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

p u b l i s h e d q u a r t e r l y b y t h e NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC SOCIETY

IN McMURDO SOUND

H.M.N.Z.S. "Endeavour" crew member surveys a berg, Mt. Erebus in background. R.N.Z.N. Official Photo.

Vol. 4, No. 3 SEPTEMBER, 1965 Winter and Summer buses. Scott S u m m e r b a s e o n l y . t H a l l e t t " NEW ZEALAND Transferred base Wilkes US toAust TASMANIA Temporarily non-operational KSyowa

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DRAWN IY DEPARTMENT OF LANDS 1 SURVEY WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND, MAR.I9G4- 2 M.D EDITION (Successor to "Antarctic News Bulletin")

Vol. 4, No. 3 SEPTEMBER, 1965 Editor: L. B. Quartermain, M.A., 1 Ariki Road, Wellington, E.2, New Zealand. Business Communications, Subscriptions, etc., to: Secretary, New Zealand Antarctic Society, P.O. Box 2110, Wellington, N.Z. CONTENTS EXPEDITIONS New Zealand Teams for 1965-66 Zoologist stirs up a hornets' nest Soil Studies in the Antarctic: P. R. Stevens and J. D. H. Williams Balleny Islands: B. C. Waterhouse France

Belguim-Netherlands Australia South Africa U.S.S.R

Argentina Chile United Kingdom U.S.A.

Japan Sub-Antarctic Islands

Whaling Antarctic Stations - 3 - The Argentine Islands Hovercraft in Antarctic: J. R. Green A Stone from the Dry Valleys: Alison Sanson Antarctic Bookshelf

Magnetic Polar Journey 1912: R. B. Thomson Glaciological Survey of the Amery Ice Shelf: W. Budd The Reader Writes 50 Years Ago 114 ANTARCTIC September, 1965 NEW ZEALAND PREPARATIONS FOR COMING ANTARCTIC SEASON Preparations are in full swing for the 1965-66 summer field programme in the Ross Dependency, and for next year's scientific programme at Scott Base.

The scale of activities will be some relatively small gaps remaining in what more restricted than in recent the reconnaissance survey of the years, primarily because of the clos Dependency, and to continue the ing of Hallet Station for winter oper specialised studies of particularly ations. New Zealand participation in interesting areas which the earlier the joint running of this station investigations have revealed. ceased in November 1964 because The major expeditions planned are summer-operation only was not con as follows: sidered justifiable in New Zealand's BEARDMORE GLACIER. A four-man case. party will spend four to six weeks At Scott Base, studies in auroral studying the stratigraphy of the coal physics, geomagnetism, earth cur measures and limestone of Mounts rents, ionospheric physics, radio pro Buckley and Darwin at the head of pagation, seismology and meteor the Beardmorc Glacier, first seen by ology will be continued with some Shackleton's southern party in De modification. The auroral radar cember 1908, in 84° 59' S and 85° S equipment will be temporarily with respectively. Mt. Buckley is named drawn in December 1965. after George Buckley, a New Zca- lander who accompanied the expedi FEWER DOGS tion on the "Nimrod" as far as the There is no intention to abandon pack-ice, returning to New Zealand the use of dog-teams for field work, on the towing-ship "Koonya". but the proved effectiveness of motor toboggans for certain types of opera CAMPBELL GLACIER VALLEY. A tion has made it unnecessary to four-man parly with either motor maintain as many dogs at Scott Base toboggans or dogs will spend four to as in previous years. At the peak six weeks on a geological study of period for field survey work in 1960— the western side of Campbell Glacier 61 the Scott Base dog population in northern Victoria Land. This low- numbered nearly 100. During the gradient, two and a half mile wide coming year the numbers will be glacier was first explored by the reduced to 30. Northern Party of Scott's Last Ex These modifications will make pos pedition in January, 1912, and is sible the reduction of the Scott Base named after the leader of the party, winter party from 13 to 12. Lieut. V. L. A. Campbell. A New Zealand team, Gair (leader), FIELD WORK Pain, Tobin and Sheehan dog-sledged The extensive dog-sledging jour down the glacier in January, 1963, neys of the past nine years have and carried out geological work, virtually completed the topographi chiefly on the eastern side. They were cal and geological reconnaissance of air-lifted out from a point about 20 the Ross Dependency. The results are miles up the glacier from Mount enshrined in the series of maps pro Melbourne. The 1965-66 team plans duced by the Lands and Survey to strike in near Mt. Dickason and Department and in the numerous to work up-valley. They may share scientific papers published in the a common base with the Victoria New Zealand Journal of Geology and University team working at Inexpres Geophysics and in many other publi sible Island. cations. The programme for the 1965— The glacier flows slightly east of 66 summer is designed to fill the south to the west of Mount Mel- September, 1965 bourne, into Terra Nova Bay. The lower portion of the glacier, south WINTER TEAM FOR from Mt. Dickason to the Boomerang Glacier, is known to be badly SCOTT BASE crevassed. ICE SHELF PROJECT. A three-man M. M. Prebble. Leader. (See last party will continue the long-term issue.) study of the McMurdo Ice Shelf. A separate party will undertake a drill Dr. A. Porter (27), Wellington. Senior ing and geophysical programme on Scientist. Dr. Porter was born in the ice shelf. Newfoundland and was educated at the Grand Falls Academy, the Univer NUCLEAR SAMPLING. Sampling of sity of New Brunswick (1954-59) and snow, ice and water by the Institute Syracuse University (1959-61). He of Nuclear Sciences, D.S.I.R., will be studied forestry and physics, and was continued, in order to provide in a chemical engineer in Australia be formation both on natural nuclear fore coming to New Zealand in Janu products and on the product of ary this year. He has been working as nuclear explosions. The sampling will a wood physicist. be done by men engaged on other D. M. Randell (22), Levin. Technician. F'rojects,rom New and Zealand will, itto is the hoped, South extend Pole. Mr. Randell is a technician in the Post Office. He was born in Levin VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELL and attended Horowhenua College. INGTON. A four-man team will study He worked for eighteen months with the well-exposed basement complex the N.Z.B.C. in Wanganui and then at Inexpressible Island, northern was engaged on construction work at Victoria Land. They will be given the Levin Post Office. U.S. aircraft support, but on the site will operate on foot. Biological obser R. Vickers (23), Wellington. Techni vations will also be made and salt cian. Born in Wellington, he attended deposits investigated. It is expected Rongotai College and Wellington that this programme will occupy Technical College (1955-59). He was about three weeks. Further work will employed in radio engineering, 1960- probably also be carried out in the 64, and this year has been engaged Wright and Taylor valleys, occupying in aviation radio. about four weeks. I. P. Johnson (26), Gisborne. Senior UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY. Technician. Born at Wanganui and The biological work of past seasons educated at Wanganui Technical Col will be continued by an enlarged lege. Mr. Johnson is a radio techni group of seven men from the Zoologi cian. He recently spent a month at cal Department of the university. the Chatham Islands at the request They will study the Adelie penguins, of the "ham" radio enthusiasts of Weddell seals and skuas of the Mc America. He was at Campbell Island Murdo Sound area and the Emperor in 1959-60 and again in 1961-62, and penguin colony at Cape Crozier. also served on Raoul Island for the DOMINION MUSEUM, WELLING two-year period 1962-63-64. TON. Three men will be working at N. N. Dewson (41), Auckland. Base Hallett Station and two men at Cape Engineer. Mr. Dewson, who was born Bird. in Auckland, is a Naval rating. Leav ing Napier Boys High School in 1939 H.M.N.Z.S. "ENDEAVOUR". During he served in the R.N.Z.N. from 1942 the supply vovages of "Endeavour" to 1965 as an engine-room artificer between New Zealand and McMurdo and chief engine-room artificer. He is Sound, occanographic and magnetic married and has one child. observations will be made and sedi ment thickness measurements taken. T. O. McGeough (38), N. Ireland. Again a special cruise will be made Fitter Mechanic. After nine years at to the south and west of New Zea Derrylatinee P.E.S. Mr. McGeough land for scientific purposes. became an apprentice motor mech- September, 1965 anic. He left Ireland in 1950 and SUMMER PARTIES worked, chiefly as a heavy-duty The following men have been mechanic, in Australia, New Guinea, selected by the Antarctic Divisic- Arabia, Canada, the Spanish Sahara and California before coming to New carry out the projects plannec Zealand this year. the 1965—66 summer. A. G. Junge (22), Te Aroha. Fitter FIELD TEAMS Electrician. Mr. Judge was born in Campbell Glacier Rangiora and was educated at D. R. C. Lowe, Leader, Mr. Lowe schools there and at Taumaranui and is wintering at Scott Base. Pukekohe, leaving Pukekohe High R. G. Adamson, Senior Geologist. School, where he was prominent in R. J. Cavaney, Geologist. sport, in 1959. He is an electrical D. R. Bates, Field Assistant. fitter by trade. Darwin and Buckley Nunataks A. C. Bibby, Leader. A. C. Davidson (25), Levin. Cook. A D. J. Young, Senior Geologist. naval rating, Mr. Davidson was born R. J. Ryburn, Geologist. in Hastings and attended Napier A. C. Rayment, Field Assistant. Boys' High School. He joined the McMurdo Ice Shelf Navy in 1958 and served as a chef at Waiouru Camp and on "Otago", A. J. Heine, Leader. "Taranaki" and "Rotoiti". He is mar K. Lloyd, Surveyor. ried and has one child. A. Sim, Assistant Surveyor. R. O. Bartlett, Field Assistant. G. Ternahan (24), N. Ireland. Radio Ice Shelf Drilling Programme Officer. Mr. Ternahan was born in Dr. M. Hochstein, Geophysicist. Belfast, N. Ireland, and educated at G. Risk, Geophysicist. Annandale Grammar School and at J. H. D. Hill, driller. the College of Technology, Belfast, B. T. Muddiman, driller. 1958-60. Until 1964 he was a marine radio officer with the Marconi Com SCOTT BASE pany in England, and before arriving W. J. Webb, Deputy Leader. Mr. in New Zealand, hitch-hiked through Webb is a 28-year-old consulting many countries, working as necessity engineer from Invercargill with arose. wide sporting, tramping and climbing experience. In addition to the above, two men I. Smith, Postmaster, Assistant Radio who will be serving as field assistants Officer. in the coming summer will be win J. T. Murphy, Public Relations Officer. tering at Scott Base. They are: R. D. Greeks, Carpenter. C. E. Hough, Mechanic (wintered R. O. Bartlett (23), Warrington, 1965). Otago. Born at Wanganui, Mr. Bart G. H. Banfield, Assistant Maintenance lett attended Heretaunga College and Officer. Otago Boys' High School. He joined R. G. Rae, Assistant Maintenance the Forest Service in 1960 arid has Officer. served as a forest ranger in South J. M. Feist, Storekeeper. land, Nelson, Westland and Canter bury. The members of parties organised A. C. Rayment (26), Brighton, Eng by other institutions are as follows: land. After attending primary and Victoria University of Wellington secondary school at Brighton he was Dr. E. Ghent, Leader. an apprentice carpenter till called up R. A. Henderson (served on V.U.W. for two years' national service. He A.E. 8), Deputy Leader. then worked at his trade (for some G. P. Hancox. time in Switzerland), but last year Ian Smith. set out in a Land-Rover and travelled University of Canterbury through Europe, the Middle East, I. Spellerberg (leader in field): and India before coming to New skuas. Zealand. R. Kirk: climate, micro-climate. September, 1965

G. Yeates: Adelie penguins. John Darby. AT SCOTT BASE Ian Harkess: seals, 2nd year. The news items below are taken Ian Stirling: a Canadian M.Sc. by permission from "News From the Dominion Museum biological team, South", the winter monthly news Cape Hallett. letter for the next-of-kin and other F. C. Kinsky. friends of the men wintering over at J. H. Cranfield. New Zealand Antarctic bases. Dr. E. Choate (Univ. of Otago). Dr. Ewan Young (Univ. of Canter At the end of June, the correspon bury), in an independent sum dent at the Base reported: mer programme, will continue "Since the last letter, the major his skua studies at Cape Bird. event has been the arrival of Doug B. E. Reid may also work for a brief period at Cape Hallett. Foster-Lynam's first child — a boy. 'Yogi', as Doug is affectionately land team this summer as usual will receiving the goouo u&n« unj be a number of youth-group mem the Base to no small degree. bers, in this case two Boy Scouts and two members of the Boys' Bri- "Queen's Birthday was marked by a social function to which each of us fade.couts The boys selected are: invited an American guest including Ian Maxwell, Invercargill. our good friend, Igor Zotikov. Toasts Bill Atkinson, Auckland. to Her Majesty, President Jo! Boys' Brigade and the President of the U.S.S.R. Sgt. Paul Russell, Wellington. were heartily responded to and once Cpl. Trevor Hayes, Blenheim. again the international cordiality (Reserve: Sgt. Ross Porter, that is a feature of Antarctic life Napier). was demonstrated. A buffet supper was served and a pleasant time TRAINING COURSE ensued. As usual, the teams to serve in the Antarctic during the coming summer, "The great Polar festival — Mid including the men who will then winter Day — was observed in tradi winter over throughout 1966, were tional fashion with a superb dinner required to undertake a rigorous prepared by John Haycock, who course of training on mountain coun really let his talents have full rein. try, this year from August 13 till This was followed by the usual August 20. informal get-together and the day A new feature was the fact that ended with everyone in a most happy after a preliminary two days of lec frame of mind. We gave the occasion tures at Waiouru Military Camp, the full respect by wearing our almost whole party moved by Army trucks forgotten civilian clothes. A common to Mount Ruapehu and lived from complaint was that waistbands, to then till the end of the course in two gether with shoes, appeared to have Mountain Club huts at the end of the shrunk during the last nine months. Top of the Bruce Road, 5,500 ft. up "On the 19th, we entertained Mc the mountain. Here the men received Murdo people at darts and a social, practical instruction and experience in field organisation (camping and on the 20th they returned the routine, tent pitching, radio opera hospitality. Our relations across the tion) and mountain craft (step- way are very good. cutting, roping up, etc.), with lec "Several groups ascended Observa tures in the evenings on snow and ice tion Hill recently and obtained excel techniques, personal health and lent photos of the lights of McMurdo hygiene, field work and first aid in Station and Scott Base. Flares were the Antarctic, and on Antarctic cloth sent up from Scott Base to further ing and equipment. Practice in ski enlighten proceedings. The ice caves ing and climbing occupied the whole also still have their patrons, armed of the final day. with flash light and camera." September, 1965

As a goodwill gesture, the Sunday Scott Base. The reply to this was cooking at McMurdo was done by a withheld and instead the British party from Scott Base. General and his troops were offered an honourable parole, their arms were returned, and they were THE "INVASION" OF McMURDO escorted to the wardroom where the discussion of the battle was to take "In the dark of the July 4 after as long as the battle itself. noon, while McMurdo lay silently "Both sides agreed that it was a under its mantle of snow, the rat-tat- most memorable 4th of July." tat of a kettle drum was heard and a small British Force appeared from nowhere to march down the main COMING UP street, initially unopposed. They were dressed as General Comwallis troops "Spirits are rising as the first faint light of approaching dawn appears of 1776 in red coats and white in the northern sky around mid''™ breeches, armed with muskets and and everyone is looking forwar dragging a cannon on wheels. That getting home." cannon, when fed with signal flares A Scott Base report on Auj and supported by smoke bombs, was said: the decision of history. The temperature at Scott Base is "The alarm was given just before still 90 degrees below zero, but spring the British troops reached the mess is on the way. hall, when a powerful American Though the sun won't peep above Force quickly established a road the horizon for three weeks, its light block and a patrol carried out an is reaching higher and becoming encircling movement to cut the Bri- more powerful. ish line of communication. But the It came suddenly a week ago, when ritish kept advancing, undeterred a powerful glow lit the northern sky at noon, running in a reddish lin along the horizon and risinj they were overpowered, trussed up great pale emerald green arc u hand and foot and placed in stocks, Mount Erebus. Then it fade the newness of which indicated a the starlit sky. fore-knowledge of their need. "Just when all seemed lost a cour ageous British gunner managed to OUT WITH THE DOGS light a red signal flare in his cannon, On August 1 the base party called with which he then charged through it daylight and the two-hour noon the enemy ranks throwing them into glimmer was long enough to take the great confusion, allowing General Cornwallis to regain his dignity and huskies on their first spring run. read the terms of surrender. Briefly, During the long Antarctic night the they demanded the hand-over of all 27 dogs have been chained to long American Forces, including female wire spans just out of sight of the camp followers, for safe custody, base. In yesterday's pale new day together with all military stores and light the dogs went crazy as the dog munitions, plus the payment of £500 handlers arrived with sledge harness. in compensation for several ship As the animals were slipped from loads of good tea wilfully destroyed their chains and taken to the sledge by immersion in sea water. A fur they fought viciously. The sledge ther clause, in compliance with the party waded into the dogs wielding system which claims all men are rope ends to break up the scrap, but equal, decreed that all American the dogs loved every minute of it officers be stripped of their rank. and their thick fur prevented any This application of psychological serious injuries. warfare momentarily brought victory With the scrap ended, the dog close. handlers harnessed the team and the "The British demands were re sleds whipped away over the snow. jected, whereupon a request was This was the spring run, and now politely made for transport back to the winter night is as good as over. September, 1965

