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Photo: J. T. Darby. TWIN SKUA CHICKS.

55th ISSUE SEPTEMBER, 1969 AUSTRALIA 1 WELLINGTON

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DRAWN BY DEPARTMENT OF LANDS 4 SURVEY WELLINGTON. NEW ZEALAND. AUG 1949 3rd EDITION WAHWAIB(BWH(BW (Successor to "Antarctic News Bulletin") 55th ISSUE SEPTEMBER, 1969 Editor: A. S. Helm, M.B.E., M.A., 37 Worcester Street, Wellington, 5. New Zealand. Business Communications, Subscriptions, etc., to: Secretary, New Zealand Antarctic Society, P.O. Box 2110, Wellington, N.Z.

CONTENTS

Vanda Base Resupplied

University of Waikato's First Antarctic Expedition

Deep Freeze 70

Emergency Airlift

Americans Fly In

British Antarctic Survey

Site of the New British Base

Elephant Island Expedition

Russian News

News from the Sub-Antarctic

The Reader Writes

Antarctic Bookshelf

Caretakers for Historic Huts

A Closer Look at Antarctic Earthquakes by R. D. Adams

Branch News

Special Antarctic Reunion ANTARCTIC September, 1969 VANDA BASE RESUPPLIED

HAZARDS FOR TRACTOR further excitement occurred before camping at a safe distance from the Bowers Piedmont Glacier. TRAIN The tractor party met up with a party from Vanda Station in the On September 7 a tractor train lower Wright Valley a few days taking urgently required fuel and later. replacement parts for scientific in struments at Vanda Station reached the western side of McMurdo Sound after a hair-raising trip. In a message to Scott Base. Bill Towing seven tons on sledges, the Lucy, leader of Vanda Station, on Trans-Antarctic Snowcat, "Abel", left September 14 expressed thanks for Scott Base at 9 a.m. on Sunday, replacement machinery, "goodies", September 7. On the resupply trip and mail after the winter. "It was were the leader of Scott Base, Robin all much appreciated, more than Foubister of Christchurch, base en you probably imagine," he said. gineer Allan Guard, of Fairlie, and Those wintering at Scott Base Noel Wilson, of Wanaka. have been closer than any outsider Also with these three New Zea to the problems encountered by the landers was a U.S. Navy officer, Don five men eating, sleeping, working Nachtsheim, covering the trip for and playing within sight of one the New Zealand Broadcasting Cor another for seven months at the re poration and the U.S. Navy. mote station, all with the barest After 20 trouble-free miles, a sud minimum of comforts. den change in the surface texture They have had a rugged time, but of the ice ahead brought the cara have come through very well. van to a halt. The most important item to arrive Noel Wilson found the surface at Vanda Station on the resupply, was fresh ice and suggested a drill scientifically speaking, was a re core be taken to determine the ice placement galvanometer for the thickness. seismic recorder. After only a few turns the drill A signal passed to New Zealand dropped through four inches of ice via Scott Base advised that the only several days old. equipment, which recorded the first A warning was sounded to Guard known earthquakes in Antarctica, and Wilson, who were cavorting had recommenced operation on Sep about on the thin ice to keep them tember 12 after having been idle selves warm in the sub-zero tem since the galvanometer mirror was peratures. distorted by cold on April 28. Allan Guard, who swims like a A diesel generating plant, built in stone, remarked: "I would not have the Scott Base workshop from com been standing there if I had known ponents flown in by Hercules air that only four inches of ice separ craft on September 1, has been put ated me from two thousand feet of into operation at Vanda Station. It water." has replaced the unreliable petrol Back on the thicker ice the New units, which have been a back-up to Zealanders found they were still in the wind-driven generator. trouble. Another drilling showed The wind-driven generator has that the entire caravan was sitting been idle for most of the winter be on 16 inches of ice. A rapid with cause of the unexpected long calm drawal was called for, and the trac spells which prevail in the Wright tor train retreated half a mile to Valley during that season. where the ice was 54 inches thick. The return of sunlight to the Dry Apart from crossing several minor Valley complex is expected to cracks and one three feet wide, no propagate wind. September, 1969 ANTARCTIC

Since the installation of the diesel- As well as the mail, fresh veget generating plant, there has been a ables were flown south in the air cut in radio noise caused by the craft. Urgently needed equipment generation of electricity, thus assist for Vanda Station was transported ing Vanda Station's aim to be a also. However, it may not be pos "quiet site". sible to deliver this to Vanda Bill Lucy said the isolated party immediately. is still not entirely "out of the woods," as it is dangerously low on petrol. Five drums were dumped at the end of the Wright Valley 18 N.Z. FLIGHTS miles away from Vanda Station by Hercules transport aircraft of the a party from Scott Base. Royal New Zealand Air Force will However, he had elected to load make three flights to the Antarctic his tractor trailer with heavier this year. items, which required the combined As in previous years since 1965 efforts of the three men from Scott the flights will be bunched together, Base and the two from Vanda rather than spread out through the Station to lift, and then come back summer season, and will take place in a few days for the petrol. between November 11 and 13. Unfortunately, soon after his The Hercules, which belong to No. arrival at Vanda Station the Fer 40 Squadron based at Auckland, will guson tractor developed an unidenti fly cargo from Christchurch. fied fault. In addition to the airlift of cargo He advised he has only enough the flights will give Air Force crews petrol to heat the engine to start it valuable training in the operation of and get down the valley to the the aircraft in polar regions. stocks of petrol. In addition to their Antarctic The Scott Base tractor train flight the Hercules are also used in arrived back at base on September flights to Rarotonga in the Cook 12 after crossing 70 miles of sea ice Islands, thus covering the tropics as on McMurdo Sound in fog, their well as the far south. only navigational aids being the tracks they had left in the snow on the way out. N.Z. SCOUTS SELECTED Two Queen Scouts and a Boys' Bri gade Queen's Man have been "WINFLY" FLIGHT selected as nominees from young For the 11 men wintering-over at men's organisations to work with Scott Base, the mail on the "Winfly" the Antarctic division of D.S.I.R. at flight by United States Hercules Scott Base this summer. aircraft on September 1 was the The Queen Scouts are Lindsay first to be delivered since March. Burton, of Hamilton, and Michael The five men at Vanda Station Ellis, of New Plymouth, who were however may have to wait some selected from 150 applioants. Peter time before they receive their mail, Oliver, of Rangiora, is the Boys' Bri delivery of which depends on suit gade member. able conditions for travel. The successful nominees were Two C-130 Hercules flew from selected by Mr R. B. Thomson, Christchurch Airport to McMurdo director of Antarctic division, Mr R. Sound; one then flew on to Byrd B. Willis, leader of the 1969-70 re Station to pick up a cook suffering search programme, and Scout and from illness. Boys' Brigade representatives. Mr D. A. Hodge, stores officer of Reserves have been chosen also, the Antarctic Division of the in the event of the first choices D.S.I.R., was the only New Zea- being unable to go. They are lander on the "Winfly" flight. He James Grierson, of Otautau, and will check on stores preparatory to Paul Gardner, of Taupo (Scouts), the arrival of the 1969-70 pro and Keith Turner of Auckland gramme personnel in mid-October. (Boys' Brigade). ANTARCTIC September, 1969

Photo: A. J. Heine.

