to the South flights were to the South Magnetic Magnetic Pole area. On the Melbourne Pole area, and the third was by way of travel firm's charter flight, made on Macquarie Island, Cape Washington February 12 the 707 flew by way of and Cape Hallett, in the Ross Depend Hobart to Cape Washington, then ency, then back by way of Hobart. across the continent to the South Magnetic Pole area, and back to One Boeing 707 flight on February Melbourne. 11 for an Adelaide travel firm began William MacDonald was polar mapping expert An expert in mapping the polar from aerial photographs taken by the regions, William R. MacDonald, who United States Navy during expedit developed a vast and intimate know ions in the late 1940s. These maps ledge of Antarctica, died in Annapolis, were widely used by scientists in the Virginia, on November 9. MacDonald, 1957-58 International Geophysical who was 52, had been head of the Year. United States Geological Survey's branch of international activities Between 1960 and 1967 MacDonald since 1972. His contributions to the spent about six months each year in mapping of Antarctica began in 1954, Antarctica taking part in aerial photo and he is believed to have seen more of graphic missions to obtain material the continent than any other man. for further mapping. During this period he was responsible for the planning and supervision of all the MacDonald, who was born in Lau aerial photographic missions flown rel, Maryland, joined the Geological by U.S. Navy aircraft for topograph Survey in 1942, and was assigned to ical purposes. About one million work in Alaska. After war service with square miles were photographed dur the Marine Corps, he returned to ing the seven years MacDonald was in Alaska to work for the Geological charge of the programme. His name Survey on the photogrammetric map appears on the maps to which he con ping of the Brooks Range. In 1954 he tributed so much; a mountain was began compiling maps of Antarctica named after him in 1961.

Another veteran of Rear-Admiral assisted the expedition's physicist, Byrd's first expedition to Antarctica Frank T. Davies, with the geomagnet has died. Arnold H. Clark, one of the ic research, but most of his time was 42 men who wintered at Little Amer spent as a jack-of-all-trades because of ica in 1929, died in March, 1976, at his his versatility and willingness to help. home in Pleasantville, New York. Advice of his passing was received Byrd praised Clark for his work belatedly in Washington by the An- with the Ford snowmobile during the tarctican Society, of which he was a difficult unloading operations in Feb member. ruary, 1929. In addition to his geomag netic work Clark helped Davies and Arnold Clark, who was a 24-year-old Dr L.M. Gould in an investigation of engineer from Greenfield, Massachu the crevasses near Little America, and setts, when he went south, was volunteered to serve as assistant cook. described by Byrd as one of the quiet In his spare time he did secretarial est men in the winter party. He work.for Byrd. "-S'V.