tain other aspects of the Antarctic ZOOLOGIST STIRS UP A scene will be shared by many who at the same time may feel that some HORNETS' NEST of his statements are exaggerated (see, for example, the letter "Killing Dr. Bernard Stonehouse, in an of Seals" in "The Reader Writes", address to the 11th New Zealand page 160). Certainly, few if any New Science Congress, Auckland, 1965, Zealanders have seen an Antarctic published later in "New Zealand lake filled "with all the slovenly Science Review", 23 (1), 1965, spoke litter of a village duckpond". It must frankly and in places provocatively be added in fairness that the head about Animal Conservation in the line in one Australian newspaper, Antarctic. The publication of some of "Sub-Zero Slum in Antarctic", is an his more pungent remarks out of Australian journalist's brain-child, context in New Zealand, and particu not Dr. Stonehouse's. larly Australian newspapers, aroused considerable indignation among New Dr. Stonehouse in his address Zealand Antarctic men. made it quite clear that some of the actions and attitudes he deplores Dr. Stonehouse, as Reader in Zoo were observed in areas outside of logy, University of Canterbury, and as an Antarctic man himself with many years of experience in the Ant arctic Peninsula area and in the Ross Dependency, speaks with consider able authority on the problem of man's incursions into the world of the penguins and the seals. It is unfortunate that garbled versions of what he said should have been given wide publicity. The angry reactions from men who are themselves eager All for instance must commend the to protect the Antarctic fauna from successful efforts of Dr. Stonehouse injury, but now feel themselves branded as vandals in the eyes of and others to put a stop to the prac the world, is perfectly natural and tice of landii in justice to them and to Dr. Stone ters on fro; house himself it seems desirable that penguin rook the main points he stressed should ing birds in all directions". be reproduced in his own words. This is a case where a few injudi "Continuous slight interference by cious remarks magnified and placed well-intentioned visitors may break in wrong perspective by journalistic the breeding routine of a penguin sensation-mongers have marred the colony and drive away young birds effect of a generally thoughtful and attempting for the first time to estab constructive address. lish territories." "Hunting for dog-food can be a serious danger to local animal stocks." But Dr. Stonehouse also reminded FOR LONDON his hearers that the representatives One of the three Ferguson tractors of twelve nations had "recommended with which, in 1957-58, Sir a code of rules which, if ratified and Hillary, Peter Mulgrew, Ji encouraged by governments, could Murray Ellis and Derek Wri; give Antarctica the status of an inter the first journey to the J national wild-life reserve." overland since Scott, left New Zea "With very little effort man can land on board the cargo-ship "Wai- improve his sad reputation and keep pawa" in March en route to Lon Antarctica, if no other country, safe don's Kensington Museum. Another for its native animals." is in the Technology Museum in Dr. Stonehouse's strictures on cer Auckland. September, 1965 SOIL STUDIES IN THE ANTARCTIC

by Peter R. Stevens and J. D. H. Williams During late November and early On the west side of the Koettlitz December 1964, J. D. H. Williams and Glacier, horizon differentiation (the P. R. Stevens, members of a two-man formation of layers of different col expedition sponsored by Lincoln Col our, texture and structure) was very lege, were based at two ice-free areas slight. Nevertheless, some observa on the west side of the Koettlitz tions (few of them original) can be Glacier, McMurdo Sound. Mr. R. H. made: Wheeler and others (Victoria Univer Young moraines were uneven in sity of Wellington Antarctic Expedi surface, ice-cored, pitted with kettle- tion 1960-61) had previously mapped holes, highly unconsolidated, and the moraine areas and identified displayed salt accumulation (largely them as having been formed during sodium sulphate) in places which four major phases of glaciation dur received melt water during the sum ing the Pleistocene. mer. The older moraines had smooth It was hoped that the moraines surfaces, were more consolidated, would reveal differences in degree of and salt accumulation was confined soil development, due to their dif to the formation of calcium carbon ferent ages. After examination of the ate "skins" on the undersides of "soils" in the field, they were sampled stones. Polygon cracks were d<' 'per, at sites which were similar in relief wider and better definea on young and geological composition. As the moraines, and the permafrost table sites were all from a fairly small (which was usually indistinct, pre area, it was assumed that climate, sumably due to the dryness of the another major factor in soil develop area) was closest to the surface on ment, was constant. the oldest moraines. However, these The party first investigated the effects may have been due to differ area around Cape Chocolate, where ences in altitude; the oldest moraines delta terraces, formed by changes in being also the highest. The highest of sea level and the action of summer the moraines seems to lie consis streams from the Hobbs and Salmon tently between 1,200 and 1,500 feet Glaciers, existed in addition to the above sea level along the Koettlitz moraines. They then moved 25 miles west side, and appears to correlate south to a camp near Lake Alph, an with similar terraces on Brown area virtually snow-free even in Nov Island. ember. While there they were visited At the end of the trip two days "out in the field" (emerging from were spent at Cape Royds looking at sleeping bags) by a party which soils under past and present penguin included the Minister of Agriculture rookeries. Digging through the sur (the Hon. B. E. Talboys) and the face cover (' lag gravel") of kenyte Chairman of the National Research stones revealed the sites of several Advisory Committee (Mr. J. T. abandoned penguin colonies. These Andrews). The previously perfect were sampled with the object of weather and midnight sunbaking was tracing changes in the chemical com marred at this camp by a five-day position of guano with age, and its blizzard with severe winds but no effects, if any, on the weathering of snow, unlike Scott Base, which had the kenyte underneath. Horizon dif several feet. ferentiation in the guano deposit In Antarctica, with its cold, dry itself was evident; upper layers were climate and absence of vegetation, dull white and those below bright soil development processes are yellow. slower than anywhere else in the In the absence of distinct physical world, excepting the Arctic. Never changes, it is possible that the degree theless, areas are known where of alteration of easily weathered weakly developed soils, probably of minerals such as apatite may give great age and possibly even relicts of some indication of the relative ages the pre-glacial era, have been found. of the moraines. September, 1965 NOTABLE LANDINGS ON THE BALLENY ISLANDS B. C. Waterhouse*

During the recent Balleny Islands is appropriate to note, however, that cruise some notable "firsts" were even now this giant of inaccessibility achieved, among which were heli has only allowed of a very brief copter landings upon previously touch landing lasting a few tens of virgin Sturge Island, and a landing seconds, and two harness and winch on the ice-cap of Sabrina Islet. drops of longer duration. Sturge The Balleny Group form a chain Island is thus technically conquered of volcanic islands extending over a — but only just. length of roughly 100 miles between The landing on the ice-cap of 300 miles and 400 miles north-west Sabrina was accomplished in a rising of Cape Adare, Antarctica. The most wind but without incident. From the southerly, and largest of the group, landing site, later established as the Sturge Island, had, prior to the 1965 surveyors' base camp, traverses were Expedition, resisted all recorded made to the summit and to the efforts to land upon its precipitous beach via a steep rock and ice pen shores which rise in sheer ice or rock guin track. walls for many hunderds of feet. It * N.Z. Geological Survey, Auckland.

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BACK ON "GLACIER" AFTER THE FIRST LANDING ON STURGE ISLAND New Zealanders B. Waterhouse, M. R. J. Ford (who landed); Americans F. Lobb and K. Kleiber (pilots), J. Shoup, (Crewman Stewart absent). Dominion Museum—F. O'Leary photo. September, 1965

STURGE ISLAND On the morning of January 31,1965, a party from U.S.S. "Glacier" com prising M. J. Ford, N.Z. Lands and Survey Department, J. Shoup, Uni versity of Hawaii, and the writer, were flown by helicopter to a point roughly mid-way along the west coast of Sturge Island. The object of the flight was to make a landing at a suitable location for the purpose of establishing a surveyors' base camp, and for collecting geological and biological specimens. Close inspection along some three or four miles of the west coast showed that in this locality at least prolonged landings would be highly dangerous because of the frequent avalanches, and land traverses limi ted to distances of a few hundred yards because of ubiquitous and crevassed ice. Finally, however, a very poor site was selected near the base of an ice-free rock wall and a touch landing lasting perhaps 10 Barry Waterhouse collects rocks from a seconds was made during which time small island east of Cape Smyth, Sturge Malcolm Ford jumped out and Island—January 31, 1965. gathered up a handful of rocks. Dominion Museum—F. O'Leary photo. "BY HARNESS AND WINCH" in three parties being landed on a In the evening of the same day, wind-swept saddle some 320 ft. above and during the interval between sea levei near the southern end of snow showers, a party consisting of the islet. The saddle represents an ice F. O'Leary and C. J. R. Robertson, carved bench cut in basalts, and both of Dominion Museum, Welling affords the only comparatively flat ton, and the writer, were flown off area on the islet, a factor which "Glacier" from near the southern influenced the surveyors in establish extremity of Sturge Island. Two land ing their base camp nearby. Later, ings by harness and winch were this site was swept by winds exceed made by the writer, on rock outcrops ing 100 knots which kept the sur near the south-eastern extremity of veyors pinned down for three days, the Island, near the end of a promi but it appears that it is the only nent ice tongue east of Cape Smyth; relatively safe place on the islet since and althougn these outcrops might high seas made the beach quite un be considered islets, they were, at inhabitable. the time, land-lied by an ice-capped The path from the saddle to the shingle spit. During this exercise, beach is via an initially steep and the helicopter remained airborne, exposed penguin track to a lower ice largely as a precautionary measure carved bench at 150 ft. above sea against sudden snow showers which level. From here to within roughly were encountered at frequent inter 100 ft. above the beach, the traverse vals. Nevertheless, even though is easy, but the final 100 ft. is over movement on the rock was restricted, hard glazed ice which requires the the writer collected good samples of use of crampons, or necessitates step in situ rock for a radius of about cutting. Once on the beach, where 15 ft. from the helicopter. previous helicopter landings have been made, traverses can be made SABRINA ISLET with ease along its entire length of On February 3, 1965, a reconnais about three-quarters of a mile. sance flight over Sabrina culminated A traverse from the saddle to the September, 1965

FRANCE PREPARES BASE ROI BAUDOUIN Preparations for TA16 and for next summer's programme at Terre Adelie Information received from the are proceeding apace. Expedition Belgian-Dutch expedition at Base Roi Leader for TA16 is Rene Merle who Baudouin indicates that the expedi will be wintering for his fourth time. tion is fulfilling its programme Bernard Morlet, who previously win according to plans. tered in 1958, will be the Scientific Leader on this expedition. The winter The buildings are now covered by party will number 30, of whom over oik- metre of snow. Owing to several are "anciens" (O.A.E.'s). the subsidence of the floor important It is expected that the summer maintenance work has had to be party will number 25 men. Paul- carried out. A shelter for the dogs Emile Victor will accompany the and for the smaller vehicles has been expedition as he has done each year. excavated. Robert Guillard and Marcel Renard will participate in the activities of Mid-winter Day was celebrated the summer programme. according to Antarctic tradition and Included in the programme are custom. several important construction pro jects, including the "communal" Maximum and minimum recorded building, water and telephone instal temperatures in June-July were: lations, sleeping quarters for summer July, max. -11.1°, min. -30.3°; July, personnel and a third gas-oil con max. -11.6°, min. -39.4°. tainer. On the scientific side, out standing is the installation of the An important part of the work of ionosphere station provided with the the winter personnel has been the most modern equipment. exchange of telegrams giving lists of the available stock of food and spare TIME TABLE parts, as well as recommendations The chartered vessel "Thala Dan" concerning the different technical will depart from le Havre in mid- and scientific branches. This informa October, arriving at Hobart on tion is welcomed by the Brussels December 2 and at Dumont d'Urville office of Expedition Antarctique on December 11 or 12. Cargo should Belgo-Neerlandaise, where the ex be unloaded by the end of the year. pedition which is to take over the The vessel will then return to Aus base in the coming summer is now tralia for service with ANARE, but being prepared. will call at the French base with nine additional wintering men on board about January 16. "Thala Dan" will return to Dumont d'Urville on March 3 and leave for Hobart NORWAY two days later. Although no Norwegian Antarctic base has been in operation since December 1959, and no expedition is planned for 1966, Norsk Polarinstitutt summit at roughly 500 ft. above sea has continued to publish reports of level was accomplished without diffi the Norwegian-British-Swedish Ex culty. The path lay northwards along pedition of 1949-52 and of work at the crest of a rock ridge composed Norway Station from January 1957 of scoriaceous basaltic fragments until the base was occupied tem and volcanic debris. The summit is porarily by a South African team in flat from east to west, but in the January 1960. The latest is "On the northern and western extremities the radiation balance and micrometeoro- ice cap ends abruptly above sheer logical conditions at Norway Station" rock cliffs, and safe movement is by T. E. Vinje, 1964. Two maps of restricted to the eastern and southern sections of Dronning Maud Land quadrants. were also published last year. September, 1965 AUSTRALIAN TEAMS MAKE ARDUOUS WINTER JOURNEYS Features of life at the two Australian continental stations during the winter months have been a number of field journeys, chiefly for biological research and to the station being rebuilt to take the place of the old Wilkes Station. MAWSON with a minimum of minus 17.6°F and an average temperature of minus In May, with mid-winter approach 5.9° F. Nevertheless, with a maxi ing, only three hours of sunshine mum wind gust of 65 m.p.h., and no were being experienced with the long blizzards, Mawson experienced a twilight hours providing very beau calm month. tiful sunrises and sunsets. In mid-May a survey party camped COLDER STILL near Fischer Nunatak erected a bea Mawson had a spell of fantastic con on Onley Hill. Meanwhile Paul- clear, calm days for the greater part ton had spent much time on the of July. Conditions such as these plateau and the harbour ice with have only one drawback — it gets radiation equipment. cold. The men watched with fascina Sea ice breakout somewhat cur tion as each day the temperature tailed the dog team activities, but dropped until minus 30°F (or 62° Bensley, Carter, Gordon and Baggott below freezing) was reached. By this managed to do a few short trips, time no one was very keen to remain despite interference by the young outdoors for long, and the field party pups. that was preparing to leave for May ended with a short, but furi Auster Rookery were not over-happy ous blizzard, which deposited heavy with the prospect of spending five snow drifts round the camp and days or so in such cold conditions. broke out much of the freshly All others on the station were keen formed sea ice. The survey party to see the mercury fall a bit lower had returned to Fischer and spent in an effort to record the lowest three days confined to their sleeping temperature ever recorded at Maw bags, unable to leave the caravan. son, surpassing the -31.8°F of 1962. This May was one of the warmest Unfortunately for the would-be on record with an average tempera record breakers, blizzard conditions ture of 9°F, with extremes of plus set in with the corresponding rise in 25°F and minus 15°F. During three temperatures. The Field Party's blizzards, wind gusts up to 105 m.p.h. E.T.D. was put back until conditions were recorded. eased. FIELD JOURNEYS COLD CALM JUNE July was an active month as far Visits were again made to Fischer as field trips were concerned. It Nunatak during June, this time by began with a shakedown trip to two dog teams. Gibbney Island by Corry, Bensley, Mid-winter day was enjoyed with Lachal, Baggott, Watson and Cam a magnificent feast prepared by cook eron. As a shakedown trip they cer Ritchie. An uninvited guest, husky tainly shook — it was cold. However, Jenny, joyously trotted off with a all learnt from the trip and the run freshly cooked ham placed outside was beneficial to the dog teams. This to cool. trip was closely followed by two While May's weather was unusu others, one to McNair Nunatak, ally mild, June was a near record about 25 miles south of Mawson, month for low temperatures. The where Corry, surveyor, was to erect maximum temperature was 17.5°F, a survey beacon. The other trip was September, 1965

to Taylor Glacier to conduct biologi WILKES cal research at the Emperor Pen At the beginning of May the guins' Rookery, and to check condi autumn traverse party of six men led tions of the hut and depot last visited by Lanyon were still in the field on in 1962. Unfortunately, neither team the glaciological study of the ice- fully achieved their objectives. Corry dome near Wilkes Station. and his party reached McNair, using A special feature of the glaciologi two dog teams, but failure of the cal work was the use of tellurometers rock drill prevented the erection of — extremely accurate electronic in the beacon, which they assembled struments which can measure dis and depoted on the site. They also tance with an error of only one or established a small depot at the foot two inches in 10 miles. of McNair before beginning an ex Combining this method with the hilarating 25-mile run home in four and a half hours. geophysical technique of seismic sounding, the party surveyed a 210- The other team, taking two Polaris mile line of markers established last motor toboggans for experience, en summer on an extensive ice dome countered fuel lead and carburettor near Wilkes. troubles. These factors, plus con The same markers are to be re- siderable drift worries and lack of surveyed for a number of years, fuel, caused it to return after having beginning next summer, to reveal the crossed the most difficult section of motion and distortion of the ice in the route, Jelbart Glacier. Their final this region. day's run of 30-odd miles in four This programme will help scien hours' running time augurs well for tists to understand more clearly how the future use of Polaris Sno- the whole Antarctic ice cap is Travellers once modifications are changing. made to the fuel leads, etc. Before its return the party was immobilised for 15 days by severe The next trip was another sea ice blizzards. trip by motor toboggan to Auster The team covered more than 200 Rookery, 30-odd miles east of Maw miles in two Snowtracs, with two son. The party comprised Woinarski, tractors pulling caravans, fuel, spare Vrana, Corry, Allison and Gavaghan. parts, and seismic sounding and Unfortunately, the party failed to other equipment. locate the rookery and were only Lanyon said three of the men suf able to sight two dozen or so Em fered frostbite when the temperature peror penguins. Fuel and vehicle fell to minus 38° while they were trouble necessitated a return to trapped in a series of 15 blizzards. Mawson. Preparations were being made for the long run to Kloa MORE FIELD TRIPS Rookery. This was to be the longest The Vanderford Glacier traverse dog team field trip. Leader Bensley party of four men led by Hicks, the and his team of Watson, Baggot station doctor, left almost immedi and Lachal were to be accompanied ately after the return of Lanyon's as far as Taylor Glacier by a party party, and on May 25 a further party travelling by Polaris which was to set out for Satellite Station S2, this carry a supply of dog food to depot party led by Bennet. for the Kloa team for its return run. The S2 party defied the approach ing lack of daylight and low tempera tures by taking tractors and snow tracs 50 miles inland on a combined scientific and fuel depot-laying trip. PHYSICIST FIRST DIRECTOR They also took a great quantity of MAWSON INSTITUTE empty fuel drums to better mark the route to the inland station. While Dr. Jacka, formerly on the staff of pinned down for a week by blizzards A.N.A.R.E., has taken up a position their main concern was whether they as first Director of the Mawson Insti would be back for the mid-winter tute for Antarctic Research at the celebration, but they made it with University of Adelaide. days to spare. September, 1965

MID-WINTER excursion coming up in August. War- riner, Holmes, Gibson and McLaren A five-course meal with a menu comprised the party to carry out this printed in French was served to the survey work. In preparation, Holmes 23 men at Wilkes to celebrate the and Gibson constructed a new dog shortest day of the year. sledge and all have been frantically While this was going on, the tail- making dog harnesses and traces for end of a lOOm.pJi. blizzard raged the dual purpose of tuning up dogs outside in a temperature of 40° below and human bodies. Several short dog zero. Snow covered the huts, and trips across the sea ice have been the darkness was only broken by two made. hours of sun, low on the horizon. "But it was a real party atmos phere inside," said leader Lanyon. "REPSTAT" "The temperature was a comfortable 70°, and we wore tropical shirts Considerable work had been done and light trousers. on the new station during the ten "We began with hors d'oeuvre, clays before the departure of the went on to fruit, a steak entree, half relief ship "Thala Dan" despite ap a chicken each, plum pudding, ice palling weather: first day — wind, cream, coffee, and finished by toast second day — decreasing wind, third ing the Queen's health in cognac." day — thick wet snow, fourth and While they were not singing, they fifth days — fine, the final five days, exchanged greetings with other Ant very windy, with winds reaching 70 arctic bases — the French to the east knots. and Mawson to the west. The mid-winter celebrations lasted Writing in "Aurora", the A.N.A.R.E. for several days, but everyone even Club journal, Geoff. Smith reports: "When the ship finally departed Rep tually recovered. stat was equipped with three-quarters In June the maximum wind speed of a mile of good roads, the main was 104 m.p.h., drifting snow was building line was levelled, a DUKW recorded on 16 days during the landing constructed, a sub-structure month, while the lowest temperature completed for the first building, and was minus 28°F. some of the sub-structure completed July was very much an indoor for the second building. The road month with inclement weather and had been cut through to the plateau. restricted daylight, limiting outside Extensive surveys had been carried activity. out and the ship had found a safe anchorage within a quarter of a mile of the station. TRAVEL HAZARDS Journeys to Repstat, the replace "In the meantime the normal ment station being constructed a Wilkes change-over had been com mile and a half south of Wilkes, were pleted. numerous until, one day, four men "Within a few days of the 'Thala managed to locate a previously un known crevasse en route and marked Dan's' departure for Melbourne . . . this spot for all to see with a Weasel. the first Repstat building had been Forecast, giving up his seal-hunting, completed. The second building, dashed to their rescue on a sturdy several lengths of passageway and motor bike, only to be given the platforms will be completed early honour of locating two more this year and the remainder of the crevasses and parking the bike 12 ft. programme will be tackled progres down one of them. It was left to sively over the next few years." Glenny to retrieve both landmarks The weather data at Wilkes for July was: Average temperature plus age rates. 7°F, minimum temperature minus The dogs had been receiving in 15.4°F; maximum wind speed 113 creasingly more attention in readi m.p.h., with drifting snow recorded ness for the Vanderford Glacier on 19 days. September, 1965 WINTER DAYS AT SANAE The following lively account of life at the South African base, SANAE, is abstracted, with permission, from the monthly reports forwarded by Leader Sewes van Wyk.