Lake Vanda before summer melting.

of these containers will be des STORES FOR SCOTT patched to Antarctica. AND VANDA BASES Sixteen men will spend the winter at Scott Base or Vanda Station and Electrode rods, vitamin capsules, 70 others will be in the Ross De radio masts and dog pemmican are pendency during the summer. This among a wide variety of stores season, university research parties accumulating in Christchurch to will go to Antarctica from Victoria, resupply the New Zealand Antarctic Auckland, Canterbury and Waikato bases for the 1969-70 research pro Universities. Research will include gramme. biological studies of penguins and About 35,000 lb. of stores and seals, geological and geochemical equipment will be sent south for studies in the dry valleys, and base personnel and field parties of acoustic measurements under the the Antarctic Division and the Ross Ice Shelf. various universities' research The first flight of the summer groups. season is scheduled to leave Christ About half the total is in the church for McMurdo in October Division's Christchurch store at pre and the Superintendent of Antarc sent, packed in 'cargons' for ease of tic Division (Mr R. B. Thomson) handling in either aircraft or on and the leader designate (Mr R. B. H.M.N.Z.S. Endeavour. About 200 Willis) will be aboard. September, 1969 ANTARCTIC

Mr Walters stressed that the AIRLINE INVESTIGATIONS whole project was still only at the planning stage. Air New Zealand and Ministry of An Air New Zealand spokesman Transport officers will spend four said in Auckland that the company days at McMurdo Sound during hoped to fly in American tourists in November preparing for airline the summer of 1970-71. The tourists flights to Antarctica in the summer would be accommodated on a ship of 1970-71. The Assistant Director of Civil which would be provided by an Aviation, Mr I. F. B. Walters, said American company, while the DC8's in Wellington that two Air New Zea would run a shuttle service from land DC8 pilots and two Civil Avi McMurdo to New Zealand. ation Division senior operations officers would fly to the United States base at McMurdo some time in November. Paper studies have shown that Superintendent L. D. Bridge will commercial flights should be pos again train U.S. personnel in sur sible, and it was now necessary to vival techniques and ice work in go to Antarctica and see at first the Antarctic. His assistants are hand what difficulties might arise Drs P. J. Strang and B. Mowatt, and from the snow runway at Williams Messrs. W. McDonald and A. Field and the weather. Cookson. ANTARCTIC September, 1969 UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO'S FIRST ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION B y A . T. W I L S O N In 1970 the School of Science officially starts up at the Uni versity of Waikato. In fact the first work will start in the Antarc tic with a four-man expedition which leaves Christchurch early in November 1969. The personnel of this expedition will be: Professor Alex Wilson, Leader. the past glacial history of the area. Michael Selby, a geomorphologist All the members of the expedition who will set up a long term will be involved in setting up a long project to study the detailed term programme to study the geomorphological and peri- Canada Glacier with the aim of glacial phenomena in the understanding how the very cold Wright Taylor and Koettlitz areas. (—23°C.) Antarctic glaciers move. Jim Johnston, a chemist who will be doing a Ph.D. on Antarctic An interesting point about this geochemistry over the next work is that this expedition is three seasons. taking an X-ray Diffraction machine Dr. Chris Hendy, who has just into the field. This instrument will graduated from Victoria and be the first instrument of its kind who is on the staff of the Insti- on the Antarctic Continent and re- tute of Nuclear Sciences, fleets the changing pattern of An- D.S.I.R.— - n»»fc»ki<- tarctic iv.ov.aii.il research liuill from KJlli^ one of \Jl recon- ItLUIl- Professor Wilson and Chris Hendy naissance and mapping to one of will be studying the geochemistry detailed scientific investigation with of Ross Island, Taylor, Wright and sophisticated (and expensive) equip- Koettlitz in an attempt to work out ment.

leader of the research programme, ANTARCTIC POLLING had been appointed overseas return BOOTHS ing officer at Scott Base, and Mr D. New Zealand's Vanda Station, about R. C. Lowe to a similar position at 90 miles west of Scott Base, will Vanda Station. probably be the most isolated and least accessible polling booth for NEW ZEALAND PRODUCTS the general elections during November. ON SALE Almost 70 persons from New Zea New Zealand-made goods—including land will travel south as part of the greenstone, lambskin rugs, jewellery, Antarctic Research programme be and sweets—will be sold for the fore the election on November 29, first time at McMurdo Station. and will be there during the polling The initial order of $3500 will be period. flown to the base in October and Most will be at Scott Base, where will be sold at the American store a polling booth has been set up for there. other elections during the 13 years The store has been selling sweets since the base has been in existence. and other items made in the United As New Zealand citizens overseas, States. these persons may vote as special Visitors to the base can buy duty voters during the last three weeks free radios, watches, cameras and from the close of nominations until jewellery. the day before the election. A spokesman for Operation Deep Mr J. L. Wright, chief electoral Freeze said that Maori dolls would officer, said that Mr R. B. Willis, also be sold at the store. September, 1969 ANTARCTIC DEEP FREEZE 70

The U.S. Navy will officially begin its 16th consecutive year of logistic support for U.S. scientific operations in Antarctica on October 15. Aircraft from Antarctic Development Squadron SIX (VXE-6), one of the units making up Task Force 43, are scheduled to land at Williams Field near McMurdo Station on that date, signalling the start of Operation DEEP FREEZE 70. As Deep Freeze 70 gets under way. men from the Navy, Coast Guard, the U.S. scientists and military sup Army, Air Force and Marine Corps. port personnel spending the winter These men, using a half-dozen ships, on the ice will be relieved by their five Hercules and two Super Con replacements. The first plane into stellation aircraft, and a number of the South Pole Station for this helicopters will maintain the 12,000- season will probably arrive in mile lifeline of supplies and equip November. ment from the U.S. to Antarctica. Major scientific projects this sea son will include experiments with Task Force 43 has its head an automated geophysical observ quarters in Washington, D.C., with ation station to be set up near Byrd advance headquarters at Christ Station. If successful, automated church, New Zealand. Units under stations could eliminate the need Rear Admiral Welch's command in for a number of people to stay on clude Antarctic Support Activities, the continent for long periods, cut headquartered in Davisville, R.I., costs and ease supply/resupply which is responsible for maintaining efforts. More than 50 other scien U.S. stations in Antarctica; VXE-6, tific projects in the fields of biology, the air arm of the task force; a geology, paleontology (fossils) and Naval Nuclear Power Unit from Ft. other disciplines will be carried out. Belvoir, Va., operating the nuclear reactor which provides McMurdo Men of Construction Battalion with light, heat and fresh water, an Unit 201 plan to complete work on Antarctic construction group (CBU- a 250-man personnel building at Mc 201), and a number of other Murdo, the largest structure on the continent. The building will provide specialized units. berthing and messing facilities, a Although all supplies for inland laundry, barber shop and recre stations are flown in by aircraft, ational accommodations for Mc- about 95 percent of all cargo is Murdo's entire wintering over popu brought to the continent by Military lation. Also on the construction pro Sea Transportation Service ships. gramme is a 2,000,000-gallon and a This season two cargo ships (Pvt. 500,000-gallon tank for the fuel stor John V. Towle and Wyandot) and, age facility at McMurdo. for the first time, a T5 tanker S c i e n t i fi c e ff o r t s o n t h e i c y (Maumee) will be used. The craft southern continent are conducted by will reach McMurdo through a chan the National Science Foundation's nel carved in the Antarctic ice pack U.S. Antarctic Research Programme by Coast Guard icebreakers (Glacier, (USARP). The Navy's job is to sup Burton Island and Edisto). The port these operations and maintain U.S.N.S. Maumee will deliver more facilities for the scientists and tech than 7 million gallons of fuel, a task nicians conducting research there. that required a total of six round To accomplish this task. Rear trips by two smaller tankers last Admiral David F. Welch will head year. Ship operations for Deep the U.S. Naval Support Force, An Freeze 70 will involve moving more tarctica (Task Force 43), a task than 14,000 measurement tons of force consisting of more than 2,000 supplies to McMurdo. Ir.^ijfj; ANTARCTIC September, 1969 EMERGENCY AIRLIFT A U.S. Navy enlisted man suffering from diabetes was air lifted to Christchurch from Byrd Station, Antarctica, September 1 by a ski-configured Navy LC-130 Hercules. Commissaryman Second Class Cecil M. McDaniel of Nitro, West Virginia, was the cook for the 23 scientists and Navymen maintaining Byrd Station during the Antarctic winter. McDaniel, who had been under The temperature at Bvrd Station the medical care of the Navy doctor was minus 45 deg., the cloud ceiling at Byrd Station, Lieutenant Herbert was 1,000 feet, visibility was down Thomas of Wayne, Pennsylvania, to a mile, and lightly blown snow was m a satisfactory condition. He was falling when the ski-equipped returned on one of the Hercules to plane landed with a replacement the East Coast of the United States cook. on September 3 for hospitalization The cook C. M. McDaniel, of and further evaluation. Nitro, Virginia, was working when the evacuation of McDaniel was the Hercules touched down at Byrd the third such mission from Byrd 999 miles from McMurdo Station! Station since the introduction of the He was suffering from diabetes sus- ski-configured Hercules in 1960 made pected pancreatitis and gall-bladder winter flights possible to Antarctica. infection. He was the only cook for After flying 9,400 miles from their the 15 other sailors and seven scien home port at Quonset Point, Rhode tists wintering at the station. Island, the two Hercules of Antarc In twenty minutes the crew em tic Development Squadron SIX /■\r-vns\ „ •—i • --i."-~" —-- uaiacubarked mujuaruei McDaniel ana and unloaded unloaded 4UU 400 AnmSt ?q m Chnstchurch on Pounds of fresh provisions and 200 August 29 pounds of mail for the remaining Two days later, as part of the members of the winter-over party. scheduled end-of-winter flight to Mc Murdo Station, the aircraft trans- ciin„ fLSLr^TKM ri p o r t e d s e v e n s c i e n t i s t s f o r e a r l y f f m W S P I ^ n ^ season research.research, 1700 noundspounds of James E.Wells, Jr.. arrived to take fresh provisions, and 5100 pounds of McDaniel's place. mail. The Hercules crew made the 6,550- The flight ended six months of mile round trip from Christchurch isolation for 163 scientists and Navy- Jf Byrct in a Ilttle less than 24 men at at McMurdo, McMurdo centre centra for for U.S. ITS hours. Antarctic operations on the Ross In addition to McDaniel, six Navy- Sea coast. men and four scientists returned to In temperatures of minus 30 de- Christchurch from McMurdo. The grees below zero Farhenheit. the others will have to wait to be re- Hercules landed on a specially pre- ueved until mid-October when the pared snow skyway, which was 1969-70 Operation Deep Freeze sea- lighted by wind-proof gas lanterns. son begins. After refuelling, the first Hercules, The United States is the only Silotedfficer, Commanderby the VXE-6 Jerome Commanding R. Pilon countryAntarctica to during have the landed winter, aircraft and in is of Waterville, Maine, flew 910 miles the only nation to maintain regular inland to evacuate McDaniel. flights to Antarctica during the Rear-Admiral David F. Welch, austral summer. Commander, U.S. Naval Support McDaniel walked from the Her Force, Antarctica, was on board. cules when it landed at Christ- Arriving during the current three- church Airport. He was placed in hour period of daylight at Byrd, the the dispensary at Harewood where aircraft landed in relatively good he will be given tests by Captain J. weather—minus 45 degrees F. tern- Young of the American Naval Sup- perature and 15 knot winds. port Force. September, 1969 ANTARCTIC