ANTARCTIC March, 1978 on a Qantas charter tourist flight to the Antarctic. Before he left Sydney he was able to meet again the other New South African survivor of Mawson's expedition, Captain Morton Moyes, now 91. They ship were 2200km apart during the expedit ion because Captain Moyes was one of the eight men of the western party led South Africa's new Antarctic by Frank Wild who lived for a year research and supply ship, which and a day at the western base on the replaces the RSA, has been named Shackleton Ice Shelf off Queen Mary Agulhas, not RSA II. She is expected Land. to sail from Cape Town on her maiden voyage to sub-Antarctic Marion Captain Moyes, who retired from Island late this month or early next the Royal Australian Navy after 32 month. years' service, was a graduate of the University of Adelaide when he was Built for the South African Depart selected by his geology professor, ment of Transport, the Agulhas was Mawson, as the expedition's meteorol launched on September 30 last year ogist. In 1916 he went sout again in the from the yards of her builders, Mitsub Aurora with the relief expedition to ishi Heavy Industries Ltd, at rescue Shackleton's marooned Ross Shimonoseki. She arrived at Cape Sea Party of the Imperial Trans- Town late in January this year. Antarctic Expedition. Before the new ship arrived the SOUTH AGAIN RSA, which made her first voyage south in 1962, made her last relief As it was not known whether a voyages. Between September and search party would be required, January she called at Gough and Captain John King Davis, command Marion Islands, Tristan da Cunha, er of the expedition, asked the Royal and Sanae. Australian Navy to second Captain Moyes as navigator for any sledge South Africa began continental journeys that might have to be made. Antarctic research in January, 1960, Captain Moyes was in Port Chalmers when the first S.A.N.A.E. party took selecting material that might be over the existing Norway Station from needed when Shackleton arrived, and the Norwegians. The first two expedit shared a cabin with him during the ions were transported in the Polarj- voyage. born and the Polarhav. In 1929 Captain Moyes went south a RSA, which was launched towards second time with Mawson in the the end of 1961, took the third expedit Discovery. He was seconded to the ion south to construct an entirely new British, Australian, and New Zealand station about 19km north-north-east Antarctic Research Expedition as of Norway Station, which was at survey officer for the first cruise in the 70deg 30min S/ 2deg 32min W. Its first 1929-30 season. Now he looks back on Antarctic voyage was eventful. It left a notable career in the early days of Cape Town on January 6 and reached Antarctic exploration — one of only the unloading berth at Polarsirkel- nine men who served in three or more bukta on January 25. expeditions, and among the few who On February 12 the RSA sailed for have been ashore in Victoria Land, home, but she took 24 days to cover the Adelie Land, Queen Mary Land, and first 152km of the voyage, and on Enderby Land. March 6 she was caught with rudder trouble in pack ice north of Sanae on the Princess Martha Coast. But she broke free on March 22 and reached Cape Town on April 3. March, 1978 ANTARCTIC THE READER WRITES Sidelights of Antarctic Research Sir, — Of all the relics of Scott's last the other in Cashel Street. expedition none seems more durable Since 1960 four bicycle wheels have than the bicycle which Griffith Taylor been in or near the hut at Cape Evans, rode over the sea ice on a-fine Sunday and Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds. morning 66 years ago from Cape One wheel was hanging on the wall in Evans to the Erebus Ice Tongue. When the annex, the hub and spokes of the hut was first restored in 1960-61 the frame of the bicycle was found in another were found in the open, and the porch of the hut. the third with the tyre and tube was buried in the ice. Seven years later a wheel, a spoke, Discovery of the remains of a fourth wheel — reduced to hub and spokes — and a pedal were found. Then in 1971 at Cape Royds might suggest that the two New Zealand Antarctic Society bicycle was provided with two spare caretakers, Messrs Richard McElrea wheels or there were actually two and Harry Burson, found another bicycles. But the explanation can be wheel with the tyre and inner tube still found in two entries in Scott's diary. intact. On May 7, 1911, he records that Last December when two other care Bowers and Cherry-Garrard set up a takers, messrs David Harrowfield and Chris Buckley, removed more than thermometer screen on the sea ice north-west of the hut. They took the 100 cubic metres of ice from the annex screen out on one of Day's bicycle- of the hut, the bicycle frame was found wheel carriages, and found it ran very again. On the seat, cut into the leather, were the initials G.T. easily on the salty ice. In the May 22 entry Scott refers to a Although the bicycle was part of the trip he, Wilson, Bowers, Atkinson, expedition's equipment Griffith Tay- Petty Officer Evans, and Clissold, 'or probably earned the right to carve made to Cape Royds with a "go-cart" lis initials on the seat. He was the first carrying their sleeping bags, a cooker, .nan to ride a bicycle in Antarctica, and a small quantity of provisions. and his experience made him vow that his first ride would be his last. Scott's reference to one of Day's bicycle-wheel carriages suggests that Taylor and Bernard Day, the motor the ingenious motor engineer built at engineer, were really responsible for ♦he presence of the bicycle at Cape least two four-wheeled "go-carts". _2vans. Scott agreed to bring it there And probably the wheels came from on their representations. Having ridd Pitcher Bros. en many miles over snow in France, So there must have been 10 bicycle Taylor thought a bicycle would be wheels at Cape Evans. The remains of useful for short trips around head one from a "go-cart" is at Cape Royds; quarters on the sea ice. one of the three at Cape Evans might have been used for the same purpose. Christchurch has a close link with But what has happened over the years the bicycle because it was made and to the other six wheels? And where is given to the expedition by a local cycle the bicycle pump Taylor says he took dealer, M. Pitcher. In 1910 Christ on his eight-mile ride — he had to walk church was even more of a city of half the distance — past Turk's Head cyclists than it is today, and Pitcher to the glacier tongue? Bros, cycle and motor engineers, had Yours, etc., two shops, one in Colombo Street, and "JAMES PIGG"