"At S.A.N.A.E.," he says in May, the base and brave the uncharitable "we have bid farewell to the sun cold outside. Geomagnetisl Ezeko- and are preparing ourselves for a witz has to tend the variometers and long night of two months. The most change magnetograms in the vario important task of replenishing dieso- meter hut once daily; Smitty has to line supplies within the base was change seismograms every clay and recently accomplished under very attend to the seismometers; the extreme conditions. Temperatures in meteorological men have to pay the region of minus 37°C made the regular visits to the Stevenson diesoline jelly-like and simply pump screen, and find the tending of ing it from outside was impossible. meteorological instruments on the Drums had to be carefully dropped tower no joke under present condi down the hatch and stored in the tions. The daily balloon ascent pro snow passage for at least a day be vides problems of its own, especially fore Joubert and Hodsdon could with winds higher than 25 knots. start pumping the partially thawed and more fluid diesoline into the "Recently it was a familiar sight to see the young huskies Kick and storage drums. "With the sun low on the horizon Fidel accompanying geologist Pollak jhenomena such as sun pillar and on his daily round to the snow arhelia were often to be seen, evok accumulation net. However, with both dogs now on chain, it is a soli ing much activity from amateur photographers. tary figure that strides out. SURVEY "Cosmic ray geophysicist Joubert is to be congratulated on a partially "Recently surveyor Strydom, assis successful balloon flight so deep in ted by base doctor de Wit, myself winter. Much credit is due also to and Sharwood, made preparations the meteorological team for their for a last attempt at a tellurometer assistance with the launching of the survey to link points on the 1,000 ft. balloon. Bloenga ice rise west of S.A.N.A.E. with points in the vicinity of the "The chaps arc all very well and base. The idea was that two would putting on weight as a result of the remain on the ice rise while two, excellent standards of cooking. It is leaving the caboose behind, would only our geographical position that return to operate the S.A.N.A.E. end. prevents our being available for the Unfortunately extremely poor visi Springbok rugby trials. bility forced the party to return when half-way to the ice rise and the "The mean temperature for the project had to be abandoned. month was -24.8°C and the absolute "Radio technician Smit is at pres minimum -39°C. ent busy constructing a two-way short range VHF transceiver which ROUND THE CORNER is certain to prove invaluable to field parties when contact between "Although June temperatures have caboose and Muskeg is desired. been exceptionally 'mild' for the peak winter period, storms have been IT'S COLD OUTSIDE frequent and often of a freak nature. "Those expedition members who For example, a 30-knot westerly wind have outside work to do, find it would suddenly die down and within necessary to summon a fair amount five minutes a wind from the north of will power to leave the warmth of east would be gusting to more than September, 1965

70 knots. The varied storm directions month, -20.6°C, showed a rise of have resulted in heavy drift-snow 4°C as compared with May. The accumulation in the immediate absolute minimum of -39.6T was vicinity of the base, but it is hoped that a few strong easterly storms however, slightly lower than the will whittle down the level some May figure. what before lower temperatures consolidate the snow. INTO JULY "Republic Day (May 31) was cele "After an absence of two months brated in grand style and after a the return of the sun on July 22 was delicious chicken peri-peri by cook a joyful sight. The past month was Potgieter, some of the chaps settled again one of frequent storms and iown to a great party. All the while overcast skies. One storm in which winds gusted to over 100 m.p.h. is Piet, the budgie, and JJ the non- one the meteorological chaps are talking parrot looked on from their perches in the rafters. It was a novel likely to remember for a long while. experience to JJ and he eyed it all An unnoticed slit between two panels with a demure and often apprehen of the balloon hut hatch was suffi sive expression. It is perhaps just as cient to allow the hut to be almost well that his talking capabilities are completedly filled with drift snow. well hidden and apparently very About 100 skivvy drums of snow and limited. Piet, now in his fourth year 100 gallons of sweat later, the hut at S.A.N.A.E., was unconcerned. was again usable. "Thereafter preparations for mid "Meanwhile, when the weather per winter were in full swing. Many new mits, Johan and Wilf have been working on the replacement by a woodwork items in the form of cup- new unit of the worn-out engine of hoards, racks, etc., took shape. Every- the old Muskeg, Bernadine, and mak •ody assisted in repainting the kit ing repairs to the two new Muskegs chen and we were rather amazed at in a hastily erected garage to the the ingenious colour schemes that west of the base. -merged, although it must be admit- sd that these were mostly hit upon "The huskies have wintered over y chance. The kitchen floor was admirably outside for the second re-covered and the kitchen's electri year in succession. Kiek, the young cal system rewired. husky bitch born here last Novem ber, has grown into a beautiful animal and may well rival her mother Fielies as first lady of MID-WINTER S.A.N.A.E. Meanwhile two men have "Mid-winter's Day proved to be a been making dog harnesses in pre most enjoyable and memorable day paration for runs with the dogs. for all. After sundowners and various "Jan de Wit is progressing admir toasts we sat down to an excellent ably as gardener and we are all eye dinner of roast chicken a la Jan de ing the rapidly swelling fruit of Wit. It was also a pleasure to again several tomato plants. taste fresh lettuce and radishes. After "The average temperature for the dinner a variety concert was held in month, viz., -27.9°C, showed a sharp which all expedition members took drop from the June figure. The part. All tastes were catered for as lowest minimum was -43°C." the numbers ranged from a guitar solo to an exhibition of 'Russian ballet'. "There were also presents for INCREASING THE FAMILY everybody; from fellow expedition The snowcat train returning to embers, from friends, wives, sweet- nearts and also from the Department Mirny from Vostok in January (see of Transport. In general, a good time March issue, p. 30) increased by three was had by all and it will probably cross-country vehicles. These had ; the most memorable day of the been left behind on the stretch Pioncrskaya-Mirny by the members year. of the Franco-Soviet glaciological "The mean temperature for the expedition in the 1963-64 summer. September, 1965 Soviet Comment On Changing Antarctic Methods F R O M T H E A I R THICKNESS BY RADAR Up until fairly recently Antarctica (See "Antarctic", March 1960) appeared just as a huge white ex Soviet scientists report that the panse. Individual explorers, succeed greatest depth of the ice cover in the ing in landing on its shores, made Antarctic has been determined by attempts at mapping its coastline. radar. In an area up to 60 miles from Little was known of a large part of Mirny it is nearly 6,000 ft. the interior of the continent until The research carried out by scien the arrival of aircraft carrying photo tists using this method in the Ant graphic equipment and accurate arctic for the first time revealed its scientific apparatus for scientists to high precision, says Vitaly Bogorod- determine the elevation of the land. sky, chief of the Arctic and Antarctic Research has proved the useful Institute. "Now it is possible to ness of combining aerial surveys with measure the thickness of glaciers geomagnetic surveys: the magnetic from a plane or helicopter, to regis declination was determined to within ter continuously the profile of the l'/i degrees of exactitude, but experts Antarctic continent hidden under ice. estimate that it can be reduced to It is also possible to measure the one degree. Observations have shown mass of ice." that the usual magnetic compasses Radar methods will be used by the used in Antarctica work well. eleventh Soviet Antarctic expedition, Aerial surveying has also been which will go to the sixth continent used for determining the movement late this year. of glaciers. It was found to be very irregular within very wide limits. Around the Soviet polar station Mirny, for instance, it is 44 to 60 metres per year, and in a region of " C O A S T L I N E " C H A N G I N G small glaciers, up to 130 metres per [We have referred several times to the huge year, reaching 600 metres per year break-off in 1963 from the Amcry Ice Shelf: with strongly outlined glaciers. For this "eye-witness" account of the new An aerial survey was undertaken "coast-line" as sighted from air and sea we also to determine the accumulation are indebted to an article by L. Dubrovin.] of snow, which greatly facilitated the work of glaciologists. This survey When a Soviet aircraft was flying helped to ascertain the number of from Mirny to Molodezhnaya the penguin colonies, the different species navigator and scientific personnel, in each, and even to determine, by carefully following the plane's flight the size of the birds, their age on the map, easily recognised the groups. familiar outlines of the ice coastline, Aerial map-making produces much above which they had flown more material, but in our opinion is not than once before. But when the plane highly accurate. "Reading" such came to one of the very largest ice photographs is extremely difficult, shelves of Western Antarctica, the and bad mistakes can arise in de Amery Ice Shelf, an expression of ciphering them. We must render bewilderment came over the pilot's Japanese and German scientists their face. due for maps compiled by them, "Look at the map," he said to one accurately enough, which cover of the scientists, "there should be a small areas only, however. solid ice shelf here, what is that clear Next year an atlas of Antarctica is water doing down there? Could we to be published. be off course?" (From an article by But the plane was following the Fedor Shipilov). exact route set, and at that moment, September, 1965 instead of the monotonous snow- ocean, is gradually building up its covered ice shelf, a vast expanse of coastline again from the sea about clear water stretched out before it. them, on which pieces of ice and small white-crested waves could be 11th EXPEDITION seen. Over 300 scientists and technicians The only explanation could be that will be participating in the eleventh part of the Arnery Ice Shelf had split Soviet Antarctic Expedition, which off, turning into icebergs, which, is scheduled to leave Russia in mid- blown by the wind for some length October, a month earlier than has of time, had begun to move to the been usual in order to provide a north. longer summer working period. To confirm this theory, the diesel- Four stations will again be in electric vessel "Ob" went to the operation during the 11th (1965- Amery Ice Shelf this year with a 1967) expedition: Mirny, Novo- number of scientists on board, who lazarev, Molodezhnaya and Vostok, established the fact that actually the where the current I.Q.S.Y. pro Antarctic's ice coastline in this place gramme will be maintained. During had receded almost 75 kilometres to the 1965-66 summer period Kom- the south. The vessel then passed somolskaya Station will also be over an area where the ice continent activated. should have been, according to all Fuel will be transported to Mirny maps, and under the "Ob's" keel a and Molodezhnaya, where oil con depth of 900 m. was recorded. On tainers will have been constructed a preliminary calculation, a piece of by the time the tankers arrive. the shelf of from 75 to 150 km. in At the inland station Vostok, in size had disappeared. Thus the area vestigations will be continued in of Antarctica has diminished by ionosphere, aurora, cosmic rays, the approximately 1,100 square kilome earth's magnetic field and radio tres. A huge ice mass, which until waves. Further study of the ice not long ago still appeared to be part cover will be undertaken using of the ice continent has formed into radio altimetry for the first time. From "Ob", oceanographic and icebergs which are now floating somewhere in the waters of the hydro-biological research will be Southern Ocean. That part of the ice undertaken. shelf which has broken off would Aqualungs will be used for the cover in area approximately two- exaeminatibn of the sea-bottom off thirds of the Kama reservoir. The the coast at Mirny and Molodezh volume of fresh water contained in naya, to a depth of 30 metres. these icebergs would exceed the MOLODEZHNAYA volume of the Kama reservoir, when Work on the enlarged Molodezh full to capacity, more than twenty times. This much water flows down naya Station on Alasheev Bay, Enderby Land, will be continued. the Kama River at Perm in four The new buildings will be elevated years. on piles to avoid the accumulation The fact that Antarctica's coastline of drift snow and will be con is changing has been known for a structed of arborite, a fireproof long time. Even last century it was building material. established that the thick ice cover of the southern polar continent was MIRNY spreading, continually moving out Scientist Dolgin at Mirny reported into the sea. It covers the continental on July 7 the observation of nocti- shelf in vast expanses, in some places lucent clouds at an altitude of 80-85 extending out into the ocean over Km. Noctilucent clouds ("silver great depths. From time to time the cloud") are very seldom seen in the edge of the ice shelf breaks off, and Antarctic, though fairly frequently the slow, even advance of the ice observed in the Arctic regions, and continent into the ocean changes into this occurrence should provide a sharp jagged regression. The ice further opportunity for study of the continent, at the same time as it higher atmospheric layers and of gives up a part of its ice to the circulation at these altitudes. September, 1965 SUMMARY OF THE YEAR'S WORK AT ARGENTINE STATIONS The report here summarised, of the work carried out at Argentine Antarctic bases during 1964 was issued by the Argentine Antarctic Institute in May 1965.

Argentine Antarctic work is carried made 14 sorties during the winter out by the Argentine Antarctic Insti months as follows: 1-7, to the tute (Director: Contraalmirante Guemes Refuge Hut, each journey of (ret.) Rodolfo N. M. Panzarini) and 20 km for attention to the dogs; 8 by the Armed Forces, Navy (Naval and 9, reconnaissance and observa Antarctic Group and Naval Hydro- tions in the vicinity of Duse Bay, ;raphic Service), Army and Air Edith Bay and Prince Gustav Chan •brce. nel (221km.); 10, to instal a depot of fuel in the vicinity of the San WINTER WORK Nicolas refuge hut (32 km.); 11-13, ARGENTINE ANTARCTIC recovery of the motor of a Muskeg INSTITUTE tractor which had been damaged to the north-east of Esperanza (176 At the Army General Belgrano km.); 14, seal hunt in the vicinity of Base, Jose Brasbous (aurora) and the Cristc Redentor and San Nicolas E. Pedroni (ionosphere), assisted by refuge huts (124 km.). Base Army personnel, carried out a Work was carried out in the dis ciplines of meteorology, topography, Programmehysics. The in programme Upper Atmosphere included cartography, tides, human physiology vertical ionospheric soundings every and polar techniques. 15 minutes with automatic equip General Belgrano. Eight journeys ment; the taking of all-sky photo were made during the year: 1, south graphs at one-minute intervals with west and west of the Base (390 km.); the automatic auroral camera as well 2, east of Belgrano (140 km.); 3, cart as colour and black and white photo age of material to the base east of graphs of the aurora with non-auto matic cameras and visual observation Belgrano (300 km.); 4, for the same of auroral phenomena every 15 purpose to Ellsworth (140 km.); 5, laying of intermediate depots in the minutes. triangulation zone (280 km.); 6, This involved the exposure of 1,700 transfer of material to the "west" metres of film with ionograms and refuge hut (310 km.); 7, cartage of 1,230 m. with the automatic camera, fuel and food to the Santa Barbara living some 160,000 photographs. In refuge hut (550 km.); 8, to the ice addition 153 photographs of the shelf east of Belgrano. aurora were taken on non-automatic cameras, 115 of them in colour; and AIR FORCE 11,187 records of visual observations Tenlente Matienzo. At this Air Force were made. base work was carried out in meteor All this material will be analysed ology, glaciology (aerial photography in the Ionospheric Laboratory of the of the Larsen Ice Shelf between Cape Navy and of the Argentine Antarctic Longing and Robertson Island, and Institute. Records have been kept in glaciological observation of the this area (at Belgrano and at the Esperanza-Matienzo route and of the former American base Ellsworth) of coastal channel between Robertson ionospheric soundings since 1957 and Island and 72° 30' S), topography of visual observations of the aurora, (Christensen Island), photography and photographs, since 1958. (Larsen Ice Shelf as above) and polar techniques (experiments with per ARMY sonal equipment of Argentine manu Esperanza (Hope Bay). Army patrols facture). September, 1965