Two planes flew to McMurdo. the Pole Station will have its new in other to "back-up" the mercy flight. habitants on November 1. They carried 1700 lb. of fresh food, 5,100 packages of mail and seven scientists to do early research. Six FIRST SUNRISE men from McMurdo Station made The sun rose at the South Pole at the return flight. 5.26 a.m. on 21 September—after an absence of 189 days. Early in October about 600 men, The 14 United States Navy men mainly sailors, will arrive in Christ- lifters and six scientists at the Pole u last saw the sun just ove> and Constellations from the United months ago. States. To mark the special event the Hallett and Brockton Stations will traditional flag-raising ceremony be opened on October 16 and Byrd was held at Pole Station, 3205 miles Station on October 20, while the from Christchurch.

NEW DIRECTOR APPOINTED INSTITUTE OF POLAR STUDIES The new Director, Dr Emanuel D. science, particularly biology, is Rudolph, is Professor of Botany in another field of interest of Dr the Academic Faculty of Botany. Dr Rudolph. This summer, for the Rudolph joined the Institute as a second time, he is Director of an Rsearch Associate in July 1961; at NSF Summer Institute in the His the same time he became Assistant tory of Biology at The Ohio State Professor at The Ohio State Uni University. He has also been a par versity. In 1950 he received his ticipant in several other NSF sum undergraduate degree cum laude in mer institutes. A true scholar and biology from New York University collector of books, he has a per where he held an undergraduate sonal library of over 6,000 volumes, scholarship. In the same year he many of which are collectors items. was elected to Phi Beta Kapa and He is also an active member of the Beta Lambda Sigma, the New York OSU Library Council, and is book University Biology Honorary Society. review editor of the Ohio Journal of After receiving his Ph.D. from Wash Science. ington University, St. Louis (1955), Among his honours he includes he taught in the Botany Department membership in the Society of the at Wellesley College, Massachusetts. Sigma Xi and Fellowship in the In 1959 he was a Postdoctoral Fel American Association for the Ad low at the University of Wisconsin. vancement of Science and the Ohio The major research interests of Academy of Science. Dr Rudolph include ecology and Dr Rudolph is Vice-President, systematics of Antarctic lichens, Plant Sciences Section of the Ohio biosystematics of the lichen family Academy of Science and Vice- Teloschistaceae, and Antarctic vege Chairman of the History Section of tation. Principal Investigator on six the Botanical Society of America. projects funded by the Office of Other societies to which he belongs Antarctic Programs at the National are: American Bryological Society, Science Foundation, he has spent American Society of Plant Tax five summer field seasons in An onomy, Arctic Institute of North tarctica. He has also been a America, Ecological Society of National Aeronautics and Space Ad America, International Association ministration grantee. for Plant Taxonomy, British Lichen The study of the history of Society, Mycological Society of ANTARCTIC September, 1969

America, New England Botanical Club and Torrey Botanical Club. INNOVATION IN Among Dr Rudolph's many publi cations are: "The role of lichens in ANTARCTIC soil formation and plant succession" in'r(Mi ii!k^Bmiv!n>w«mi^B]l (with R. Cooper), Ecology 34: 805- women scientists into Antarctica, 807, 1953; "The effect of some physi-

reeze said in Christchurch that V dinners, served in regular mili tary flights in America, would be '"JSted by servicemen and scientists ~eing flown between McMurdo, the main American base, and several land stations. Jt3 £1L Cape Hallett, Antarctica", Proc. Crest Food Ltd., have been asked Third Intern. Biometeorological Con to supply 500 dinners for use be- gress, 1963. London, Pergamon Press, pp. 900-910, 1966; "Terrestial vegeta tion of Antarctica: past and present 1. The 1000 meals cost ^rs range from 38 to studies", Amer. Geophysical Union, Antarctic Research Series, 8: 109-124, meat dish will be 1966; Main introduction and lichen section of Terrestrial Biology, An tarctic Map Folio Ser., Amer. Geosr. "We want to know if men want Soc, 1967, Folio No. 5. these in-flight meals, heated on the aircraft, while in Antarctica."