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ANTARCTIC March, 1978

ANTARCTIC BOOKSHELF SECOND IN COMMAND by May Fluhmann Department of Information. Canada. Government of the North-West Territories. 162pp. Illustrations. When Sir John Franklin died in the promoted to lieutenant. Arctic in 1847 while searching for a North-West Passage the command of But it was not in the Arctic regions his two ships and their crews devolved that Crozier attained fame as an upon Francis Crozier, who made a explorer. Rather it was in the Antarc vain attempt to lead the survivors to tic that his greatest work was done as second-in-command of Sir James safety down the Great Fish River. Not a man regained civilisation. Crozier Clark Ross's expedition in the Erebi has waited a long time for a biograph and Terror. er, but in May Fluhmann he has found It is rather strange that while Ross one who has brought to her task has several geographical features unbounded zeal and a deep knowledge named after him, Crozier's name of her subject. adorns a solitary cape on Ross Island For the last quarter of a century she in the Antarctic. has painstakingly researched the We may here note Ross's people who were in the shadows of association with this country in that such eminent explorers as Sir James between his first and second voyages Clark Ross. Sir Edward Parry and Sir into the South, he spent some three John Franklin. She began writing months at the Bay of Islands. "Second in Command" in 1969, but has had an interest in Franklin since When the British Government she was a young child. She has made decided to send another expedition in eight voyages in old wooden saling an all-out search for a North-West vessels and has always been interest passage two ships were selected, the ed in the sea. While writing her hook Erebus and Terror, Ross's old on Crozier she visited Beechey Island Antarctic vessels. Sir John Franklin where the Franklin expedition spent was appointed to command the exped 10 months. ition, and he selected Crozier to take charge of his old ship, the Terror, May Fluhmann begins her bio thereby setting the seal on his destiny. graphy of Francis Rawdon Moira Crozier by telling of his birth in Miss Fluhmann does not seek to Ireland and his joining the Royal portray Crozier as a hero. Rather she Navy at the age of 14. It is interesting shows him as a typical Victorian to read that he served as a midship naval officer, dedicated to the service, man under Sir Thomas Staines a- doing his work competently in any board H.M.S. Briton, and while in her part of the world he happened to be. visited Pitcairn's Island. The Briton One minor criticism of a fine was the second vessel to discover the hide-out of the mutineers of the biography is its lack of maps. A map of the Antarctic and another of the Bounty. He later served in three Arctic regions would have enabled voyages under Sir Edward Parry in his several attempts to find a North- readers to pinpoint the areas referred West passage and to reach the North to in the text. Pole, and while under Parry he was H.F.G. 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 NZ$6.00, Overseas NZ$7.00, includes postage (air mail postage extra), single copies $2.00. Details of back issues available, may be obtained from the Secretary, New Zealand Antarctic Society (Inc.), P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch, New Zealand. Back issues more than five years old are available on request. Overseas subscribers are asked to ensure that their remittances are converted to New Zealand currency.

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 has been involved in the establishment of a national Antarctic centre at the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch. There are two branches of the society and functions are arranged through out 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$4.00 (or equivalent local currency). Membership fee, overseas and local, including "Antarctic", NZ$10.00. New Zealand Secretary P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch Branch Secretaries Canterbury: P.O. Box 404, Christchurch. Wellington: P.O. Box 2110, Wellington. ■ I

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