SUMMER PROGRAMME mined from the air, between Moltke ANTARCTIC INSTITUTE nunatak and Cape Adams. Another group, Jan M. Ageitos Almirante Brown. Reconstruction (Museum Director) and a biological and manning of this former Naval assistant, worked on penguin studies Base as a scientific base for the on Deception Island, and made bird Argentine Antarctic Institute as fol and marine invertebrate collections lows: at Esperanza as well as banding 45 (1) Commencing on November 28, young Adelie penguins. Later, at 1964, a team of ten men led by Capi- Almirante Brown, this group assisted tan de Fragata (ret.) Federico W. in the collection of specimens of the Muller restored the main building local fauna, the stocking of the labor and the emergency shelter in order atories and the instrumentation of that they could be used as living the base. quarters, and were billetted there while they constructed the cook NAVAL GROUP house, generator hut, "ham" radio station and a tide-gauge. The Antarctic Naval Group for (2) On Christmas Day the second 1964-65 was under the command of group under Capitan de Navio (ret.) Capitan de Fragata Gonzalo Busta- Carlos Perticarari disembarked at mente. The "General San Martin" the station and the second phase of left Buenos Aires on October 9, 1964, the programme began. A barracks and after visiting Decepcion, Mel- building of 292 square metres was chior and Teniente Matienzo bases erected, and a laboratory block of and the Suecio and Betbider refuge 170 sq. m. containing three labora huts went on to Esperanza before tories, photographic darkroom, returning to Ushuaia (Tierra del emergency radio station, office and Fuego) on December 8. library for the scientific leader, bath The second cruise began on the room and heating system; also a 21st. The Filchner Ice Shelf and the snow-melter capable of producing bases at Belgrano and Ellsworth 1,000 litres of water daily, and a were visited, the ship penetrating as wooden ramp to facilitate unloading. far south as 78° 13 S. A depot of The Almirante Brown Scientific provisions was laid at Cape Fisket, at Station was duly inaugurated on approximately 75° 47' S, 58° 22' W. February 17, 1965, by the Director of The cruise ended at Ushuaia on Janu the Argentine Antarctic Institute. ary 31 after a call at the Orcadas del The first wintering party comprises Sur. ten men, with Alfredo Corte as leader and Carlos Galmarini as deputy- During the third cruise the vessel leader and medical officer. There are went as far south as Marguerite Bay two scientific assistants and three and the General San Martin base was technicians, a radio-officer, a cook inspected. On February 9, Alexan and a mechanic. der I and Peter I Islands were visited; then the ship proceeded via Melchior, the Bismarck and Gerlache FIELD PARTIES Straits, Almirante Brown and Decep A group comprising two glaciolo- cion back to Buenos Aires on March ists and a surveyor worked at 10, 1965. Lsperanza (Esperanza Glacier) and in the Weddell Sea area, taking sea- Meanwhile the supply vessel "Bahia ice observations also during the voy Aguirre" made three voyages between age of the ice-breaker. At the Los December 10,1964, and March 2, 1965, Mangrullos nunatak and at Belgrano reprovisioning the bases and reliev and Ellsworth Stations, determina ing the personnel. tions of latitude and longitude were made. In the southern Weddell Sea HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICE a reconnaissance was carried out on As usual, the Naval Hydrographic board the ice-breaker "General San Service re-charged and repaired the Martin", and the location of the lights and beacons in the Antarctic Filchner Ice Shelf front was deter Peninsula area and carried out September, 1965 meteorological observations as well men was Captain G. A. Giro of the as making 371 oceanographic Argentine Army. stations. Observations on the aurora will be The "Commandante Zapiola" un made. The first wintering party com der Capitan de Corbeta Luis A. Mor- prises Lieutenant E. Goetz, leader; andi carried out an oceanographic Sgt. J. C. Ortiz, mechanician; Sgt. cruise in Drake Strait during Febru A. Moreno, surveyor; and Cpl. L. ary and March, 1964. The programme Guzman, cook. comprised current-measurements at various depths, examination of the ocean bed, salinity, bathythermo MYSTERY OBJECT IN graphs, density measurements, mete ANTARCTIC SKIES orology, etc. The "Capitan Canepa" under Capi It was reported from Santiago on tan de Corbeta Hector A. J. Silva July 7 that the commander of a carried out the third "Productivity" Chilean Antarctic base had taken 10 cruise in Drake Strait between May colour photographs of an unidenti 22 and July 9, 1964. This involved a fied flying object over the weekend, but believed it would be "adventur study of the nature and extent of plant plankton production. The ous" to say it was a flying saucer. fourth "Productivity" cruise was car "But what we saw was real," said ried out in Drake Strait and the Mar Air Force Commander Mario Jahn de la Flota between October 17 and Barrera. "Something that moved at December 21, 1964. Twenty oceano a frightening speed, zigzagging and graphic stations were occupied with giving off a blue-green light. And it a maximum depth of 200 m. was something solid, which caused At Mclchior Base between Decem interference in the base's electro ber 24 and February 27, an eleven- magnetic equipment." man team under Teniente de Fragata But he emphasised in a radio Eduado M. Cueli carried out research telephone interview published in the in marine biology. The party included newspaper "El Mercurio": "It was two Americans, a Frenchman and, not a star. Neither did I think it was says the report, a Swiss-American an earth-built aircraft. and a Scottish-American. "I belong to the Air Force and no apparatus constructed by man to date has anything like this, either in WINTER TEAMS 1965 shape, speed, manoeuvrability or other characteristics." Decepcion: 15 men (Leader: Teniente de Fragata Daniel A. Parisse). The object, said the Chilean report, Orcadas: 13. Teniente de Corbeta was first sighted by a British Antarc tic base, and confirmed the next day Miguel Sosa. by both Chilean and Argentine bases General Belgrano: 30 (Capitan G. A. in the Antarctic Peninsula area. The Giro). British scientists, the report went on, Esperanza: 20 (Mayor E. J. Pey- said the object was yellowish red regne). varying to green and zig-zagged about Matienzo: 17 (Ier Teniente Eduardo the horizon for ten minutes. Fontaine). Unfortunately the "colour photo graphs will not be available until SOBRAL next March as the base has no facili The new Argentine Army Station ties to develop colour film". Sobral commenced operations on April 28, 1965. It is located on the Filchner Ice Shelf, 330 km. south of Belgrano Base, at lat. 81° 04' S, long. 40° 36' W. ERRATUM Several trips were necessary to "A Different Way of Life", by John transport 40 tons of material on six R. Green, Vol. 4, No. 2, June 1965: Sno-cats from General Belgrano Base p. 107, col. 1, 1. 46, between longi to the site of the new station. The tudes 160 degrees and 170 degrees leader of the transport group of 13 West". For West read East. September, 1965 Outline Of Chilean Programme For 1965

Chile maintains four permanent As part of the expedition "Marchile bases in the Antarctic Peninsula IV" aboard the "Yelcho", sounding Arturo Prat (62° 30' S, 59° 41' work was to continue during Ja™ • ;ernardo O'Higgins (63° 19' S, March in the area 53°-65° : , „V W), Pedro Aguirre Cerda (62° 75° 30-85° W and was to ii 56' S, 60° 36' W), and Gabriel Gon ten north-south oceanographic pro zalez Videla (64° 49' S, 62° 52' W). files with a separation of 30 miles. Of these, Gabriel Gonzalez Videla will Oceanographic stations were to be temporarily be operated as a sum made along three profiles every 40 mer facility. There are two tem miles to a depth of 3,000 meters. poral!' bases, the Sub-base Yelcho During each profile bathythermogra- (64° 52' S, 63° 34' W) and the Guesa- pluc, surface temperature, and bathy- laga Refuge Hut (67° 47' S, 68° 53' metric observations were to be made. W). The construction of another per The following winter programmes manent station in the Antarctic were planned: Peninsula is being considered for the Cartography 1965-66 season. Continuation by the Institute of Military Geography, of topographical The organisational set-up for the triangulation work initiated in 1964, conduct of Chilean Antarctic activi and establishment of first-order astro ties has undergone some changes nomical fixes at O'Higgins or Gabriel with the establishment last year of Gonzalez Videla for geodetic observa the Chilean Antarctic Institute. This tions. Institute now plans, directs, and co ordinates the scientific and technical E a r t h S c i e n c e s . Installation of a volcanological aspects of the programme under the direction of a council of representa observatory, consisting of a subsoil tives from public and private organis thermograph and a vertical short- ations with direct interest in Ant term seismograph, at Pedro Aguirre arctic work. The logistic support of Cerda Base. the Chilean Antarctic Expedition The seismological equipment at remains in the hands of the Armed Gabriel Gonzalez Videla Base was to Forces. be dismantled for repair in Santiago. The seismological observations were The 19th Chilean Antarctic Expedi to continue at General Bernardo tion left Valparaiso on December 12, O'Higgins Base, where new equip 1964. In the party were 10 scientists ment 'is to be installed during 1966. who planned to carry out geological Meteorology research in the South Shetland Continuous surface observations at Islands, ornithological investigations all bases, including synoptic observa on Nelson Island, and volcanic obser tions every three hours. vations on Deception Island over a [We are indebted to the "Antarctic three-month period. Radioactivity Report" of U.S.A.R.P. for the above measurements and geomagnetic ob outline. — Ed.] servations at Pedro Aguirre Cerda Base were also included in the sum mer programme. PENNEY'S PENGUINS In 1959 Dr. Richard L. Penney re The ornithological observations, a leased five Adelie penguins after they three-year project, are expected to had been flown the 3,800 miles from culminate in the publication of a their point of capture. Eight months catalogue and guide to the birds of later three of them came back home, the Antarctic Peninsula and adjacent one scientist said "probably cussin' islands. the Navy every step of the way". September, 1965 BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY STATIONS REPORT As with all Antarctic stations, outdoor activities have declined with the onset of winter. Nevertheless, some momentum has been maintained by field workers, comparatively near to base.

STONINGTON ISLAND Deception Island. Its serviceability Occupation of the old "Y" Base hut cannot be judged until it is air-tested on Horseshoe Island has enabled a in September but we are all ke _ geological party to remain active in our fingers crossed. the fjord region cast of Adelaide "Reports of proceedings 01 Island throughout the months of Winter's Day and inertia on tws i after imply that there will be a n< May and June. Other geologists and their helpers were busy sledging for strict rationing in the ii before the ships arrive The '] depots towards the Traffic Circle in Comet' was on sale as usual, its preparation for next season's work on the east coast just inside the bor circulation unaffected by the der of Palmer Land. The surveyors cation of the upstart 'Galinde; concentrated on extending a local at the Argentine Islands. S^- interest, which declined with th survey trig scheme during which closure of the Hope Bay dog track, they visited the McClary Glacier area and measured a tellurometcr line was revived by the inauguration of from Base to Ncny Island. a bob sleigh championship at Adel aide." HALLEY BAY On May 30 two Muskeg tractors PLANS FOR NEXT SEASON left base for the junction of the shelf and inland ice. Their object was to No projects have been pis establish a second auroral observa which depend upon air su] which means that work in the r tion point for parallactic photog of George IV Sound must be discon raphy. One tractor returned to base the next day but the other, towing a tinued. A reduced number of field ')le observation cabin, returned workers will be based on Stonington ;k later. A short trip was made Island to continue the geological .... „..e of the local Emperor penguin work on the east coast described above and to improve the detail in rookeries to check the population. the map of the area. Any support SIGNY ISLAND which the one remaining aeroplane Experiments on limpets appeared can give will, of course, be available. to reveal a direct relationship be- It will save a lot of hard slogging n migration and temperature laying depots and allow the scientists LfUL subsequent analysis of the re to stay longer on the job. sults seems to indicate that it is the The new tractors being sent to presence of ice rather than lower Halley Bay will be used to establish temperatures which is the main fac a route to the Theron Mountains so tor. A benthic plankton sampler was that detailed geological studies and designed and constructed at base. mapping may start. A somewhat con Two of the field huts on Signy servative approach has been adopted Island were re-provisioned. towards objectives until experience LIFE IN GENERAL has revealed the tractor's potentiali "The usual indoor winter mainten ties. ance tasks," reports the Survey, In other respects the Survey's pro "have been going on at all bases. gramme will be maintained at the Perhaps the most significant of these current level apart from the special was the completion of repairs on I.Q.S.Y. observations at Halley Bay the remaining Otter aeroplane at which will be discontinued. September, 1965

operations and although we caught SOUTH SANDWICH whiffs of sulphur fumes drifting down from Zavodovski's volcano, we ISLANDS failed to make a landing". Indeed, it was only by a "nightmare operation The "Geographical Magazine" (Eng with the 'choppers' flying to and fro land) for February 1965 contains an in very low visibility picking their interesting and well illustrated ac way over icebergs" that the party on count by Lieut.-Cdr. C. J. C. Wynne- Candlemass Island was brought Edwards, R.N., of a British Antarctic back to the ship. Survey expedition to the South Sandwich Islands last year. The group was discovered by Cook 190 T H E N E W " P R O T E C TO R " years ago and has been little visited since, except by whalers and sealers The new ice-breaking ship to re in the 19th century, whose visits were place the Ice Patrol Ship "Protector" in no way geared to exploration. will have a displacement of about Bellingshausen landed on some of 7,000 tons, a length of 260 ft., a beam the islands in 1819 but could not of 64 ft. and 30 ft. draft. Propulsion is to be diesel-electric driving twin work.carry out any significant exploratory screws. Survey boats and two heli copters are to be carried. The hull is The underwater volcanic eruption to be all welded and designed for early in 1963 stimulated the British breaking thick ice, and a stabilising Antarctic Survey to mount a full system is to be fitted to reduce roll scale expedition to the group in the ing although heeling tanks will be summer of 1963-64. A party of six installed to "rock" her free should scientists led by biologist Dr. she become wedged in ice. It can Martin Holdgate boarded "Protector" be assumed that the vessel will be at Port Stanley in the Falkland on the lines of the American "Wind" Islands on March 1, 1964. They were class ice-breakers. It is also thought equipped to study the geology, vol- that the Navy tradition of painting canology, botany and zoology of the their vessels grey will be discarded islands, and Lt.-Cdr. Wynne-Edwards in the case of the new ship and she was in charge of the survey work. will be painted red similar to that of the "Shackleton", "John Biscoe" and Members of the party were landed "Dan" ships. A test showed that an by helicopter (sometimes much in aircraft flying at 5,000 ft. could see a the precarious way also used by the red painted ship 20 miles away while Balleny Islands survey group whose a conventionally painted vessel was work is described in this and pre only visible four miles away. ceding issues of "Antarctic"), on Leskov Island (March 5), Candle- mass Island, where a base camp was set up "on level ground close to the terminal moraine of a glacier", Bell "ELTANIN" ingshausen Island, Thule Island, U.S.N.S. "Eltanin" has completed Cook Island (a first landing) and on two more cruises. Cruise 16, an Freezeland Rock off the western unusually fine, calm cruise, was coast of Bristol Island: the island planned primarily to check out the itself repulsed all attempts to land. new submarine geophysical equip The party on Candlemass Island ment, although biology, meteorology, was ashore from March 6 till the oceanography and upper atmosphere middle of the month, and made a physics were not neglected. careful study of the island, whose wild life included an "enormous" Cruise 17 saw thirty-six stations ' l rookery "with occupied along the 135° W and 95° W meridians and along the ice front hundreds of thousands of birds". between them. Special studies on the The two northern islands defied continental shelf and slope were all attempts to get ashore: "For three made off Valdivia, Chile, en route to days dense fog prevented all flying Valparaiso. September, 1965 ACTION ON U.S. HOME FRONT WHILE BASES HIBERNATE Changes in the administrative set-up of the United States Antarctic programme bulk more largely than reports af activities at the Antarctic stations themselves during the long winter night.

A wintering-over party of 290, un eau. We have established new der the command of Commander research stations in West Antarctica Jehu Blades, is maintaining research and on the Antarctic Peninsula. We and support activities in five United have completed geologic surveys of States Antarctic stations, with 39 most of the ice-free areas of West scientists and the remainder military Antarctica. We have photographed personnel. hundreds of thousands of square At Byrd Station are 28 men, at miles for mapping purposes. We are Eights 11, at Palmer 9, at the South conducting scientific programmes to Pole 21, and 220 at McMurdo. One study the unique physical and bio other United States representative is logical features of the area. spending the months of darkness "We are pioneering new concepts with the Russians at Mirny, biologist of operations on the ice. We intro George H. Meyer from the University duced nuclear power to Antarctic-!. of Texas, who is conducting micro Advanced construction technk,;. soften the rigours of polar life. biological studies, while, in exchange, a Russian from the Institute of Specialised aircraft and surface vehi cles enable us to reach any point " Geography of the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences, is working from Mc the continent, and to operate eLw. Murdo. tively when we get there." President Johnson stressed the HOME FRONT peaceful co-operation of 12 nations in the Antarctic as evidence how Stateside, the organisation of Ant nations of different outlooks can arctic activities, has been re-cast. An work together for peaceful purposes Antarctic Policy Group, established and mutual benefit and voiced the by direction of President Johnson hope that the same success in inter and comprising representatives of national co-operation would extend the International Organisation to every field of international Affairs, International Security Affairs endeavour. and the National Science Foundation, At the same time hearings on four will define United States policies in bills, introduced after the opening Antarctica, promulgate overall objec of the 89th Congress to establish the tives and review and approve plans Richard E. Byrd Antarctic Commis for activities and programmes. sion, began. Witnesses spoke of the Special importance is attached to the past achievements of the U.S. in Group's work as part of the Govern Antarctica and of future plans for ment s observance of the Inter not only American but international national Co-operation Year. endeavours there under the Antarctic After receiving the Group's first Treaty. progress report in May, President In June the United States Antarctic Johnson announced its establishment Projects Office was disestablished. and reviewed U.S. work, past and While Dr. James E. Mooney was present, in Antarctica. transferred to the Pentagon as "The United States today pursues Special Assistant on Antarctic mat a vigorous programme in Antarctica. ters to the Assistant Secretary of We have begun to explore the Defense, International Security Southern Ocean and the last great Affairs, the remaining members of unknown reaches of the Polar Plat the Projects Office were reconstituted September, 1965 to form the History and Research EIGHTS Division, U.S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica. The Division will con At Eights Station in Ellsworth tinue to maintain a workin; Land, the weather was cold but calm to exchange publications and to carry during the preceding two weeks. A out historical and informational new low temperature of minus 59°F functions. The new address for cor was recorded in the first week of June. respondence previously sent to the U.S. Projects Officer is: History & HOME SAUNA Research Division (70); U.S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica; Building The temperature fell to a record D; Sixth and Independence Ave., low of minus 113.2°F at the Pole S.W.; Washington, D.C., 20390, U.S.A. Station on July 21, but it did not prevent eight men from stepping out naked from a newly-constructed J U N E S TO R M S steam bath and rushing headlong outside — into snowdrifts. McMURDO The men had been relaxing in the Three storms battered McMurdo steam bath in a temperature of plus Station during the week ending June 119°F. 19. Winds were up to 80 knots and According to the officer in charge of the station (Dr. R. M. Beazley), visibility was reduced to zero. The the men were none the worse for temperature varied between zero and minus 25°. The station was not dam their 232° temperature change. The new record low temperature at aged and operations soon returned to about normal. the station was recorded at 11.45 a.m. The previous record was minus During the storms snow was piled 109.8°F established on July 14, 1963. high throughout the station. The last storm isolated a section at the site of the nuclear power plant for more PALMER STATION than 20 hours. There were sufficient Some six to seven weeks after men at the section to allow turns to U.S.N.S. "Wyandot" and U.S.S. be taken for rest and the continued "Edisto" landed the pioneers on maintenance of the plant. Anvers Island, and two weeks ahead of schedule, work on the construc POLE tion of the newest U.S. scientific At the same time at the Amundsen- station in Antarctica was completed Scott South Pole Station men were and on February 25 Palmer Station able to work outside again for the was officially declared open. first time in days. Many tons of Modification of the existing British accumulated snow was moved out of hut to a laboratory and construction the main tunnel. Men were also re of living quarters were accompanied ported busy on remodelling and by a survey of adjacent areas with redecorating the "Club 90 South" in a view to the possibility of conduct readiness for the mid-winter party. ing limited air operations to resupply For most of the preceding week the station in the future. Four navy there were clear skies although visi men, three glaciologists and two bility was at times reduced by ice biologists are wintering over at crystals. On June 10 the station Palmer Station, the biologists study experienced something of a heatwave ing the only permanent land-dwelling when the temperature rose to minus animals in Antarctica — insects and 33°F. The average low temperature related species as well as the lush at the South Pole was minus 83°F. (for Antarctica) plant life — algae, But late in June men were busy fungi, lichens, mosses, liverworts and shoring up the main thoroughfare of even three flowering plants, the most the station as the plywood bulwarks southerly in the world. were showing strain under the pres With glacial movement and the sure of accumulated snow on top. sources of ice accumulation and The average temperature at the wastage confined to Anvers Island, station last week ranged from minus glaciological study here will be made 45°F to minus 90°F. less complex. September, 1965