FURTHER APPOINTMENTS AT NO SPECIAL TREATMENT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY POLAR FOR WOMEN STUDIES INSTITUTE No special accommodation has been arranged in Antarctica for the first Promoted to Associate Director of five female scientists from the the Institute of Polar Studies has United States who go there in Octo been John F. Splettstoesser, a geolo ber. In the field they will sleep in gist and formerly Assistant Director tents just like their male counter of the Institute of Polar Studies, parts. Ohio State University. Four of the women will have to Geoffrey L. Leister, who received do everything for themselves, and a masters degree in botany from they will take turns at cooking. Ohio State this year, • has assumed This was stated by Mr W. Austin, the position of Assistant to the the United States Antarctic research Director of the Institute of Polar project representative in New Zea Studies. land, who arrived in Christchurch Dr. Colin B. Bull, former director with Rear-Admiral David F. Welch. of the Institute, has become Chair Before going to their field camp man of the Department of Geology, where they will stay for three The Ohio State University. Former months with a break at base every Assistant to the Director of the ten days or so, four of the women Institute of Polar Studies, Dr Garry scientists will undergo a three-day D. McKenzie, has been named snowcraft training course near 'Mc Executive Officer of the Department Murdo. of Geology. Dr. Richard P. Gold- The National Science Foundation thwait, former Chairman of the De had received many other requests partment of Geology, will continue from women scientists to work in as Professor of Geology. Antarctica, Mr Austin said. September, 1969 ANTARCTIC

STUDIES OF OCEAN AMERICANS FLY IN An Operation DEEP FREEZE LC- CURRENT 130 ski-equipped Hercules landed at The American survey ship Eltanin, Williams Field, Antarctica, on Octo well-known visitor to New Zealand ber 15 with the first of 202 pas ports, left Auckland on 15 Septem sengers arriving that day on four ber after a lengthy stay in port and flights. The flights marked the be following the investigation of a deep ginning of "Operation DEEP ocean current which flows from the FREEZE 70". Antarctic towards the Equator east Dr. and Mrs. Muller-Schwarze of of the New Zealand coastline. Utah State University were aboard The chief scientist in the Eltanin, one of the later flights; thus. Mrs. Mr B. A. Warren, of Woods Hole Muller-Schwarze became the first of Oceanographic Institute in the the six women scientists of this United States, said the ship would season to arrive in Antarctica. The be at sea from 65 to 70 days with husband and wife team will study out a break and would be sailing as various aspects of penguin life at far north as latitude 20 south. the rookery at Cape Crozier. The ocean current had been re The first plane departed from corded at various stations in the Christchurch eight minutes after South Pacific, said Mr Warren, and midnight and touched down on the the present voyage would enable a skiway near McMurdo seven hours more detailed study of it to be and 39 minutes later. made. Rear Admiral D. F. Welch, Com The cold current was believed to mander of the U.S. Naval Support flow at depths between 8,000 and Force. Antarctica, stepped from the 16,000 feet and would be of little aircraft and was greeted by a crowd interest to fishermen, he said. of scientists and Navymen of Mc One of the 28 scientists making Murdo Station's wintering over the voyage is a New Zealander, Mr party. The men gathered in clear A. E. Gilmour, of the Oceanographic 27 degree below zero weather to Institute, Wellington. He will take welcome the season's first flight. temperature readings of the sea at Other than the one winter flight to great depths with special instru the station in September (see page ments. 304), the 28 passengers and 15 crew When the Eltanin arrived at Auck members on the plane were the land she was dry-docked and under first "outsiders" to arrive since last went a major refit. Much of her February. main machinery was stripped down The LC-130, piloted by Com and some new parts fitted. In mander J. R. Pilon. Commanding cluded in the new equipment placed Officer, Antarctic Development in the ship was a general-purpose Squadron Six (VXE-6) was followed computer designed to assist the by another "Here" a short lime scientists in their calculations. later. Two C-121 Super Constel lations also landed safely. All the flights were made by VXE-6, the CHEERS! air arm of Operation DEEP FREEZE. Antarctic men in many countries Besides sailors and scientists, the will learn with pleasure that Mr J. four-plane airlift carried fresh pro H. (Bob) Miller has recently been visions and mail for the men at elected president of the New Zea McMurdo. land Institute of Surveyors. Passengers on these flights will A surveyor in private practice in help the wintering over parties com Wellington, Bob was deputy leader plete the job of preparing station of the New Zealand component of facilities for summer operations. the Trans-Antarctic Expedition, when he dog-sledged more than 3,000 miles, including his great Mountains. He again led a far- journey of 1,670 miles with Dr G. travelling field survey team in Vic Marsh to the Queen Alexandra toria Land in 1963-64. ANTARCTIC September, 1969

Only a few of the personnel at Mc bases. Women have never been Murdo were slated to depart on re allowed to work at the stations set turn flights to Christchurch the up for American scientists by the same day, although most will be re United States Navy during the last turning to the States within the 13 years. next month. New Secretary to the MORE NEWS ABOUT New Zealand THE WOMEN Trans-Antarctic Association The National Science Foundation, With the posting overseas of Mr after many years of resistance, has Arthur Helm who has served since finally agreed to let six women the inception of the Trans-Antarctic work out of American bases in the Association as its New Zealand Antarctic during the season of ex- Honorary Secretary, the secretarial ploratioen about to begin there. post became vacant. Four of the women make up a It has been filled by the appoint team of scientists formed at the ment of Mr Arnold Heine who has Institute of Polar Studies of Ohio a record of long association with State University. They will study the Ross Dependency particularly in one of the snow-free "dry valleys" glaciological work. Mr Heine has across McMurdo Sound from the also represented the New Zealand main American base. Federated Mountain Clubs as its Another of the women is the wife representative on the New Zealand of Dr Dietland Muller-Schwartze, a T.A.A. for the past two years. biologist at Utah State University. His address is: Mr A. J. Heine, She will go as his assistant. They P.O. Box 2901, Wellington. plan to live and work at the em peror penguin rookery at Cape Crozier near McMurdo Sound. Sale oi Leigh Hunt's Book The sixth female visitor will be Jean Pearson, a reporter for the at Reduced Price "Detroit News", who is president of The trustees of the estate of Mr A. the National Association of Science Leigh Hunt have advised the Antarc Writers. tic Society that they may release Although female researchers in unsold copies of "My Second Home" past years .have sought through the at the reduced cost of $1. National Science Foundation, to Mr A. Leigh Hunt, a close friend work in the Antarctic, they have of Rear-Admiral Richard E. Byrd been turned away on the ground for 30 years, at the age of 90 wrote that the all-male base camps had this book of 91 pages with 13 illus no facilities for women. trations, recalling his close associ The female team from Ohio is led ation with the famous American ex by Dr Lois M. Jones, who will study plorer. It throws a most interesting weathering and salt accumulation light on the Admiral and his New in Lake vanda. Zealand friends and helpers, and re Mrs Eileen R. McSaveney will veals a Byrd little known to most study the glacial history of the area men. Outlined are the principal in the lake's beaches. events of Byrd's five expeditions, Mrs Kay L. Lindsay, an entomolo and in addition there are tributes gist, will study the interaction be to Byrd by writers connected with tween the barren environment and New Zealand, and some personal the meagre life forms. Terry Lee letters. Tickhill will record daily and sea The book was privately printed sonal changes in the chemistry of and all proceeds from the sale are the lake's water. being placed in a trust for the per American women were particu petuation of Byrd's memory. A few larly irked because women from the copies of "My Second Home" are Soviet Union had been allowed to available from the Antarctic Society work at their country's Antarctic at $1 a copy. September, 1969 ANTARCTIC BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY

The Survey will maintain seven bases during the 1970 winter. These include the advance base, Fossil Bluff, in George VI Sound but not Deception Island which will remain closed. In November 1969 the Survey will take over control of South Georgia from the existing administration, continue the present meteorological ob servations, initiate an ionospherics programme and continue the Survey's botanical research for the Bi-Polar Project of the Inter national Biological Programme. The bases' radio modernisation usual at the Scott Polar Research programme is is proceeding, proceeding, and and Racal Racal Institute, Cambridge, at the begin- communication equipment equipment and and asso asso- ning of September. Visiting lec- ciated Creed Creed Teleprinters Teleprinters will will be be in in- turers and guests will include Sir stalled at at a a fourth fourth base, base, Signy Signy Herbert Andrew, who is Permanent Island, during during the the coming coming summer. summer. Under-Secretary of the Department The "John Biscoe" Biscoe" is is also also being being of Education and Science, Sir Ray- equipped with with Marconi Marconi SSB SSB radio radio mond Priestley and Sir Vivian transmitters and and receivers. receivers. Fuchs, Director of thte Survey. A de Havilland Turbo Beaver has been purchased to act as a support aircraft for the Survey's Twin Otter. The two aircraft are at present being prepared for the Antarctic DONATION TO season at de Havilland's factory in Toronto, and will be flown south in TRANS-ANTARCTIC FUNDS November. A few years ago the South Indian It has been agreed with U.S.A.R.P. Ocean Expedition to Heard Island that joint British/U.S. work carried with its headquarters in Australia, out in the Shackleton Range last made a successful expedition to the summer will be continued this com lonely Australian sub-Antarctic ing season. island. Personnel Their Patron was Sir Edmund Captain Tom Woodfield, Master Hillary, and they were supported by of R.R.S. "John Biscoe" has been the New Zealand Alpine Club. Part appointed Master of the new B.A.S. of their financial assistance was vessel now under construction (see granted by the Trans-Antarctic Asso Dec. 1968 issue). Captain David ciation on the recommendation of Turnbull will not be going south in the New Zealand Advisory Com 1969-70, so Captain John Cole will mittee. be in command of the "John When the expedition was being Biscoe". wound up they found that there On 1 October Dr. R. M. Laws will was a surplus from the publication return to the Survey as Head of its of a book on their trip, and they ex Life Sciences Section. Dr. Laws pressed the wish to donate this sur wintered at Signy Island in 1948 and plus to the funds of the Trans- 1949, and at South Georgia in 1951, Antarctic expedition in order that as a member of the Falklands further expeditions would benefit. Islands Dependencies Survey, and Accordingly, the sum of £Stg.89/14/2 carried out a detailed study of the has been remitted to the funds of elephant seal. In recent years he the T.A.A. in London. This gesture has been working in Africa. has been warmly appreciated both The Survey's annual symposium by the New Zealand and London for new recruits is being held as Committees. ANTARCTIC September, 1969

SOUTH GEORGIA: SITE OF THE NEW BRITISH BASE By MISS ANNE TODD. South Georgia is a mountainous, ice-covered island lying between latitudes 54° and 55°S. It extends about 100 miles N.W.- S.E. and varies in width from 3 to 22 miles. It has a cool, wet and windy climate which has been described as "uniformly dismal and often terrible", but there are rare fine days on which the magnifi cence of the peaks and glacier-filled valleys can be fully appre ciated. King Edward Point in Cumberland East Bay, where the British base is situated, is a comparatively favoured locality, as it is sheltered by mountains to the west and frequently warmed by fohn winds. About 60 per cent of the island Whaling in the Antarctic was pioneered by a Norwegian expedi ice, but during the summer small tion under Carl Anton Larsen in coastal plains and valleys are inter 1892-93. Larsen returned in Novem sected by melt-streams and covered ber 1904 to establish Antarctica's by lush vegetation in which tussac first land-based whaling station at grass predominates. These lowlands Grytviken, South Georgia, for the and the lower hills are the home of Compania Argentina de Pesca, and innumerable sea birds and animals, the island has been occupied con some of which remains throughout tinuously since that date. The size the year. of the whaling industry increased HISTORY rapidly, seven stations being in operation by 1912-13. Most com The island was discovered in 1675 panies operated from land stations, by an English merchant, Antonio de but some fished from factory ships la Roche, and this was the first re anchored in-shore, often with addi corded sighting of any of the sub- tional facilities on land as at God- Antarctic islands. It was sighted thul. The introduction in 1925 of again in 1756 but was first surveyed stern slipways on the factory ships by Captain James Cook who took sealed the doom of the industry by possession of it for Great Britain on making it impossible for any auth 17 January, 1775. ority to control the annual catch Following Cook's account of his and so conserve the whale stocks. discoveries, sealers began to visit Consequently, the industry declined the island in 1778, at first in search steadily, although there was a slight of fur seals but later taking ele recovery in 1945, and for the first phant seals and even king penguins time since 1904 there was no whal for their oil. British and American ing from South Georgia in the 1962- vessels took part and the men fre 63 season. However, a Japanese con quently lived on shore for several sortium producing frozen whale months at a time. Their activities meat, leased the facilities at Grytvi reached a climax between 1800 and ken and Leith Harbour in 1963-64 1803 and were on such a scale that and operated there for several the fur seal stocks were devastated. years. The sealers then turned to newly Although few records are avail discovered breeding grounds in the able, the growth of the whaling South Orkneys and South Shetlands, stations and the activities of their but even as late as 1812 there were personnel must have greatly changed still 3,000 men employed at South the island's fauna and flora. Horses, Georgia. sheep, rabbits, rats and two herds September, 1969 ANTARCTIC

of reindeer were introduced, al The first recorded journey inland though only the rats and the rein- to the mountains was the epic cross der have survived. A total of 21 ing of the island by Sir Ernest reindeer were introduced and by Shackleton, Frank Worsley and 1957 these had increased to over Thomas Crean in May 1916, after 4000. sailing 800 miles from Elephant The growth of the whaling in Island where they and their com dustry also led to the establishment panions had been stranded after the of administrative and ancillary ser Endurance had been crushed in the vices. Compania Argentina de Pesca pack ice of the Weddell Sea. A maintained a meteorological station Combined Services Expedition, led at King Edward Point, near Grytvi- by Malcolm Burley, in 1964-65 re traced Shackleton's route from King ken, from January 1905 until it was Hakon Bay to the whaling station taken over first by the Falkland at Stromness. The route was easily Islands Dependencies Survey in identified from the accurate descrip January 1950 and then by the Falk land Islands Dependencies Govern tions given in Shackleton's and ment Administration in January Worsley's accounts, and was found 1952. The Administration, which in to be the only practicable route be cludes a British Stipendiary Macis- tween the two points. Nevertheless, it was so difficult that it seemed in trate, had been established at Kins Edward Point since 1909. This will credible that, after all their priva be replaced later this year by the tions and so ill-equipped, the three British Antarctic Survey which will men should have succeeded in take over part of the existing reaching Stromness in 36 hours, especially as they were travelling station (one large two-storey build over completely unknown land. ing, the power house, meteorological office and various stores). The pro Shackleton was subsequently able gramme of work during the first to organise the rescue of his com year will consist of mcteorologv, panions from Elephant Island. After ionospherics and botany, and will the end of the 1914-18 War, he again be extended later to include zoology, sailed south, this time in the Quest, geology and geophysics. but suffered a heart attack on the way, and died suddenly on 5 January, 1922, while the ship was EXPEDITIONS anchored at Grytviken. His body, which was taken to Montevideo, In addition to the Government was returned to South Georgia at Administration and the whaling the request of Lady Shackleton and stations, a number of refuge huts have been established and occupied is buried at Grytviken. A memorial cross stands on a hill above King by expeditions at various points around the coast. Several expedi Edward Point. tions have also used the otherwise The British Discovery Committee, unoccupied jail at the Point as tem which was set up on the recom porary headquarters! mendation of the Falkland Islands Scientific investigation of the Government but has since been in island started when the German corporated into the National Insti tute of Oceanography, operated a International Polar Year Expedition Marine Biological Laboratory at occupied a station at Royal Bay from August 1882 to September Grytviken from 1925-31. Another 1883. Nordenskjold's ship, the "An laboratory was occupied by a tarctic", under the command of Government Biologist/Sealing In Captain Larsen, wintered there in spector, intermittently from the 1902. Among those on board was 1956-57 season to 1961-62. Dr. Gunnar Andersson, and he and Much of South Georgia has now his companions spent the time ex been traversed and surveyed. A ploring and carrying out scientific 1:200,000 map was produced as a work in a number of areas includ result of Duncan Carse's South ing Royal Bay. Georgia Survey which spent three ANTARCTIC September, 1969