Division, which provides a five-week Oceanography, geology, meteor course in welding, arc and gas. Lec ology and studies in upper atmos turers in the school are the station s phere physics, seismology and geo three shipfitters. Other courses in magnetism are also expected to clude language study, with instruc profit from the work possible at Palmer Station. tion in Russian by the Soviet Exchange Scientist, and in German McMURDO and French by two Navy officers, as Hope is again deferred! well as another popular course, in This news item gave great delight personal and family financial man to our assistant editor. agement. No longer will the weaker sex be restricted to mere stop-overs on RUSSIAN COURSE return air flights to, and more em United States scientists and sailors phatically from, Antarctica. This very at the Antarctic McMurdo station year, 1965, will see the construction, for the winter are being taught Rus at McMurdo Station, of barrack sian by Dr. Igor Zotikov, a thermo- space for six female scientists. physicist from the Soviet Academy of This was revealed by an officer Sciences in Moscow. of the U.S. Navy Antarctic Base COOKS' DAY OFF at Harewood, N.Z., recently, at It was "galley appreciation day" at the annual dinner of the local branch McMurdo Station on Sunday, July 4. of the N.Z. Antarctic Society. For To celebrate, the cooks all had a day New Zealand, Mr. R. B. Thomson, off and the three officers and 23 men superintendent of the Antarctic Divi of the VX6 Squadron prepared meals sion, D.S.I.R., decried, in reply, any for the 220 servicemen and scientists suggestion that New Zealand, even at the station. The VX6 detachment taking a long-distance view, could be commander (Lieutenant-Commandei- planning any such revolutionary step, even though plenty of women were B. W. Johnson) cleaned the pots anc applying for consideration. pans. Highlight of the day was a But Swedish-Italian dinner at which the The report has been emphatically galley staff were guests of honour. denied by Admiral Bakutis. ICE PROBLEMS In a paper read to an Australian The report that the desalinisation architects' convention, Mr. Alan M. Brown, Senior Engineer of plant ran on waste steam from the nuclear power plant has now been A.N.A.R.E., states that the U.S. South amended. The steam is produced by Pole Station, which is built on boilers in the distillation building. A 8,800 feet of ice, is moving away from the Pole at a speed of 50 feet per regular watch is maintained during operation of the plant. year. The air-field on the floating Also maintained, during the opera ice-shelf at McMurdo, he says, moves tion of the Nuclear Power Plant, about a quarter of a mile per year whenever it is producing power for towards the open sea: one of the the station's electrical load, is a 4 ft. reasons why it must be moved "in land" to a new site every few years. by 16 ft. flashing red sign —"PM-3A". Several hundred feet up the slope of Observation Hill, this eye-catching signal emphasises the Unit's contri bution to the comfort and economi Major U.S. development for the cal running of the whole station. The coming season, it has been reported, reactor took over from the old gener will be the establishment of another ator operating on costly fuel oil on new Antarctic station, mid-way be March 31 and has a record of a 90% tween Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and the Belgian Queen Maud operating season. Land base. A logistic base for other expeditions into eastern Antarctica, Students at McMurdo's University this station was primarily intended of Antarctica may now enrol for yet to support the Pole-Roi Badouin four- another course, the Trades School year traverse. September, 1965

S C I E N C E O D D M E N T S minute dives a day were normally as much as they could manage with The world, no longer envisaged a out undue exhaustion. Their princi perfect sphere but known to be pal task was the observation and nearer pear-shaped, is yielding an collection of seaweeds, although col other secret to man. Using a satellite lecting specimens for other biologists tracking unit at McMurdo Sound, and inspecting the damaged propel- scientists from New Mexico State lor of an ice-breaker were also under University are measuring the chang taken. ing shapes of satellite orbits to map Dr. Zaneveld, who hopes to dis the exact shape of our globe. cover the types, location, extent and Variations in the strength of the growing patterns of Antarctic sea earth's gravity field reflect variations weeds, had alrea ' ' '' in the shape of the earth itself and of red seaweed can grow m semi- are themselves indicated by the satel darkness under several feet of ice. lite orbits. The shape of the world Such beds were found in abundance affects mapping, geophysical pro on the sloping rocky botto cesses within the earth and, of by the divers, fi course, the fate and value of future satellite orbits. mergence throu Further use of the data being col breathing holes. lected by this group is to enable cal THE UNFINISHED MAP culation of the precise latitude and longitude of the tracking station, Antarctic men have long pondered which will then be usable as a refer the possibility of an ice-filled strait ence for establishing accurate co linking the Ross Sea and the Wed ordinates of other points on the con dell Sea. Surface traverses and air tinent. Three satellites at present observations in recent years seem to passing near McMurdo a total of 42 have proved conclusively that no times a day are being observed, and such frozen water-way exists. Dr. T. will be for some 14 months before 0. Jones, Head of the United States observers cease operations. This pro Office of Antarctic Programs, states ject, along with a Stanford Univer categorically, "no 'Channel' below sity observation post at Byrd Station, sea level connects the Ross and Wed is the first to utilise orbiting satellites dell Seas". The Heritage Range, the to assist U.S. Antarctic Research. Ellsworth Mountains and the Horlick Mountains completely bar the way. Not long ago such a conclusion FROGMEN would have seemed to be definite The waters of the Ross Sea below proof that the Antarctic is one great the ice have for the first time yielded continent. However, the probing of some of their secrets to man. A team the ice-cap in recent years by seismic of underwater explorers, Dr. Jacques sounding and radio altimetry has S. Zaneveld and two graduate stu disclosed that much of the earth's dents, all from Old Dominion College, surface beneath the ice of West Ant Norfolk, Va., spent the last summer arctica (the area, north of a line season working under the ice of joining the Ross and Weddell Seas, most of the accessible points along which terminates in the Antarctic the 350-mile western coast of the Peninsula) is below sea level, and Ross Sea, and from several island that ice filled fjords extending far shores in the Ross Sea and Antarctic inland from the Amundsen and Bell Ocean. ingshausen Seas (between the Ross Wearing black rubber "frog man" Sea and the Weddell Sea) make the suits, the two students, James M. northern part of West Antarctica Curtis and Jack K. Fletcher, dived west of the Antarctic Peninsula an into the 29° brine, which immedi archipelago, a vast group of moun ately flooded their suits. Within a few tainous islands hidden beneath the moments, the water in the suits ice. warmed enough to allow them a The true picture of the Antarctic's maximum of 45 minutes under the sub-glacial topography has obviously water, although two or three 15- still to be revealed. September, 1965

PERSONAL ing and Readiness Officer on the Staff With full honours at the Washing of Commander Air Force, Pacific and ton Navy Yard Annex, Washington, many other operational posts. D.C., Rear Admiral Fred E. Bakutis, U.S.N., relieved Rear Admiral James VETERAN PASSES R. Reedy, U.S.N., as Commander, U.S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica. Veteran Antarctic explorer, Retired Marine Corps Major Vernon Davis REEDY Boyd, who served with the late Rear Admiral Reedy, who assumed Admiral Byrd on some of his Antarc command of the support force at tic expeditions, died in California in a historic ceremony at Amundsen- May, 1965. He had served in the Scott South Pole Station in Novem Navy from 1926 to 1930, and the ber 26, 1962, has seen during his Marine Corps 1942 to 1955. tenure of the position the construc A machinist on the second Byrd tion of Eights and Palmer Stations, Antarctic expedition of 1933-35, the installation of the distillation Major Boyd was a master mechanic plant, Antarctica's first completed on the 1939-41 U.S. Antarctic Service road and the new ship docking Expedition; a Marine Corps Captain facility at McMurdo. He also in Operation High Jump (194647); pioneered two previously-unflown air and in Operation Windmill the fol routes, one from Cape Town to Mc lowing season he was Transportation Murdo, the other from Melbourne, Officer. He did not join Operation via the South Pole, to Byrd. Deep Freeze I, although he partici At the handing-over ceremony, pated in its planning. He was also a Rear Admiral Reedy was presented veteran Arctic explorer. with the Legion of Merit for his per formance while commanding the sup port force and he has also been AUSTRALIA — MAGNETIC POLE awarded the Navy League's Decatur Some 20 Australian scientists and Award for Operational Competence. a few newsmen had a real field day BAKUTIS in June when invitations reached Rear Admiral Bakutis has a dis them from the U.S. Air Force to tinguished record in naval aviation sit-in on a flight from Avalon, Vic as well as administration. Executive toria, to the Antarctic by two long- Officer of Fighting Squadron 16 in range C-135 jets, the military equiva 1942 aboard U.S.S. "Lexington", he lents of the Boeing 707. later assumed command of a similar After cruising above the Pacific for squadron of Hellcats, VF-20, aboard a week observing the solar eclipse, U.S.S. "Enterprise". During his war the two aircraft, each equipped with service he participated in strikes on some £3m worth of scientific appara the Bonins, Yap, Palau, the Philip tus, made a six-hour return flight to pines, Formosa and Okinawa; was the Antarctic. shot clown by a Japanese destroyer During the flight, Australian Dr. and adrift for seven days. A Navy Farrands and American scientists Ace, he is credited with 11 planes measured cosmic radiation in the destroyed, as well as much damage vicinity of the Magnetic South Pole, to shipping, grounded aircraft and electro-magnetic phenomena arising installations, and was awarded the from the earth's magnetic field and Navy Cross, Legion of Merit with high-energy gamma radiation from Combat "V", Distinguished Flying outer space. Cross with Gold Star in lieu of a The scientists also used special second, Bronze Star Medal with equipment to study and photograph Combat "V", with the Air Medal and stars in the clear Polar atmosphere. six Gold Stars in lieu of additional Comparison with the last such awards. readings, taken some ten years be His post-war positions include fore, would reveal any alteration in Group Commander, Carrier Air the density during that period. Tests Groups ONE and FIVE, service in were also to be made in more nor Korean waters as Executive Officer thern regions on the planes' home of U.S.S. "Valley Forge", Air Train ward flignt. September, 1965

JAPANESE PLANS other pelagic, meteorological, cosmic ray and terrestrial magnetism MORE ABOUT "FUJI" measuring instruments. The "Fuji" is a floating research institute. The "Fuji" (see June issue, p. 80) is The Defence Agency will carry out the first Japanese ship specifically training in the take-off and landing constructed for Antarctic observa of helicopters on the ship's special tion purposes. Since it will have to deck as well as training for long make a voyage to the Antarctic alone voyages. Equipment will be taken on and act as an ice-breaker, transport board in October and the ship will equipment and land it on Ongul start on its voyage to the Antarctic Island and then engage in various about the middle of November, car observation activities, the ship is rying 400 tons of food, fuel and equipped with every conceivable instruments for Showa Base as well apparatus and device needed to as 42 members of the land party and achieve its goals. 182 crew members. The "Fuji" is 100 m. long, 22 m. wide (328 ft. by 72 ft.) with a dis Japan first participated in Antarc placement of 7,760 tons, a maximum tic observations in 1956 when an speed of 17 knots and a cruising ob.servalion team landed on Ongul power of 15,000 nautical miles. It Island and established its Showa can carry a total of 235 men. The Base. The team spent a winter on the ship is equipped with a 11,900 h.p. island that year. Since that time diesel engine of the electric accelera Japan has sent six observation teams, tion type enabling it to move and with a total complement of 299 men, reverse direction quickly. The to the Antarctic. engine can be controlled from four Observations by Japan were tem places in the ship. poral! ly suspended in February, 1962, "Fuji" is also equipped with U-pipe but are scheduled to resume this type anti-rolling tanks to counter year. rolline. These tanks are claimed to be the first in the world to be in The generator hut to be erected by stalled in an observation ship. The the 1966 expedition has been designed tanks will reduce rolling by one- by the building and construction third. firm Takenaka Komuten Co. Ltd. It The ship's ice-breaking power is will contain two sets of 45 kw gener tremendous. It can crush ice floes up ators. to 2.5 m. (8 ft. 2 in.) thick. It can Constructed of aluminium panels, also force its way through ice floes the hut has a floor space of 740.5 up to 6 m. (20 ft.) thick. square feet and in addition to the Three large-type helicopters will generators will accommodate addi transport the cargo from the ship to tional accessory equipment, a dark Showa Base, moving 24 persons or room and a bathroom. four tons of equipment at a time. "Fuji" will call at Fremantle, Wes There is a take-off and landing deck tern Australia, on her maiden voyage as well as a hangar on the ship. to the Antarctic. "Fuji" has elevators, four cranes, fork lifts and conveyors in order to DEFLATED EGO make it possible to transfer the Dr. Phillip Law, Director of equipment to the base in the A.N.A.R.E., recently slated today's shortest possible time. Australians for "softness". An Austra The ship itself is equipped with lian newspaper sought the views of various types of observation instru a number or young men and women ments which will enable the men to on the point and among the pub make observations from the ship and lished replies is the following by gather valuable data during the voy an attractive-looking 22-year-old girl age. teacher from Sydney: Included among the instruments "What does Dr. Law mean by are sonar, radio sonde, mud-and- the word soft? Going to the Ant water-gathering instruments and arctic doesn't prove you're a man." September, 1965 NEWS FROM THE SUB-ANTARCTIC

MARION ISLAND onlv Frincc Edward Island seems to be looming up through the mist on (S.Africa) the horizon." Sciocatti sent the following report for May: GOUGH ISLAND "So far this month we have had On Gough Island the men had their six days of snow but no heavy falls first snowfall on June 9. The moun occurred. The lowest sea-level pres tain peaks were all covered in snow sure ever experienced by most of us, and created a picturesque scene viz., 968.9 mbs, was recorded during against the dark background. the month. Elephant seals have made their "With most of our supplies stored appearance on the island and gave and unpacked, more time is now at least one of the men the fright of available for walks inland and along his life when he unsuspectingly the coast. During two exceptionally almost bumped into one of the bulls. clear days with lots of sunshine and Fishing is good and rock lobster no cloud or wind, our cameras really have also been caught. worked overtime. "The biologists are not very M A C Q U A R I E I S L A N D pleased with the frequent spells of bad weather that sometimes last for (Australia) days, keeping them from doing their We are indebted to the monthly research which is done mostly in "Newsletter" of the Australian Ant the field." arctic Division for the following description by Leader Bruce Ellwood IDYLLIC JUNE of the Macquarie Island Station Apart from the excellent meal and and its work. gay celebration afterwards on Mid Macquarie Island, situated at 54° winter's Day, June was quite un 30' S, 158° 17' E, is 22 miles long eventful, with very little snow, lovely and three miles wide. For approxi sunshine and a few days with strong mately 19 miles of the length of the winds. With a high pressure area island there is the plateau, about stationary in the area for a few clays, 800 feet above sea level. The station calm winds were measured in the is situated on an isthmus, about 20 upper air. feet above sea level, on the northern The Gentoo penguins were also end of the island. There are no trees nesting now so that the coastline did here but much of the island is cov not look as completely desolate as ered by tussock grass, Kerguelen or a few weeks ago. Macquarie cabbage and various mosses. Twenty-nine species of birds ANOTHER STORY and two species of seal breed here, Compared with June, there was a the seals being the Sea Elephant and remarkable change in the weather the Fur Seal. During the 19th century during July. On the average it was the latter were wiped out by sealers a much windier month. The maxi taking skins, and the Sea Eelephant mum hourly wind was 34 knots SW population was seriously depleted by with a maximum gust of 55 knots. their being killed for oil. The seal All upper air soundings were never population is now on the increase theless done. Pressure varied from with a count in February showing a maximum of 1032.5 mbs to a mini over 700 fur seals and, in the breed mum of 979.6 mbs. Snow occurred on ing season, approximately 11,000 Sea 10 clays. Elephants. In a wistful final sentence, Scio Of the birdlife here, the most catti reported: numerous is the Royal Penguin with "Since we have been here for four one rookery at Hurd Point holding months now, we already are looking up to one million birds. Along with forward to seeing ships but somehow a number of other birds. Royal and September, 1965