summers in the area (1951-52, 1953- of the dwindling number of 'un 54 and 1955-56) carrying out topo known' areas in the world"—will graphical and geological survey. probably be the most ambitious to Carse completed the work by him be mounted on a joint service basis self in 1956-57. for a quarter of a century. A climbing party, The British Led by Commander M. Burley, of South Georgia Expedition, led by the Royal Navy, 10 men of the ser George Sutton, made an unsuccess vices and a small party of civilian ful attempt to climb Mt Paget in scientists will spend five months on 1954-55, but achieved several other the island, which is about the size first ascents. Another climbing of the Isle of Wight and forms part party, this time from H.M.S. Pro of the South Shetland group. tector, also made an attempt on Mt No British joint service expedition Paget in December 1960, earlier ex has ventured so far south before. peditions having failed to get within The expedition plans to leave Bri 10 miles of the base of the moun tain in October, 1970, and be picked tain because of heavy crevassing. up from the island by the Royal This party succeeded in scaling the Navy's ice patrol ship Endurance, 9,565-ft. west peak, but it was not namesake of Shackleton's vessel, re until 1964-65 that the main peak turning to Britain by air in April of (9,625 ft.) was climbed by the Com the next year. bined Services Expedition. This latter expedition also climbed the The scientific activities under precipitous Sugartop (7,623 ft.), taken will include surveying, geo made the first crossing of the logical, glaciological, zoological and Allardyce Range, and also carried botanical work, while a search will out local surveys. also be made for traces remaining Glaciers south of Grytviken were of the occupation by Shackleton's studied by two men in 1957-58, as expedition more than 50 years ago. part of the British contribution to The first of the only three re the International Geophysical Year. corded landings on the beach of the A South Georgia Biological Ex island, mountainous and covered pedition, led by Lance Tickell, with a permanent ice-cap with the worked at the western end of South highest peak about the same height Georgia and on Bird Island in the as Mt Snowdon, was in April 1916, 1958-59 summer, primarily studying by Sir Ernest Shackleton and sur albatrosses and other birds but also v i v o r s o f h i s I m p e r i a l Tr a n s - assisting the Government Biologist Antarctic Expedition. in a census of fur seals. This work They reached sanctuary on Ele was continued under the aegis. of phant Island—so called because of the U.S. Antarctic Research Pro its dense population of elephant gramme in 1960-61 and 1967-68, as seals—in three boats after their part of a bi-polar project. Fifty-one expedition ship Endurance had been species of vascular plants of which crushed and sunk in the pack ice 24 are native were found. in the Weddell Sea. The expedition remained maroon ed on a small spit while Shackleton and five companions made their 600- mile sea passage for help to South Georgia. Commander Burley, the expedi ELEPHANT ISLAND tion's leader, is already familiar with the South Shetland Islands, having EXPEDITION dived from Deception Island, spent some time living ashore on Living A British expedition next year to stone Island and having taken part explore the Elephant Island group in a helicopter rescue on Greenwich in the Antarctic—described as "one Island. September, 1969 ANTARCTIC RUSSIAN NEWS

PEACEFUL ROCKETS OF THE ago. At the moment, it has four ANTARCTIC editions. Its output is 9,500 words On May 25, an unusual orange per week, with telegraphic co flare illuminated the grey peaks of ordination with Moscow. the Antarctic rocks. Mighty thunder TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION shattered the silence of the icy IN THE ANTARCTIC wilderness. Here, at the southern station of "Molokyozhnaya". Soviet The first experimental teleprinter scientists launched their first communications system was estab meteorological rocket. lished between the southern polar observatory, Mirny, and the Belling- It was communicated to the Tass hausen Station on the island of correspondents in the Arctic and Waterloo. to the Antarctic Institute, that such From the Western Antarctic to launchings would be carried out the Eastern Antarctic, a distance of regularly in future on the continent. almost 6,000 kilometres, operative These meteorological rockets rise to meteorological facts have begun to a height of 100 kilometres, com be teleprinted. pared with the ordinary weather balloon's 30 to 40 kilometres. This ANTARCTIC ICE MYSTERY will allow the study of the struc SOLVED tural and physical properties of the The question "Why are there no higher regions of the atmosphere. ice formations in the Antarctic?" This great event marked the com has puzzled polar explorers. In pletion of the colossal task of erect spite of the North and South Poles ing the base for the rocket research. having similar climatic conditions, Construction of the meteorological ice hummocks or huge ice form research rocket base began in the ations exist only in the Arctic. winter of 1968. The base is built of Recently, this question has been aluminium polymeric materials and answered. During the last Russian fibreglass, on a foundation sup expedition, a Leningrad scientist, V. ported by steel piles. In the con Buinitsky, found that microscopic fines of this "building" it is possible diatoms often settle in the pores of to carry out research work, Antarctic ice. The thawed salty assemble rockets and to launch water is a wonderful biological stimulator for their propagation them, regardless of the weather. and as a result dense colonies form. The rockets are delivered to the The ice is then weakened and eaten launching position by a transporter rail, travelling above the ground at away. a height of 1 to 3 metres. This new Special research carried out by Buinitsky proves that 'contaminated' Soviet rocket complex makes pos ice is 40% weaker than 'pure' ice. sible the most complicated experi Since hummocks are formed as a ments connected with Antarctic result of tremendous pressures conditions. which cause enormous bulges in the ANTARCTIC NEWSPAPER ice, it would seem that Antarctic ice, weakened by the microscopic The radio newspaper of the diatoms is unable to withstand U.S.S.R.'s Fleets of the Ministry of these pressures, and crumbles. Marine communicates fresh news from our most distant polar bases. THE FIRST ATLAS OF THE The paper's staff consists of 10 men CONTINENT HAS BEEN and it reaches its readers more COMPLETED quickly than any other paper. This Nowhere have there been as paper is published by teleprinter. many discoveries in the last few This most southern of all papers years as in Antarctica. To begin first appeared more than 30 years with, everything was unknown, ANTARCTIC September, 1969 everything seemed to be surrounded Only a few months had passed, by insurmountable difficulties. But when on 28 January. 1820, the after exhausting periods under sailors of the 'Vostok' and the penetrating winds and snow storms, Mirny' sighted the icy shores of after unbelievably hard winters that new world. Because of the icy when regardless of the weather, conditions, the two sloops were un scientific observations were made, able to approach the shore. Dur geological samples taken, ice masses ing February and March, the 'Vos blown up, etc. the facts have finally tok' and 'Mirny' approached the been discovered, collected and shores of the Antarctic continent on published. two further occasions, in the hope Just recently, the second volume of being able to make a landing, of the U.S.S.R. "Atlas of the but instead had to be satisfied with Antarctic" has been released. The observing the waters. When further first volume is a collection of about sailing became impossible because one thousand varied maps, graphs, of the approach of the Antarctic autumn, the sloops set course for diagrams, outlines and sketches. Port Jackson (Sydney) in Australia. The second volume is a descrip tion of the nature of Antarctica, The expedition of 22 January, 1821, discovered an island now the history of its discovery and ex named after Peter. I. After a week, ploration. The names of famous the Russians in their sloops dis explorers of the Southern polar covered a narrow strip of land regions, the first discoverers of the which they called Alexander's Land. Antarctic, Bellingshausen and Laza- pedition not only discovered the served in this Antarctic epic. Antarctic, but laid the foundations for its scientific study. The atlas describes the Soviet An tarctic expeditions and the compli The journey to the Poles of the earth was the result of the interest cated research carried out in the in the I icy region. There are also the first ever diagrams of the geological data of the Antarctic, and new facts about the climate. A separate sec tion of the map is dedicated to the It is not known who actually dis waters and ice of the Southern covered Antarctica. It may have ocean. A section on "Biology" con been Captain Cook, who claimed to tains a description of the animal have seen a 'great white continent',, and plant life of the Antarctic. or it may have been whalers. An American, Wilkes, made known his TO THE POLES OF discovery in 1815. as did the Rus THE EARTH sians in 1816. "Water Transport" of Moscow, It was not until January 1956 contains the following account: that Soviet explorers stepped on to "One hundred and fifty years ago, the icy Antarctic continent. Over 13 four ships left the port of Kron- stadt and sailed together to the shores of Brazil. After a stop at Rio and research, and man's constant de Janeiro, the expedition divided struggle with Nature. into two parts. The South-bound expedition comprised the two sloops 'Vostok' and 'Mirny', under the command of Bellingshausen and Apology Lazarev, and with a crew of 181 The New Zealand Antarctic men between them, they headed for Society regrets that the disorganisa the far South in search of land tion resulting from the departure masses. At the beginning of the of Mr A. S. Helm to Rarotonga at 19th century, it was generally be rather short notice has considerably lieved that there was no land as delayed the production of this issue far South as that. of "Antarctic." September, 1969 ANTARCTIC

WHALING ENDS APPLICATION CALLED FOR The whaling flotilla "Sovetskaya GRANTS TO EXPEDITIONS Rossia" returned at the end of June Applications are again being called to Vladivostok from its cruise to for assistance to those who require the Antarctic. financial help for Antarctic work. When the Trans-Antarctic Expedi ' In :ft JanuaryBatumi in the the tanker Black "Elbrus" Sea for tion came to be finally wound up, there was a considerable cash sur /vntarctica with a cargo of 10,000 plus left, due to the payment of tons of fuel and nine men of the some royalties for books and film relief party for the XIV SAE. In rights accruing after all accounts February the ship "Vytegrales" left had been met. Leningrad with eight men of the By agreement between the Lon wintering party on board, and con don and New Zealand Expedition s t r u c t i o n m a t e r i a l s f o r t h e Committees, this sum was placed Expedition. into a Capital Account and invested, The Soviet geochemists at Vostok and from the income received by Station are conducting measure way of interest, grants are made ments on the matter content and available each year for Antarctic :ntensity of precipitation of cosmic exploration or for projects associ .natter. In the region of Molodezh ated with the Antarctic. naya Station studies are being One-third of the proceeds is avail undertaken to measure the thick able for applications lodged with ness of the ice cover with radar the New Zealand Advisory Commit sounding and barometric levelling tee, and two-thirds for applications from aeroplanes. At Queen Maud dealt with in the United Kingdom. Land the geological-geophysical re There is a three-year accumulative searches are continuing. Deep crus period, and any money left un tal and upper mantle studies with expended at the end of that period the method of seismic sounding are is added to the Capital Account. conducted near Novolazarevskaya. The amount in the Capital Account is at present approx. £Stg.25,000. Applications for the 1970-71 season from the New Zealand sector will close with Mr A. J. Heine, Secretary, New Zealand Advisory Committee, Trans-Antarctic Association, P.O. Box 2901, Wellington, New Zealand, on February 1, 1970. Enquiries should contain as full information as possible of the pur pose for which assistance is sought, OBITUARY the aims and objects of exploration, the personnel and qualifications of The death occurred suddenly in expedition members, the amount of Wellington on August 19 of Mr financial assistance sought, the total Campbell Garner, aged 58, who had cost of the expedition, etc. There is served with Rear-Admiral Richard no special application form. E. Byrd in his 1933 Expedition. Mr Enquiries for grants from the Garner was a crew member of the United Kingdom should be made "Jacob Ruppert". He has also served to: Mrs E. Honnywill, Secretary, on Norwegian whalers and had Trans-Antarctic Association, 30 Gil- visited Campbell Island as well. lingham Street, London, S.W.I, Eng land. A long-time member of the Wel The final decision on awards is lington Branch of the New Zealand made by the Committee of Manage Antarctic Society, Mr Garner is sur ment in London, consisting of repre vived by his widow, and by two sentatives from both the United sons both of whom are overseas. Kingdom and New Zealand. ANTARCTIC September, 1969 NEWS FROM THE SUB-ANTARCTIC

has paid us back by looking really CAMPBELL ISLAND (N.Z.) smart and operating the same way. NEWS August, and eight weeks to go. All attacked work with renewed vigour, and again the paint brush came Mr Brian Smith, the Officer in into prominence both inside and Charge at Campbell Island, has for out. The hostel lounge is a changed warded the following article by room with its bright new paint. The wharf buildings wear their new radio-telephone. mantle well, and the whole wharf "My last rambling ended with us area has been spruced up. looking forward to the promised air drop on mid-winter's day celebra This last few weeks have plagued tions. We were not disappointed. us with underground power cable faults requiring a good deal of work After being delayed some 48 hours not anticipated. Nor has the medi due to weather, mid-day of June 21 cal department lacked custom. brought up a Bristol Freighter There has always been someone re trundling down harbour. A magnifi quiring attention, and a couple of cent sight to us, and even bettered more involved cases where they when a total of 17 parachuted loads were happily successfully overcome. drifted to earth in perfect safety, landing in a radius of some 50 feet. At the time of writing our servic ing ship, the "Holmdale", has for As soon as all gear was cleared to the umpteenth time just had her the hostel the entire expedition schedule changed. However, no braved the briney for a mid-winter doubt she will arrive, and we will swim, having earlier arranged return home, and of course we are through 4ZA that we be sponsored all rather excited at the prospect. at $1 per head, proceeds to I.H.C. An all time record I should think. It has been a good year with a good team, and we would wish the Mid-winter's day dinner in the incoming OIC Peter Julius, and his evening was a resounding success, 1969/70 Expedition all the very best enhanced of course by fresh fruit for their year in the Sub-Antarctic. and vegetables. The 1969/70 Expedition personnel The end of June was paused for at Campbell Island will be: the ceremony of "cutting the calen dar"—two straight months to go, Officer in Charge: Peter Julius. and morale was on the rise along Mechanic: A. H. Dazeley. with lengthening days. Telecommunications Technician: C. M. Brunton. July brought us back to the possi bility of outdoor work. The major Cook: B. D. George. process being a complete overall of Electronics Technician: To be the station boat "Aurora". And to appointed. accomplish this the motor was re Ionosphere Observer: P. J. Owens. moved and the whole boat lifted from the water using the wharf Senior Met. Observer: David Paull. crane. From the wharf into the Met. Observer: M. O'Donohue. wharf store (with about two inches Met. Observer: M. B. Crompton. to spare), and there we left it until *Met. Observer: R. J. Taylor. September 19 when it was re launched. A tremendous amount of *Met. Observer: J. M. Carr. work has been done on her, but she *For the summer season only. September, 1969 ANTARCTIC

The reason for the application to GIANT CRABS FROM lease the area was because he con sidered that the whole operation AUCKLAND ISLANDS had to be done in an orderly fashion otherwise it would fail. From time to time surveys have There was keen competition in been carried out by vessels the crab market from Russia, interested in probing the potential Japan and the United States, and of crabs around the shores of the high quality must be maintained. stormy Auckland Islands. The project would entail a huge Now a Wellington company is capital investment. hoping to develop a big export mar The 60,000 acres that Capricorn ket by fishing for and processing Fisheries required to lease was bounded by the shore from low fiantucklands, crabs which 190 miles abound south at the of water and extended from Signboard Stewart Island. Point, about two-thirds up the The company. Capricorn Fisheries eastern coast and around to the Ltd., which already operated six south-west cape on the other side crayfish boats in the Chatham of the main island. It also embraced Islands is applying for a lease of the whole of Adams or Smith 60,000 acres for five years. Island, the smaller of the Aucklands, The species of crab to be farmed and Carnley Harbour—a large is the "Jacquinota Edwardsii". stretch of water between the two The general manager of the com islands. pany (Mr A. K. Begg) said in Wel lington that last year Eastern Capri The main, or Auckland Island, corn Fisheries chartered the former measures 25 to 30 miles in length Northern Company's coaster Hoto- and is 15 miles across at its widest nui and spent a week around the part, is wooded and covered abund Auckland Islands making a major antly with vegetation. Peaks rise to a height of 2,000 feet. survey. "It is not a King Crab but a very large kind and a species peculiar to New Zealand," he said. It is be lieved that the crab is not found anywhere else around the main or outer islands, but there are similar species in other parts of the world. MEASURE Mr Begg said that the crab must be processed on the spot, and it was ANTARCTIC ICE a highly technical process. A British scientific team will leave Thrp.p vf>ar<; nan Mr Rprrrr won a 1 Antarctica next month to carry — u Jt'ishing ««u Lne first extensive and syste Company. He spent some time in matic measurement of the depth of Alaska, studying new techniques in the ice cap. The team, from the fish processing. Scott Polar Research Institute. Cam The crabs at the Auckland Islands bridge, will be led by Dr G. Robin, were "very tasty and prolific," he the institute's director. said. The team will use three specially- Following the sending of samples designed radio echo-sounders overseas, and a good deal of re mounted in a U.S. Navy Hercules search, an overseas market had aircraft. The plane is being con been obtained. verted for this project at the Lock The new industry would entail heed factory in Georgia. stationing a ship at the Aucklands, The team will travel via Washing and the company already had one ton to Harewood Airport, Christ in mind. It would not be a con church, New Zealand, where they verted coaster, but a proper factory will install their equipment in the vessel. plane. ANTARCTIC September, 1969 THE READER WRITES Sidelights of Antarctic Research Letters, preferably not longer than 500-600 words, are invited from readers who have observed some little known facet of Antarctic life or who have reached conclusions of interest on some Antarctic problem.—Ed.