Rockhopper penguins migrate from 21 Vi hours of sunshine; highest wind the island during the winter, while speed, 86 m.p.h. Gentoo and King penguins remain. The weather at the island is usually "Working on the Plateau during wet and overcast, with temperatures the freezing weather, both Jenkins ranging from 16° to 55°F. Strong and Simpson had their beards frozen, winds and heavy seas usually pound so Bryden and Dart shaved theirs off. ing the west coast have been the The change had so much effect on reason for so many ships being the remainder of the party that all wrecked here. other beards were left on." "Mid-winter's Day, the hardest SCIENTIFIC WORK worked man at the station was chef Ted Giddings. The magnificent six- The main purpose of the station is course dinner would certainly not to make scientihc observations, and have been out of place were our this year we are recording weather, mess the Waldorf Astoria. Just to earthquakes, ozone (condensed oxy mention a few items on the menu: gen) and tide measurements. We are Crayfish Newburg, Carpetbag steak also tracking satellites, photograph with mushrooms, Bombe Alaska. The ing the aurora, studying botany and centrepiece of the buffet was a huge the life cycle of Elephant seals and cake forming a relief of the island. penguins. This programme necessi Table decorations were enhanced by tates buildings, power, light, cook menu-serviette holders carved from ing, communications and, of course, wood in the shape of Gentoo pen somebody to look after the general health. Consequently, in all cases guins carved and painted by Pocock. there is a specialist in each field who "The evening brought out many can, with assistance from others in budding entertainers. Next morning the party, keep the work going. Lim expected a rush on stomach Recreational activities include the powders, etc., after excessive eating, usual table games, such as snooker, but he was pleasantly surprised to pingpong, cards, etc., with films once have no natients. The mid-winter or twice weekly, but radio also plays magazine was an immense success." quite a big part in this. Friday night's "Calling Antarctica" on Radio Aus In July, Simpson gave a lecture on tralia has a 100 per cent, following geology, earthquakes, etc. Much listening for messages and records thought was given to his remarks at from family and friends at home. the time, but many probably forgot This programme is ably presented by about it over the next few days. On Norma Ferris. During May, the August 2, at 11.20 p.m., thoughts A.B.C's Russ Tyson broadcast a immediately went back to his lecture special programme for us on his after two tremors severely shook the "Hospital" half-hour. As can be station. Most of the party were in imagined, this was heartily appreci bed and on leaping out to the floor ated by all. found that it was hard to keep bal Weather details over May follow: ance. One even complained of symp Highest temperature 44.8°F, lowest toms of seasickness. After developing 30°; highest wind speed 79 m.p.h. the seismograph trace, Sutton There was rain or snow on 28 days showed that there were 20 tremors and a total of 25.2 hours of sunshine. between 11.20 p.m. and 9.30 a.m. the "Recent news over the radio about following morning. Top song on the the cold snap back home," said Ell local hit parade is now "Shaking all wood at the end of June, "has many over". of us thinking that perhaps this is Anxiously awaiting the arrival of becoming a south sea island paradise some wandering birds and animals of sorts. Perhaps some of you will arc Bryden, who is hoping to take a agree, after reading our weather five-Ion elephant seal specimen, and information for the past month: Dart, who is carrying on the skua ':'Lowest temperature 24.8°F, studies. highest 45°; rain or snow on 28 days, Whilst awaiting good weather for with a total of 275 points of rain; the new aerials to be erected, Jack- September, 1965 son and Bishop wielded paint brushes; it is hoped to finish paint ing by September. Pocock made a storm caused temporary havoc in the trip to Caroline Cove to dismantle aerial farm. The wind reached a a hut and begin transferring it to a maximum 98 knots and was bitterly new site some miles away. Once cold. It says much for the design again the usual bad weather and and construction of the station that shortage of time stopped the job's we can withstand such fierce winds completion. Jenkins is probably one and suffer relatively little damage. of the few who will not have to Mid-winter's Day was the social worry about waist line, with his highlight of these last three months. many trips to the plateau carrying Great credit must go to Chef Gordon instruments, etc., weighing up to Surrey for turning on another gastro- 1001b., and carrying this weight up nomical masterpiece. Genuine Rus a steep 800 ft. hill. sian caviar, a variety of Californian Weather information for July: wines and the choicest New Zealand highest temperature 43.8°F, lowest foods made for a memorable meal. 29.3°; maximum wind speed 71 We heard from Macquarie Island m.p.h\; 35 hours of sunshine, and rain or snow on 27 days. recently that their biologists are planning to "knock off" the biggest WILL MACQUARIE BE beachmaster bull telcphant seal to BLOWN AWAY ? take up residence this spring as part of their scientific programme. One Two scientists said in Melbourne of the projects is to get the accurate in June that rabbits were eating the weight of one of these giants. So we island bare of vegetation and expos are running a competition between ing soil and rocks to rapid erosion. the two islands to see who will be Dr. P. G. Law, of the Antarctic closest in guessing the correct weight. division of External Affairs Depart A game of chess is also going on with ment, said: "There mightn't be any Macquarie — one move each per Macquarie Island left in 50 years. week. Next year's expedition may "Rabbits have eaten out much of have to finish it off. the natural vegetation, and in parts erosion has got through the top soil We would like to take this oppor and reached gravel." tunity of congratulating former Rabbits were taken to the island Campbell Islander Bob Thomson on so that shipwrecked survivors would his appointment as Superintendent not starve. of N.Z. Antarctic Division, a most Dr. Law said a major programme fitting climax to an outstanding Ant was needed to protect the island, but arctic record. there was disagreement on how to go about it. Next year's party, which will be taking up residence in October, is a CAMPBELL ISLAND mixture of old and new hands. "They keep coming back." The line-up is as (New Zealand) follows: (Received from the Officer-in-Charge, Colin Clark) Officer-in-Charge: Don Nightingale. We have had a busy time on Camp Senior Meteorological Observers: bell Island since our last report. As Ron Craig*, John Squibb. any psychologist will tell you, that is Meteorological Observers: Dave the best way to ward off those old Paull*, David Shone, Anthony "sub-Antarctic blues". Pretty well all Bromley. the buildings that can be painted Ionosphere Observer: Douglas Leigh. have now made acquaintance with Telecommunications Technician: bright new colours and the station Warwick Fergusson. is beginning to look quite a picture. Mechanic: Alan Guard. Our winter weather has been a Electronic Technician: Peter Hughes. mixture of good and bad, but mostly Chef: Gordon Surrey. bad. In June we had the ludicrously * Coming off island last transport low figure of 3.9 hours of sunshine, February. September, 1965 Whaling Nations Still Reluctant To Reduce Quotas Despite ominous and repeated warnings that whale stocks in Antarctic waters will very shortly be reduced to a level which will make whaling uneconomic unless killing is drastically curtailed, the June meeting of the Whaling Commission seems to have made little progress towards any effective joint action. At the International Whaling Com The Commission agreed to the mission last year it was recom 4,500 unit limit, with stricter cuts mended that the catch be limited to to follow, but no pronouncement has 4,000 blue whale units and Japan apparently been made on the vexed was allocated 52% of the total, Nor quota question. The killing of whales way 28% and the U.S.S.R. 20%, but in the Pacific north of the equator the total catch figure remained at has been forbidden, for 1966 in the 8,000, and the season ended without case of humpback whales, and for any quota agreement being reached. five years from 1966 in the case of In point of fact the whalers were, blue whales. for the first time, unable to reach To the great relief of Australian their own proposed catch figure, an land-based whaling interests, the indication of the truth of the bio Commission also agreed to forbid logists' warning that at the current using whale catchers attached to a rate of slaughter whaling will soon factory ship for the killing of sperm no longer be worthwhile. whales between 40°S and 40°N. It is A private emergency conference of reported that seven countries sup the "whaling nations", Japan, Nor ported this Australian proposal, but way and the Soviet Union, was held Japan and the Soviet Union opposed in May in an effort to reach agree it. The decision, to be effective, must ment on a cut in the annual catch. be ratified by the seven Governments Prior to this year's full meeting of concerned. the Commission spokesmen for wild life conservation bodies (including It is reported, however, that Japan Peter Scott, as chairman of the will send only five fleets to the Ant World Wildlife Fund) urged the arctic for the 1965-66 season. The main users of whale products to usual number recently has been switch to substitutes wherever pos seven. This presumably reflects the sible until the world's whale popula reduction of the total permissible tion returns to a more self sustaining catch from 8,000 to 4,500 blue whale basis. units. A five nation private meeting was The proposal to place independent also held involving the three whaling observers on whaling fleets has ap nations as well as the United King parently again been scotched. dom and the Netherlands. HARD WORDS WITH LITTLE SUCCESS So the death of a vast industry The 17th annual meeting of the 17 seems to be looming ever nearer. As nation Commission began in London a writer in the N.S.W. Financial Re on June 28 with the quota for the view caustically puts it: 1965-66 season tentatively fixed at 4,500 blue whale units, which is 50% "Whale are very short-sighted", but above the figure recommended for "it is not their own lack of vision this season by the Commission's which threatens them but that of the Scientific Committee. Only 14 of the industry which surrounds them". 17 member nations were represent Or in the words of a less restrained ed : Brazil, Mexico and Panama were observer: At the Whaling Commis absent. sion "Commercial greed sank to a September, 1965

THE SEASON'S CATCH 'ANTARCTICA' The important new work on An 1964-65 tarctic Research produced by the We are indebted to Norsk Plval- New Zealand Antarctic Society and edited by Dr. Trevor Hathcrton will fangst-Tidende for the following stat be on sale about the end of Septem istics of pelagic whaling during the ber. (See review in "Antarctic' 1964-65 season. March 1965, p. 50). "Antarctica", a very handsome Blue Whale Units production, is being "published in Permissible catch, 8,000 units. America by Pracgar, in New Zea A blue whale unit represents 1 land by Reed, and in the rest of the blue whale, or 2 fins, or 6 seis. world by Methuen. N o r w a y ( 4 e x p d n s . ) 1 , 2 7 3 Japan (7 expdns.) 4,125 INDEX Soviet Union (4 expdns.) 1,586 " A N TA R C T I C " V O L U M E 3 Total 6,984 1962-1964 Now available — price 3/-. In 1954-55, 10 years ago, the per ror unnorrn duuaiuj missible catch was 15,500 blue whale issues and index to units! EXPRESS BINDING SERVICE, Species Caught N. J. Sow Total P.O. Box 3428 — Wellington. B l u e - - 1 9 1 9 Price for Binding — 15/-. F i n 7 0 1 4 , 7 8 0 1 , 8 2 4 7 , 3 0 5 Sei 5,506 10,402 3,937 19,845 WANTED URGENTLY Sperm 1,617 3,071 4,132 8,820 Will any reader who has a copy of "Antarctic", Vol. 3, No. 5, March 1963, 7,824 18,253 9,903 35,989 which can be spared, please forward it to the editor. (This issue has for IN RECENT YEARS its cover-picture a photograph of The catastrophic fall in the blue mother and baby seals.) We are un whale catch is only partly explained able to supply the demand for this by the restrictions imposed on the catch of this species. The rapid steady fall is significant. "The great ROYAL SOCIETY POST increase in the catch of sei whales is due to the fact that the expedi Mr. G. W. Markham, who retired tions have, owing to the fall-off in recently from the post of Superinten the catch of fin whales, concentrated dent, Antarctic Division, Department their activity on the fields where of Scientific and Industrial Research, occurrences of sei whales are larg has been appointed as the first full- est." The sperm whale catch is not time executive officer of the Royal included in this table. Society of New Zealand. Increasing activities in many scien Season Blue Fin Sei tific fields had brought considerable 1960-61 1,740 27,374 4,310 executive duties to the societies' 1961-62 1,118 26,438 4,749 elected officers in recent years, said 1962-63 . 947 18,668 5,503 Dr. Fleming, the Society's President. 1963-64 112 13,870 8,286 Mr. Markham, who would commence 1964-65 19 7,305 19,845 his new duties in about four months, would carry out this work, and the considerable future expansion of activity planned by the society. new low of arrogant, myopic stupid Mr. Markham will bring to the ity. . . . For the sake of short-term society a considerable experience in profit they threaten an irreplaceable the administration, organisation and world heritage." promotion of scientific research. September, 1965

lour Islands. Weddell seals haul out ANTARCTIC STATIONS to pup around the islands in Sep tember and in the summer many large pods of Crabeater seals may THE ARGENTINE ISLANDS be seen basking on ice floes or swim ming around in hundreds feeding Although this is not the oldest con on surface krill. tinuously occupied British Base, it The islands were discovered by has had a long run and is important Dr. J. B. Charcot during his "Ant scientifically. There are many inter arctic" expedition of 1903-5. He esting features about the Argentine named them in appreciation of the Islands, not the least of which is help he had been given by the Ar their reputation for fine weather gentine Government. What a pity he which is why the area is commonly never thought of wintering there, called 'the banana belt'. Those who either then or later on his "Pourquoi winter there can usually be relied Pas" expedition of 1910-12. His ships upon to appear on board the first could have been securely moored in relief ship looking fit and well fed one of the creeks without any of the and wearing a golden tan. troubles he had with drifting ice bergs at Booth Island and Peterman The Argentine Islands are about Island. Though only a few miles 180 in number, of which only 11 are further south, he would certainly more than half a mile long. They have experienced better weather and lie in latitude 65° 14' S, longitude perhaps have made more extensive 64° 15' W, some five miles off the journeys into Graham Land over west coast of Graham Land. The firmer sea ice in the winter. group on which the base is situated It was left to John Rymill of the consists of three of the larger islands British Graham Land expedition, (Skua, Winter and Galindez). These 1934-37, to discover the value of the are set very close together, none of Argentine Islands as a place to build the dividing creeks being more than a base and moor his ship, the "Pen- one hundred yards wide. The major ola", for the winter. ity of the islands are low lying and The expedition hut was built on a are snow free in summer but the sheltered spit of Winter Island at largest have permanent ice caps and the junction of the three creeks. an elevation between 100 and 200 From Rymill's point of view this was feet. These ice caps are peculiar in an ideal site for a hut and it was that they rise gently from the north close to the tiny cove in which he and terminate abruptly in ice cliffs moored the "Penola". There was of up to 100 feet high in the south. ample snow for the dog spans and An explanation suggested by the enough flat sea ice from which to fly British Graham Land Expedition his light aeroplane. was that they are remnants of the continental ice cap. Others contend During 1935 the B.G.L.E. accom that they are merely the result of plished some valuable scientific the accumulation of drift snow in work. They were fortunate in having the lee of high rock. Geologically good winter ice and ran topographic the islands are composed of mainly and geological surveys, down the Graham Land coast to Cape Everson, Upper Jurassic volcanics. There is a good deal of exposed rock and in thus disproving the existence of summer bright green patches of Crane Channel in latitude 65° 20' S. moss provide a welcome relief from (When, later, they disproved the ex grey, black and white. On Galindez istence of Casey and Lurabee Chan Island a large area of moss has nels they finally disposed of the formed deep deposits of fibrous peat theory that the Antarctic Peninsula in which Wilson's Petrels burrow to was an archipelago.) make their nests. Other breeding The area abounds in wild life and birds are Skuas, Dominican Gulls so very useful biological work on and Shags and there is an Adelie seals and birds was clone. penguin colony on the nearby Jal- There is no record of anyone visit- September, 1965

B.A.S. photo.

1936 and February 1942 when a ship the seoc' of the Argentine Navy called to leave marks of sovereignty. These were found by Surgeon Commander E. W. Bineham, R.N., leader of the Falk land Islands Dependencies Survey Base 'F', as it was then called, re when he called on 19th February mained in existence on this site 1946, in M.V. "Trepassey" to inspect until 1954 when, early in the year, a the hut. For him, as a member of new base was erected on Marina British Graham Land Expedition, Point, Galindez Island. The new site the visit was nostalgic and he was had three main advantages over the pleased to find the hut in good con old. Firstly, there was more room dition. Imagine his surprise there for the huts and equipment required fore when almost a year later, at for upper air observations. Secondly, Stonington Island, he received a re there was a better exposure for port that "Trepassey" had called at meteorology. Thirdly, it was far the Argentine Islands with the in easier to re-supply, being close to a tention of installing a party there, sheltered anchorage in Meek Chan only to find that the hut had com nel (ships have even tied up along pletely disappeared. There were side a steep rock face of the shore). signs to suggest it had been washed Since that time, spurred on by the away by a tidal wave. For some I.G.Y., there has been a considerable reason or other it was thought to be expansion in the scientific pro necessary to build a new base on gramme and in the size of the base. the same site and a few men were The disciplines now include ozono- accordingly left ashore on 8th Janu melry, solar radiation, seismology ary 1947 to start work. Using timber and ionospherics and upper air brought down for general use they winds are measured by radar. The built a small shed in which they base has a permanent staff of 15 lived until the materials for a small September, 1965 HOVERCRAFT IN ANTARCTICA by J. R. Green* The Antarctic is a difficult place to freight. A large amount of passenger get to because of sea ice. Once there, space is unlikely to be required travelling over snow and ice presents within the near future nor is passen a number of problems. ger comfort important. This brings No conventional form of transport us to the question of size. It is has yet proved capable of achieving likely that more than one type and the same degree of mobility that one size of A.C.V. will be called for de expects and gets elsewhere. Obvious pending on the nature of the task. 1ly the r,od aeroplane the range has considerably and scope ex- of As far as the British Antarctic Survey is concerned — and many •ctic activity in general but its other expeditions too—there are use is limited and its maintenance three sorts of task: expensive. What we want is some thing which can travel over land and (a) Bulk deliveries of cargo to the sea, which can ignore the nature of coast the surface and yet remain in con (b) Consignments of stores to main tact with it. The answer seems to lie tain inland stations in the Air Cushion Vehicle (A.C.V.) (c) Carrying supplies for scientific or Hovercraft. traverses. At first it was thought the A.C.V. would not be much use because it Discounting the small amount of could not clear obstacles higher than cargo which can be delivered by about 1 foot (e.g. SR. NL). A sub inter-continental air services, the stantial improvement resulted, how first task will involve ships and it is ever, from the introduction of the not conceivable at present to replace flexible skirt. The SR.N5, for in them with A.C.V.'s. However, a ship stance, can now clear solid obstacles can be held up as much as 200 miles of about 4 feet and waves between from its destination by pack ice and 6 and 8 feet. This opens the way for perhaps 50 miles by fast ice. The an A.C.V. to "step up" from the sea situation will normally improve with to pack or fast ice since sea ice (as time but not always completely. Be distinct from ice shelf) which has cause time is valuable and success not been under pressure, rarely ought to be assured ice breakers are stands more than 3 feet above the often employed at least to break fast surface. Once on the higher level of ice. Alternatively ships will be held the ice any protruberance above 4 back until optimum conditions are feet can often be avoided without likely to obtain. This causes delay undue deviation. On land gradients and may not result in success. It is may be steep and deformation of the slow work even with an ice breaker snow surface will be encountered. which costs a lot to build and run The most prevalent of these are sas- and has no worthwhile cargo capa trugi which may be 5 feet high or city. crevasses which may be anything What we need here, then, to ferry from 1 to 50 feet wide, either bridged cargo over the ice is the largest or open. Routes which may be nego A.C.V. currently in production. The tiable by an A.C.V. may' therefore Westland SRN 4 with a payload of be restricted but to what extent is about 65 tons is a good example. hard to say. It seems likely that it It has a range of about 1,500 miles can be adapted to surmount some with extra fuel tanks, a cruising of the apparent difficulties. speed of 80 knots in calm conditions In looking for something which and can traverse waves up to 12 feet can travel relatively freely over sea. in height at 30 knots. An unsup floating ice and snow covered land ported journey from South America we are concerned mainly with to Graham Land in 12 hours is clear ly within its capability especially if * Operations Officer, British Antarctic Survey. a fine day is chosen. For a journey September, 1965 of 2,000 miles taking, say 36 hours, Bridged crevasses would appear to it could refuel from a ship stationed pose less of a problem even if the half way. If bad weather unexpect bridges collapse under pressure. Sas- edly develops it can sit on the sea trugi may prove to be the most diffi and ride it out. Using the SRN 4, a cult obstacles to negotiate. small ship carrying 1,000 tons of There is undoubtedly a future for cargo could be discharged over 200 A.C.V.'s in Antarctica. The sooner miles of pack and fast ice in 3 days. they are put to the test the better. To maintain an inland station of the size and distance from the coast ANYTHING IN NAMES? of Byrd or the South Pole would In our March issue we noticed that probably require a vehicle of the one of the weather observers to be size of the SRN 4 for the job to be stationed at Wilkes this year is Mark done effectively. Smaller stations J. Forecast. may not require anything larger than the SRN 5 with a 2 ton payload; Mr. John Milne, Obscrver-in- a lot depends on the distance. Chargc, Apia Observatory, Western Samoa, points out that with the As for scientific traverses the SRN A.N.A.R.E. expedition on Macquarie 5 is clearly the sort of A.C.V. which Island in 1961 the meteorological will prove suitable and it may there Observcr-in-Charge was Reginald J. fore serve a dual purpose. Its leading Frost. particulars are: Power rating: 900 h.p. AIRSHIPS AGAIN? Maximum speed A Leningrad institute has started design work on an airship intended 0.5 ft. skirt clearance: 70 knots. for use in agriculture. The designers Maximum speed believe that air-ships would reduce 0.75ft. skirt clearance: 57 knots. costs to a fifth of that of ordinary aircraft and to a twelfth of that of Gradient helicopters. 1:6 slope: hover The discussion started with a let 1:3 slope: climb 50 yards with 23 ter to "Izvestia" last year in which kt. initial velocity a group of engineers suggested that Obstacle clearance dirigibles were now a safe and eco Vertical obstruction: 3.5 feet nomic proposition, thanks to the Earth banks: 5 feet availability of inert helium in place of the dangerous and highly inflam Range: 240 nautical miles with 3.300 mable hydrogen gas previously used. lbs. payload There are also now much lighter and stronger materials available for Endurance: 3.5 hours harness and gondolas. It seems that the SRN 5 has a rea Airships could deliver complete sonable performance on gradients. intricate, heavy pieces of equipment For traversing slopes it might put which now have to be dismantled down some sort of keel. Slopes be and reassembled on the site. yond its capability might be over come by winching". In any event it In the discussion Soviet polar ex seems desirable to have the vehicle plorers declared that airships would mounted on skis to support it clear be particularly handy in the Arctic, of the snow and to permit manoeuv where they could land exploring ring at rest. If it can run on skis on parties and cargoes in places in smooth flat surfaces, fuel might be accessible to ordinary aircraft. saved. Its performance over cre So over 60 years after Scott's first vasses is unknown but with a vehicle air-view of the Antarctic, at Balloon 30 feet long most open crevasses Bight in the Ross Ice Shelf on could be bridged even if lift is lost February 4, 1902, perhaps lighter which seems unlikely if sufficient than air aircraft may again be seen momentum can be maintained. in the Antarctic skies. September, 1965 STONE FROM THE DRY VALLEYS

You send me this stone, From the uttermost ends of the earth, From Antarctica. From the depths of the night When the sun comes no more, And where men are as seals Plunged deep in a world Dim, 'neath its pack-ice of stars, Where their long winter lives Turn in the gyre of the darkness: Where the hyena voiced winds Howl the half empty camp, Savage to lick skin from an ear, A cheek or a hand. In that land Men return further back into time Than legends or gods, Further than pot shards, And the strange incantations Of their own nation's birth. Before then, lay this stone In the dry valleys, lost to time, Tongued by the wild beasts, The many, onsetting gales That slip-stream from a wilderness; Till it changed to a frond or a leaf Or the wing of a bird. Refined by eons of torture, Nothing so lovely, esthetic, So blizzard-honed Has lain in my hand. What a message is sent me In this ravaged and eloquent stone. For so, their hearts suffer Beset in her solitude Men who love her, Antarctica.

Alison Sanson Hokitika September, 1965

ANTARCTIC BOOKSHELF

ANTARCTIC GEOLOGY. Proceed ture and correlation of the forma ings of the First International Sym tions of Western Ross Sea Region. posium on Antarctic Geology, held This paper is one of the most im at Capetown, 16-21 September, 1963. portant contributions to the strati Edited by R. J. Adie; North Holland graphy of Antarctica. Over the years Publishing Company, 1964. New Zealanders have had the good fortune to work in an area of almost Reviewed by R. W. Willett a third of the exposed rock of Ant arctica and so are responsible for At this Symposium, attended by many Antarctic formational names. 50 delegates, the 76 papers covered Other important review papers are sub-Antarctic Islands, geomorphol- those of Nichols (U.S.) on Antarctic ogy, glacial geology, general geology, glacial geology; Mirsky (U.S.) on stratigraphy, mineralogy, petrology, the "Beacon" as a stratigraphic geophysics, geochemistry, geochron- name, Campbell Smith (U.K.) on ology, paleontology, structure and petrography of igneous and meta- tectonics, submarine geology, and morphic rocks, Plumstead (S.A.) the relationship of Antarctic and paleobotany of Antarctic; Klimor, Southern continents. A number of Ravich, and Solovicr (USSR) on the papers and particularly the discus geology of the Antarctic Platform. sion that followed highlighted some The importance of these papers is of the problem points of Antarctic measured by the discussion which Geology, such as the question of follows each paper. It is a cause for tillites, the Beacon Sandstone and regret that no Russian geologist at the correlation and similar forma tended the Symposium and conse tions in South Africa (and other quently there was no opportunity for Southern Continents). discussion with the authors of these The volume is plainly and clearly papers nor for Russian geologists to contribute to other discussions. printed, fully illustrated with black and white maps with numerous An interesting paper linking this photographs although some maps symposium with the earlier "heroic" and photographs have suffered be age of Antarctic exploration is that cause of their smallness. by W. Campbell Smith. Here is the final description of the igneous and An overall map of Antarctica to mctamorphic rocks of South Vic enable the reader to orient and toria Land based on the collections locate himself in a wilderness of new made by the "Terra Nova" Expedi place names would perhaps have tion 1910-13. assisted. The New Zealand authors An important section of this vol have indicated the areas covered by ume is a collection of papers on their papers in a locality map ac absolute dating of basement rocks companying a paper by Grindley and of Antarctica. This study of Antarc Warren. tic geology since the advent of SCAR Nine papers by New Zealand has had the advantage of the rela authors cover regional geology tively new tool of isotope dating in largely explored and mapped during an area of the world where basement the 1962-63 summer season and, rocks are insufficiently exposed to often in common with papers from permit lithological correlation. other nations, deal with relatively Continental drift has a fascination small areas. Other papers make con for many and for some South Afri tributions covering some of the im can geologists it amounts to almost portant Antarctic-wide stratigraphic a faith. This was a frequent point and structural problems. One such of animated discussion at this Sym paper by Grindley and Warren dis posium, especially when sweeping cusses the stratigraphic nomencla correlations were made: the Beacon September, 1965

Sandstone and the Karroo, the till- PRINCIPLES OF STRUCTURAL ites of Antarctica and the tillites GLACIOLOGY, by P. A. Shumskii, (Dwyka) of South Africa. The pre translated from the Russian by sentation of discussion following the David Kraus. Published by Dover papers is especially valuable where Publications, Inc., New York, 1964. it follows the papers covering broad Price $3.00. 497 pp. + xiii, 124 reviews of the Beacon, the Antarctic figures, 7 tables. Bibliography of Paleobotany and those on the broad 400 entries. structure of Antarctica. Especially useful is the discussion following a Professor Shumskii (Director of paper by King and Dormad on the the Soviet Institute of Permafrost) "Importance of Antarctica in the visited Wellington during the Sym pothesis in the Continental Drift". In many ways too much is taken for posium on Antarctic Research in granted by King and other South February, 1958, and has taken an African geologists whereas others active interest in Antarctic research are not so thoroughly convinced. for many years. Nevertheless, hypothesis is stimulat ing and Antarctic geology offers a This book, written by one of the new area, uncluttered with the pre leading specialists in the field, offers judice of dogmas that built up in a systematic treatment of structural the geological literature of older glaciology (the study of ice struc countries and is being attacked by ture)—the only authoritative work new and young minds. It may well available on the subject. No study be that the lack of exposures in the Antarctic is definitely a stumbling goes more deeply into the geochem block but if this symposium is any istry and geophysics of ice sub evidence then what is exposed is stances than does this work. The being examined carefully and objec book is divided into three parts; tively. The Mineralogy and Crystallography of Ice, The Petrology of Ice and the The volume is one which all earth scientists interested and working in Geography of Ice, each part being the Antarctic will want. Although further subdivided into chapters. many of the papers presented will The Introduction sets out clearly the be expanded and changed by later history of glaciological research in work, there are a number which will the Soviet Union and gives a general remain as source material vital to the study of Antarctic Geology. The description of the science of glacio whole volume is a tribute to Dr. logy as studied at present. R. J. Aclie, editor, and the North Hol land Publishing Company. The translation by David Kraus is an excellent one, and while much Finally, one may be forgiven a parochial note. This volume, the of the book deals with glaciology in product of 12 nations, is of 750 pages great scientific detail, I am sure it and by way of comparison New Zea will be of interest to Society mem land geologists have over the years bers superficially concerned with produced papers in three special snow and ice. Unfortunately, glacio issues of 660 pages of the Journal of Geology and Geophysics. New logy, as such, is not taught in any Zealand has every reason to be New Zealand university, or for that proud of her geological work in the matter, in very few universities out Antarctic and it has given many of side the Soviet Union. However, our young graduates a chance to there appears to be scope for such work on original geology outside New Zealand, meet other geologists work, particularly in the Antarctic, and an opportunity for adventure. so here then is the beginning of a The unseen dividends from New Zea sound study of this new (to us here land's Antarctic work are difficult to in New Zealand) and exciting estimate. science.—A.J.H. September, 1965

A.N.A.R.E. REPORTS ANTARCTIC FIRST AID MANUAL. We have received copies of the Compiled for the Antarctic Divi sion N.Z.D.S.I.R. by A. J. Heine. following reports published recently 70 pp. cyclostyled. Not for sale. by the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions. This latest edition of the manual compiled for the use of expeditions of the New Zealand Antarctic Re search Programme is a fine produc tion notable for the clear and prac THE ANARE 1963 EXPEDITION tical instructions which are so essen tial for a first-aid guide to men with little knowledge of injury-treatment. Affairs. Symptoms and methods of treat This narrative of the expedition ment are set out clearly, concisely, which included an unsuccessful and in simple language, with priori attempt to scale Big Ben is, for the ties stressed by underlining and em record, "ANARE Reports, Series A, phatic wording which is sometimes Volume 1", but it is actually as read colloquial and "down to earth", e.g. able as a good fictional adventure "If you don't want to kill your story, and will form an admirable patient treat him for shock at the introduction to any accounts of the scene of the accident. Don't walk past summer's successful assault on him back to camp even if he says he the mountains (see last issue). It is is O.K." excellently illustrated and there is a The practical emphasis is evident first-rate new 1:50,000 map of the throughout. You are not advised to island. 34 in. by 23 in. The Publica use medicaments which are not tions Officer, Antarctic Division, Dept. likely to be available in the field: of External Affairs, 568 St. Kilda and special attention is given to Road, Melbourne S.C.3, Victoria, re those injuries which are most likely ports that normally ANARE Reports to occur where the doctor and the are not for sale, but genuinely inter hospital room are miles — and hours ested organisations or individuals — away. Frostbite, exposure and may apply to him for a "gratis" copy, snow blindness are fully dealt with, stating the purpose for which the and so is carbon monoxide poisoning Report is required. — a hazard of this mechanical age replacing the dog-bites of an earlier day. It is not forgotten that preven tion is better than cure: there is a HEARD ISLAND, by K. G. Brown, valuable Guide to Dental Health. 39 pp., map, diagrams and illustra tions. Altogether a volume invaluable to the man in the field but of great A.N.A.R.E. Interim Reports. Series value also to anybody who is not A (IV), Glaciology Publication No. 79. always within phone-call of the doc THE PHOTOELECTRIC METERING tor. One could wish it a wider cir OF WIND-BLOWN SNOW, by I. H. culation.—L.B.Q. Landon Smith and B. Woodberry; and A NEW PHOTOELECTRIC DRIFT SNOW GAUGE, by E. R. TERRE ADELIE 1961-1963 Wishart, 26 pp. Charts, illustrations RAPPORT d'ACTIVITES. Publication and diagrams. Series A. Publication No. 251 of Expeditions Polaires Fran- No. 76 LIST OF PUBLICATIONS caises. 125 pp. Maps, 11 illustrations, RESULTING FROM THE WORK OF 24 charts and diagrams. This well A.N.A.R.E. (to December 1964). Com illustrated Report tells the story of piled by M. R. O. Millett. 48 pp. the 12th French Antarctic Expedi A.N.A.R.E. Scientific Reports. tion, covering all aspects of expedi Series B (II) Botany. Publication tion life and work, including sections No. 78. OBSERVATIONS OF THE on each of the scientific disciplines, FUNGI OF MACQUARIE ISLAND, and on logistics and the field jour by J. S. Bunt. 22 po. Maps. neys. September, 1965

British Antarctic Survey The Bulletin provides short, read able reports in many branches of BULLETIN Soviet Antarctic work, not exclu- A warm welcome will be extended si\eM scientific. to this now firmly established B.A.S. Volume 5, now being published, includes numbers 43 to 46 of the —-blication, intended to be a medium the diffusion of "prelin..

t0„Each V_ Bulletin „ . .contains , ,, , half he a ordered dozen same on price, subscription at the or so papers, of varied length, the Bulletins themselves varying in size TI c PTim Tr*TTn\Tc from 50 to 100 pages but each priced r- '" ! UBLICATIONS at 10/-. No. 5 (January 1965), for

Ithaca, New York.

Additions to the Alien Flora of South Georgia (3 pp.), Analysis of Visual Auroral Observations at Halley Bay, 1963 (12 pp.), and correspondence. Examples of "not specifically scienti versity, U.S.A. fic" papers are Sir Vivian Fuch's Both the above are theses sub mitted to the Graduate School of Florida State University. Copies in iivicuv ui rtinaiuuc LMVlSion, U.o.l.K. the Antarctic" (25 pp.) in No. 2. U.S.N.S. Eltanin Marine Geology Cruises 1 to 8. Marine Geology of the One regrets that inevitably there is Drake Passage, Scotia Sea and South in each issue such a wide variety of Sandwich Trench. H. G. Goodell, 263 topics that very few readers will be pp., plates and maps. seriously interested in more than two or three of the papers comprising it. Perhaps it will be possible as material WHY BIOLOGISTS? accumulates to devote an occasional issue more specifically to one dis "What scientific gain could a cipline. Meanwhile most would-be biologist find in the Antarctic? What readers will be content to refer to replies to the problems of life could the files of the Bulletin in some con be found in the very spot where life venient library. is most limited, where life is at its poorest? SOVIET BULLETIN "Now it is just because of the ex ceptional peculiarities of the Antarc In previous issues we have referred tic that an astonishing crop of new to the English translations of the facts is to be reaped there. Here Soviet Antarctic Expedition Informa you find yourself at the extreme tion Bulletin now being produced by limit of the possibility of life which the American Geophysical Union, hangs on and adapts itself to the 1145 19th Street N.W., Washington, severest climate in the world." D.C. 20036, U.S.A., with the aid of a from "La Vie en Antarctique" grant from the National Science by Nicholas Skrotzky in Foundation. "Science et Nature." September, 1965 "MAGNETIC POLAR JOURNEY 1912' HISTORIC SPOT RE-VISITED by R. B. Thomson*

I have recently read a copy of width. Incidentally, final results of a '"Magnetic Polar Journey 1912' by distance of over 50 miles were only Eric Webb, the only remaining mem a few yards different from the ber of the historic trio Bage, Hurley, figures given by Mawson's people Webb, who made that early epic using far inferior instruments. journey. Our work was just near comple tion when the wind struck with in Apart from its great historic value, creasing force and blowing snow this story was of great personal in brought visibility to zero. terest to me owing to the fact that together with fellow ANARE mem There followed many long hours ber S. Kirkby, we were the first to huddled in our sleeping bags in the revisit and camp in the Mertz Gla small tent, with little food or cier region since the days of Mawson warmth, and failure of the radio to and his various sledging parties make contact with the ship. some 50 years earlier. The following evening brought Our visit during early March of great joy when we heard the familiar 1963 was certainly made easier by noise of a helicopter from close over modern transport but did prove that head, then suddenly the dark shape even with present day equipment of the machine itself as it hovered Antarctica and particularly the Com lower and allowed us and some of monwealth Bay-Mertz Glacier area our equipment to be hauled on can be more than a formidable foe. board. The "Thala Dan" had managed to Then back out to the ship, "Thala get close inshore at Buchanan Bay on the western side of the Mertz Dan", which was now some 20 miles Glacier Tongue. Kirkby and I were out to sea, having been forced out then flown in by helicopter but into clearer water remote from tl aerial reconnaissance failed to find hazards of bergs and floes beii driven by the storm. any formation resembling Mt. Hunt where we had hoped to set up camp. Safely back on board, we agreed Therefore we changed plans and that Commonwealth Bay is a really were deposited on Mt. Murchison, tough area of Antarctica. We have all where we set up camp and our tellu- the respect possible for Mawson and rometer station. This camp was very his men of the tough earlier days, near the resting spot of Mawson's so well described in "The Home of party whose photo appears on page the Blizzard" and in this recent ac 224 of "The Home of the Blizzard" count by Eric Webb — "Magnetic under the caption "A Distant View of Polar Journey 1912". Aurora Peak from the West". I took a similar photo from this spot and Aurora Peak appears exactly the same today as it did over 50 years ago. N.Z. PROJECT CLOSES Kirkby and I then attended to our Dr. J. B. Gregory who as a mem tellurometer work which involved ber of the staff of the University of making contact with another party Canterbury has been responsible for over 50 miles away across the Mertz the D-Region project at Scott Base Glacier to measure accurately its over some years, has accepted a post in Canada. In consequence, the * Superintendent, Antarctic Division, D.S.I.R., project will not be continued this New Zealand. year. September, 1965 GLACIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE AMERY ICESHELF by W. Budd * Glaciologist, Antarctic Division, Department of External Affairs, Australia.

A comprehensive 3 years glaciolo- T2 respectively. At three positions gical survey of the Amery ice shelf clown the central flow line, Gi G; G3, has now been completed by ANARE strain grids were established to mea field parties. The first exploratory sure primarily the longitudinal and work on the surface and glaciologi- transverse strain rates. Sun azimuth cal observations were carried out in determinations and sunfixes were 1962. A vehicle route was established also carried out to measure absolute from Mawson to the iceshclf and a rotation and velocity. dog team party travelled as far south Pits 2 m deep were dug at E T, T2 as the Manning Nunataks, carrying T3 T4 and G, G2 G3 and several inter out glaciological observations en mediate points along the longi route. A series of 9 pits was dug tudinal line. Cores were also taken roughly on a N.S. line and generally at these points to the depth of 10 m 2 m. deep primarily to investigate and the boreholes were used to mea the change in rate of snow accumu sure the temperature profile with lation with distance from the ice depth to establish the annual mean front. A 4 m. deep pit at depot E air temperature at the surface. cf. Fig. (1) showed the past accumu In 1964 the previous year's route lation and its metamorphosis for the was followed, using two weasels previous 7 years. Stakes were left with cargo sleds, and a skidoo here for remeasurement in 1963. (motor toboggan) with dog sled. A strain grid was established at The accumulation stakes were depot E and remeasurement over a located and remcasured, the strain period of 4 weeks provided the first grids resurveyed, and astrofixes and deformation results for the iceshelf. azimuths were repeated. At two posi On the return voyage to Australia tions resection to rock features pro the front of the iceshelf was re- vided a check on the absolute velo charted and a feature of it re-astro- city results of the astrofixes. Two fixed to obtain the rate of forward further strain grids were established motion since 1957 and the subse at Ti and a new point T6 (cf. map) to be remeasured at a later date. Pits quent change in position of the ice 3 m deep were dug along the central front. flow line. Cores were examined to For 1963 a plan was proposed for 6 m depth and the temperatures in a comprehensive coverage of obser the boreholes were measured. vations on the ice-shelf with the pri A set of three precision digital mary aim of setting out stake sys aneroid barometers were used to tems for remeasurement after one determine the relative elevation pro year, in 1964. This plan was carried file over the route by a modified out quite successfully using two dog leap-frog technique. At numerous teams supported by tractors. points along the central flow line Stakes were placed 2 miles (3.2 the slopes were checked by theodo Km) apart on the iceshelf to deter lite. mine the accumulation rates along An attempt to measure the iceshelf its central flow line Gi G2 G3 T4, as thickness by a radio altimeter device, shown in Fig. (1) and across the ice successfully tested to 300 m depth shelf at front and back E G, T,, T3 G3 near Mawson, was thwarted by ir reparable damage to the power sup Attached to Meteorology Department, Uni ply during a calibration run. It is versity of Melbourne. hoped that thickness measurements September, 1965

will be made by this method in the the mouth of the Lambert Glacier. future. Other plans include a visit The annual mean surface tempera to the iceshelf in 1967 to remeasure ture decreases from 19.1 C at T5 the strain grids and redetermine the to 23.3 C at G3. movement and the velocity profile, establish a thickness profile with radio gauge, and commence a drill The ice shelf is not in a state of continual balance. On the contrary, ing programme to obtain the verti the loss from a large break-out in cal distributions of temperature, 1963 (see "Antarctic" March 1965, density and crystal structure. pp. 24 and 31) was about one-fifth of the ice shelf area, estimated to be EDITOR'S NOTE 40 years' growth. Prior to this event, from 1936 to January 1963, the ice shelf front showed a general for (The above relatively non-technical account of an important glaciologi- ward movement and outward cal research-project will, we feel, be spreading. of interest to the ordinary reader Astrofixes carried out on the same as well as to Mr. Budd's fellow-scien tists. The author's more technical feature in 1957 (Russian) and 1963 (Australian) gave a forward velocity "preliminary results and conclu of about 1500 metres per year at the sions" may be summarised as ice front. Away from the front the follows.) velocity decreases at first very The Amery Ice Shelf is very flat. rapidly and then more gradually Its thickness is estimated to range until it reaches about 300 m per year from 190 m at the front to 400 m at on the Lambert Glacier. September, 1965 THE READER WRITES Sidelights of Antarctic Research

Letters, preferably not longer tion, over 200 miles further south than 500-600 words,. - . are i:u-i invited A.i,.iiv,nrn(. £han *hf, one nbservatory in December in 1964. their In

! epicentre of the arctic life or who have reached former as 66'AS, 175W, which would conclusions of interest on some place the shock a further 50 miles south. Thus there is no evidence to Antarctic problem.—Ed. support the claim that the December 1964 quake was 'the world's south ernmost known earthquake'. ANTARCTIC EARTHQUAKES —John Milne, Observer-in-Charge, Apia Observatory, Western Samoa. It was with considerable interest that I read your note in the March KILLING OF SEALS 1965 issue of "Antarctic" concerning Sir,— an earthquake which occurred near In your June 1965 issue of "Ant the Ballenys, and your claim that arctic", the article "Canterbury Uni this is probably the world's south versity in Antarctica" refers to the ernmost known earthquake. seal killing at Scott Base. I take issue, if I may, with your I note with concern that the statement that, 'As no real earth author states — "Between one hun quakes have ever been recorded as dred and three hundred Weddell occurring on the Antarctic contin Seals, possibly more, have been ent, this is probably the world's killed annually for dog food at Scott southernmost known quake.' Base during the past nine years." According to information supplied The wide range of figures quoted, by the United States Coast and Geo apart from being grossly exagger detic Survey (USCGS) on their pre ated, is very misleading, and I am liminary determination of epicentre sure that many of your readers cards, at least three earthquakes would welcome more precise and occurred during 1962-63 which were conclusive information. further south:— Set out below are the official (i) 15 October 1962, at 65.0S, figures on the number of seals killed 178.2E, 800 km northeast of the Bal annually by personnel at Scott Base leny Islands, origin time 21 26 20.7 since the formation of this Division GMT. in 1959. (ii) 17 June 1963, at 65.8S, 179.5W, 1959-60 110 Scott Island, origin time 18 30 54 1960-61 _ 60 GMT. 1961-62 100 (iii) 17 August 1963, at 63.4S, 1962-63 109 169.5E, Balleny Islands, origin time 1963-64 80 11 33 28 GMT. 1964-65 72 For a comparison, the correspond In the seasons 1960-61 and 1961-62, ing information for the earthquake a considerable supply of mutton was recorded at Scott Base at 1.23 a.m. added to the dogs' diet in an attempt on 31 December 1964 is:— to decrease the seal kill. This mutton (iv) 30 December 1964, at 62.6S, 165.8F. Rallpnv Tcl*r,rlc rani^n ^,-;„;„ proved a very poor substitute, hence time 13 19 47.4 GMT. al to the already high pemmican ration, was added. This also proved a poor substitute for seal meat, but September, 1965 ANTARCTIC not to be outdone in our honest and Aurora glaciers. On the way attempt to satisfy our dogs and keep home, about 10 miles north east of seal killing at a bare minimum, 1963- Scott Base we found a deep groove 64 season saw the addition of beef (10 inches approximately) in the soft chunks to the diet. These proved new snow, and after looking around quite good but took most of the with the binoculars, discovered a available freezing space aboard "En seal about a mile to our north. It deavour". appeared to be still heading for the Aurora Glacier — and perhaps an In future, with our smaller dog ascent of Mt. Erebus. At this time, population and as full use as pos the Ice Shelf was steadily breaking sible of substitute dog food, seal kill ud south of Pram Point, and the will decrease considerably. seals in this area had moved further —R. B. Thomson, Superintendent, north along the pressure ridges to Antarctic Division, D.S.I.R., the folds north east of Pram Point itself. It is possible that one of these Wellington. seals continued north, although the track of our Windless Bight traveller SEALS ON THE McMURDO appeared to come from the south ICE SHELF east. Had "he" come from White Sir- Island? Perhaps we should have fol In the course of our work on lowed the tracks back — we'll know the McMurdo Ice Shelf this last better next time. summer, we visited White Island on a number of occasions. On 15 Dec Incidentally, we also met a number ember, Alex Parton, Dave Lowe and of Emperor penguins on the McMur myself walked along to the northern do Ice Shelf this summer, two, south extremity of the island and examined towards Black Island, one about six the crevasse and pressure ridge pat miles north of White Island, as well terns in this area. We discovered a as several lines of tracks heading on number of seals in the vicinity of north-south lines. the tide crack along the shore of the Arnold Heine, island. The actual ice shelf at this Antarctic Division, D.S.I.R. point is only several feet above water level, and it is not difficult for the seals to climb out. We found two old females, each with a one year old CAPE HALLETT pup, one being male and one female. Further along the shoreline, we found another half grown female, Now that we have lost part of our perhaps two years old. No brands or tags were seen on the animals. quarters at the above station through fire, the past summer was Dr. Jack Littlepage, whom some our last there. It appears that the readers will have met at McMurdo, United States, with whom we sup has done some research on the div plied the leader alternately, have ing behaviour of the Weddell seal decided not to man the station dur (Ecology, Vol. 44, No. 4, August 1963) ing the winter but only to visit it and came to the conclusion that a sporadically during the summer fly reasonable maximum under-ice ing months as a base for field opera swimming distance was 2Vi miles. tion. Seeing that this is in our As the distance from the ice edge territory and remembering the im south of Scott Base to White Island portance Antarctica is destined to is about 13 miles, it seems unlikely play in our lives, I am convinced that the seals could have swum the that the logical thing to do would be distance non-stop, i.e., without stop for our Government to take over the ping somewhere for a breath of U.S. installation and open it as the fresh air. first Outward Bound School on the last continent. This is a challenging On 19 February, Laurie Wood and place of fantastic, if savage beauty, myself went on a day trip through which lends itself to many uses. It Windless Bight towards the Terror could possibly be staffed by univer- September, 1965 sities and different clubs if the Gov ernment lent a hand in transport, 50 YEARS AGO etc. From the Diary of Seeing that American quarters are still equipped with instruments, etc., E. E. Mills Joyce it would be a pity to give up the The Ross Sea party of Shackleton's meteorological and upper air physics abortive Trans-Antarctic Expedition work done at Cape Flallett, and has wintered in Scott's old hut at science could be combined with the Cape Evans after the "Aurora", on training of our young people in self which they planned to live, had been reliance and the art of leadership. carried to sea in a field of ice broken away in a blizzard. The 10 marooned Women, too, are psychologically men, believing that Shackleton would ready to face the last frontier. When be depending upon the depots they I was guiding, most of my climbers were to lay, set out in the cold spring were of the fair sex, and it was weather, ill nourished and ill clad, to proved to me time and again that carry out their task, a task from a woman can stand more cold and which three of them never returned. discomfort than the average man October 1st, Friday. and what is more, suffer in silence. "Turned out 6.30. Weather very If the international situation thick to the S. & every indication should dictate that we are obliged of a blizzard. Had breakfast. Party to patrol the Antarctic waters and consisting of Capt. Mackintosh, keep them open as an all-the-year- Smith, Hayward, Richards, Wild, round route to the continent, we Jack, Stephens, Cope and Self cannot do it without an icebreaker under way at 10.30 leaving Gaze of our own. In any event, a lot of behind for Meteorological Obser winter scientific work could be done vations. The load consisted of 3 if we had one. sledges carrying about 1700 lbs. Surface very fair, doing about 1 The lime is approaching when no mile per hour. Arrived at half-way country will be able to hold open camp (about 63/» miles) about 3.30. spaces: use will be the only title to After lunch found going very ownership. At present, I believe, we heavy so left 1 sledge (300 lbs.) & have about a dozen men on a tri proceeded to Hut Pt. (7 miles angular sector covering something away). About 7 o'clock came on like 1,400 miles by 700 miles. to drift & blow. Force of wind 30 to 40 direction from SE, so de Now that we are no longer there cided to abandon another sledge and the Americans are on their way out under the present international as we were still 3 miles from our destination, & to make things set-up "Unlimited travel and scienti worse the temperature fell to - 20, fic investigation will be permitted most of us getting badly frostbit any nation in any region of the con ten. All land being obscured, I tinent". found it very hard to steer, as There is a very real danger that facing the wind & heavy drift one any country could step in and build wants to turn away. Eventually a station there on the pretext of arrived at Hut Pt. about 10.30. helping science and I doubt if we Everyone weary after the hard could do anything about it. day's battling." Let us base our future on 'know (From Joyce's own MS transcript of his diary preserved in the Turn- how', labour, material and the guts to do it, and not on the mythical bull Library, Wellington.) figures in the book. That's all money is today. On the other side of the Antarctic continent, "Endurance" had already Frank Alack, been drifting (like "Aurora") since Nelson. mid-January, and was now being sub- September, 1965 jected to pressure. On October 1, ties for the tourists it brings down. Shackleton says, "Two bull crab- Which would be quite an under eaters climbed on to the floe close taking. Clearly there will be no to the ship and were shot by Wild. cheap fares. . . . Seal-liver made a welcome change in our own menu."

"GRIF" REMEMBERED " S O U T H " I N T H E S O U T H On July 20, Dr. P. G. Law, Director of the Australian Antarctic Research Billing and Mannering's "SOUTH", Expedition, gave the first Griffith a New Zealand view of man and Taylor memorial lecture at Sydney nature in the Antarctic, has been sold University. Griffith Taylor, geologist extensively in the Antarctic itself. and leader of the Western Parties on Scott's Last Expedition, died at Syd Only hours before the part-time ney in 1963. salesman (the New Zealand P.R.O. Dr. Law criticised the lack of at Scott Base) left Antarctica 200 geosraphy text books on Antarctica. copies of the book were unloaded "The major features of the con from a ship. Once the packing case tinent have now been recognised," was opened several copies were sold he said, "and I am concerned at the right at the ship's side on the ice, and lack of up-to-date information about the remainder taken a short distance the Antarctic available to students. to the United States McMurdo To my knowledge there is no com Station where an advertisement was prehensive up-to-date text book in put over the public address system. English about the geography of Ant Unfortunately the only central place arctica." at the station is the church, so the books were sold from the church steps with the padre standing by quoting how the Lord drove the ANTARCTIC TOURS? traders from His temple with a Speaking at an Adult Education knotted rope. However, his jocular Association school on "Australia and wrath soon turned to amazement the Antarctic" in Victoria recently, when all the books were sold within Dr P. G. Law, Director of the Aus twenty minutes. "There wouldn't be tralian Antarctic Division, said that that much money about if I produced Australia could have a tourist re the church plate!" he said. sort in the Antarctic within three Many in the Antarctic post copies years. He said that a Sydney com of "South" to friends, as a copy of p a n y w a s c o n s i d e r i n g t a k i n g "South" solves the labour of writing tourists there by air and using a letters explaining the type of life led, ship as a hotel. and the scenery. But Admiral Strean, Assistant Chief of Naval Operations in Wash A second edition of the book is now ington, said that while he had no being prepared. In addition to publi objections to tourists, he had no cation in Australia and New Zealand intention of giving them U.S. Navy by A. H. and A. W. Reed, the book logistic support. "We're equipped.' will now be published in London by he said, "to provide logistical sup Hodder and Stoughton, and in North port—food, clothing, shelter and America by the University of Wash supplies—to our scientists. But ington Press. we're not in the tourist business." The Navy had advised travel The enterprising publishers have agencies that if they wished to fly arranged that when the next summer tourists to Antarctica they should comes round copies of "South" that take ships to McMurdo Sound, tie arc purchased in Antarctica will be them to the ice, and use them as supplied with a special bookplate hotels. Then the airline can provide confirming that each book was pur its own food, water and other facili- chased on the southern continent. September, 1965

ing the many superficially attractive S A L U T E TO but abortive alternatives on their route and ihe natural snares liberally strewn in their path. They themselves HEROES subsequently referred to the sensed presence of a 'fourth man' who seem ingly accompanied them on their In an article in "The Times", Lt.- route." Cdr. Burley, out of his experiences while re-tracing Shackleton's route, pays a glowing tribute to the "desper TASK NEAR DONE IN ate and supremely courageous feat" ANTARCTICA? of Shackleton, Worsley and Crean nearly 50 years before. Dr. Phil Law, speaking to the Canberra branch of the Royal Aero "With us," he writes, "we carried nautical Society, said that Australian ample rations, sturdy tentage and exploration in Antarctica was nearly niountaineering equipment and cloth finished. ing designed to withstand the worst the elements had to offer. The last 18 months had seen the completion of mapping of all the broad feature in the territory. Now every part of the Australian coastline of clothing and faced the formidable was known and almost the whole of mountain ranges with little more it had been photographed from the than a length of rope and a carpen air. ter's adze. To grip ice, screws ex Australian research in the Antarc tracted from the boat were inserted tic was in a very interesting "half through the soles of their boots. Food way stage". Although the basic was meagre and spartan." mapping and surveying had been finished, many finer details had to be After telling of several points in completed, such as the height of the journey where his own party peaks and the depths of ice. encountered difficulties which Shac kleton avoided — they found them Just how far these factors needed selves, for instance, a fathom deep to be investigated depended on plans inside a crevasse over which Shackle- for the future development of Ant ton, by his boldness, had obviously arctica. They definitely would be glissaded at high speed"—Lt. Cdr. needed if the search were to be con Burley goes on: "These variances of tinued for valuable minerals. circumstances are not recounted to provide invidious comparison or de "However, so far no one has found tract from the magnitude of the anything like an ore body," Dr. Law said "If one were discovered, no original heroic achievement—nothing could dim its lustre. We were com doubt the territory would be much more highly developed." prehensively equipped and prepared to meet these eventualities; con He said Antarctica was a fantastic sequently these incidents, being anti natural laboratory for research. cipated, were taken in stride without harm. Had any of these incidents or The advancement of exploration a break in the weather befallen Shac methods from the old days was over kleton's party, however, this might rated. Modern men were doing a very have meant disaster — not only to courageous job, often travelling by them but also to the survivors de modern equipment which was far pending on them at Elephant Island. more hazardous than the clog and ski teams. "There is little doubt that, notwith standing the first class leadership, "They are prepared to fly many providence was with them in their miles from the ship and stay for hazardous crossing — so much was sometimes weeks in isolated little plainly apparent to us when review tents in dreadful weather." The New Zealand Antarctic Society is a group of New Zealanders, many of whom have seen Antarctica for themselves, and all of whom are vitally interested in some phase of Antarctic exploration, development, or research. You are invited to become a member. The membership fee includes subscription to "Antarctic." BRANCH SECRETARIES Wellington: W. J. P. Macdonald, Box 2110, Wellington. Canterbury: Mrs. E. F. Cross, 34 Clissold St., Christchurch 1.

"ANTARCTIC" is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December. Subscription for non-members of the Antarctic Society, £1. Apply to the Secretary, New Zealand Antarctic Society, P.O. Box 2110, Wellington, New Zealand. OUT OF PRINT Volume 1, numbers 1, 2, and 9; Volume 2, numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 are OUT OF PRINT. Some others are in very short supply. Copies of available issues may be obtained from the Secretary of the Society, Box 2110, Wellington, at a cost of 5/- per copy. Indexes for volumes 1 and 2 are also available, price 2/6 each index. An index for volume 3 has been prepared.

SOCIETY TIES The N.Z. Antarctic Society tie is now available. The design is similar to those used for the ties of kindred organisations in the United Kingdom and Australia. The dark blue background, light blue and white stripes and motif of penguins and kiwis provide a striking pattern, yet a reserved note is retained over all. Ties are available through N.Z. and Branch Secretaries of the Society at a cost of 17/6.