18 Coopers Lane, 'Mirny' and copies of several maps. Lee, London, S.E. 12. Placed inconspicuously in one corner U.K. is a metal chair with the words, 8 September, 1969. "Presented to Mirny by South Pole Dear Sir, Station", painted in red on the back. The final part of the display is MUSEUM OF THE ARCTIC AND taken up with Russian equipment ANTARCTIC, LENINGRAD. and there are several cases full of just returned from the scientific instruments. In another c. I thought readers might corner stands an insulation suit. It io hear about the Museum of looked rather menacing for the ex the Arctic and Antarctic. hibits here are not very well lit. The Museum, established as an I found it very difficult through Arctic Museum in 1937, is. like my lack of knowledge of Russian many other Russian museums, and I have net mentioned several established in an old church. The things that I saw for fear of mis Arctic, of course, dominates the dis leading others by my actual inter play and much attention is given to pretation of the Russian notices. In the North East Passage, Floating my opinion the subject is thorough Ice Stations and the Russian Arctic. ly covered and is definitely instruc- -. The Antarctic Section is situated tive for the Russian layman. in the high dome of the church. (There is of course no lift.) On J. M. WILKINSON. entering you are immediately con fronted with the flags of die An tarctic Treaty Nations and a glass case full of stuffed penguins. The layout of the exhibits is not well POLAR QUAKES done. In whichever direction you Recordings of earthquakes which set out, you have Soviet achieve might have originated in the An ment thrust upon you. Once past tarctic continent have been made at this you come to a Natural History Vanda Station, says Mr D. R. C. Section which contains several jars Lowe of Auckland, the leader of the of preserved whalemeat and pen station's staff for the 1969-70 re guin organs. Further round is the search programme. It has been section on Antarctic History. thought that earthquakes do not As opposed to the Arctic display happen in Antarctica and none has some coverage is given to foreign been diagnosed previously. But explorers. There are several brightly small earthquakes, believed to have coloured maps. One interesting one originated in the Terra Nova Bay illustrates the routes of Scott and region north of Scott Base have Amundsen to the Pole. Alongside been recorded on seismological each route there are vignettes show equipment at Vanda Station re ing Scott's party manhauling and cently. To confirm the incidence of Amundsen's dogs. Surprisingly, very earthquakes and assist in defining little space is given over to Bell their location, seismological equip ingshausen. In this context there are ment will be installed at the station models of the ships 'Vostok' and at Cape Hallett. joj 'utoA Suiipiqoj e uj •Suqjejqjua 'HSV— jo jjoqs Suiqjou aje uoiijay 'sjiordxa aiSejj uajjb pue snojuo'd jo s'junoa •A^iejqq oiiojejuy AjaAa jo saApqs -db ssaujiAvaAa 'sapijje jadedsMau 3qi uo „isnui„ e se pspusiuuioasj pue saij'eip uiojj ''saSed rejaAas aq ueo qoiqA\ jjooq e si siqx jo juajxa ' aqj oj uajjo 'unjeqjaA •jusaijiuSeui pajonb seq joqine aqj 'ptreq jaqjo A"[n.ii 3je 'jnojoo ui Ajjeinbiijed aqj uo 'ajojs puefsj auenboepv 'asoqj jo A"ueui pue '33'ubj spiav'ajsa jeijuassa aqj mojjoj oj ' jmoiuip C UIOJJ 3JB3 qjIAV p3J33[3S U33q 3ABq ji sasreui sauiijamos jajjeiu snoauejj sqdciSoioqd sqi 'psjejjsnjii A"[ssnj -xa qons "spirei^pny aqj pue pireisT -ojj, -uoijeuuojui psjinbsa ' Aue jo [jaqduieo ajrq spueisi aijajejuy-qns 3ui>jDaqo A"sea sajqeua xapui poo3 y jaqjo uo sSuiuaddeq 'saaijd pue uoij •Ajeajx oija-reiuy gqj jo jxai aqi ino -anpojd jio jo siiejap ' 'samedtuo'a sias jaqioue ajrqAY 'Suipeaj jaqjjnj s(diqs jo sjsq :jap'eaj Ajeuipjo aqi jo lsq e surejiioa xipiiadde auo oj jsajajui ajjjii ApAijtqaj jo jrejap qanui apnjoui oj uiiq pal aAeq a§pa[ •luauquoa -avouj( apiM pue Ajisouno a[qeijesui aqj uo ajq pjiq aqj oj ajaqdsouije ua\o s,uojsdum3 jq :j|nj ui ji'peaj jaddn aqj uiojj saidoj. jo a3uej oj jubav ijiav auoAjaAa jon *js'ajajui apiA\ Apuiajjxa ue 'puejsjapun oj jre jo qnj aumjoA e si jjnsaj aqx joj Asea a3en3ue[ ui 'jno sjas ji joj •paapui ijooq SumjeAvaj jsoui 'e si •sjeaA pajuaui siqj 'jeinoijjed ui 'ueuiAei 3M1 JOJ -naop Ajjapuajs asoqj jo sjoaia -jns aqj qjiA\ SAvaiAjajui pue aoiia •aSeAoA -puodsajjoa' Aq paqij 'iiajjo 'sdeS puoaas siq uo jisia s^ooq urejde^ aqj. pue ajeo juaSqip'qjiAv pauiurexa aouis suoijipadxa jofeui aqi 'ue jo uaaq aAeq sjduashueui pauA\o-XpjBA junoaae uajjUM naAV 'jnq jjoqs e Sui -ud pue saAiipje 'sajij jadedsA\au -aiS 'Jea^ jebisAqdoar) jeuoijeujajuj 'puejeaz A\ajsi pue eqejjsny ui saue aqj pue aiioiejuy aqj jo SuqiaAun -jqn 'SJeaA 031 sso'qj J3ao Ajojstq aqj sjaAoa 3{ooq aqj jo qjjij-suQ oiSejji uajjo pue snonjsaduiaj s(puef •Apuip ueqj ajoui si 'ajsqj -SJ auenboepv jo sjiejap jsajnuiui jno psujeo Suisq jjjom aijijusps aqj jno jajjaj oj. (aayjo s(jauois 3qj jo Suqpj 'jjooq e qans''uorJsj -siuiukt) qS}H ueqejjsny aq) ui ajaq 3qj ui jS3J3jui ue 3uiA\oqs oid'osd aaiAjas jo sjeaA siq Suunp puej jo sjsquinu J33je[ 'pue aijajej -eaz A\ajvi ui ua\ou>j-J[oa\) uojsdum3 -uy sqj ui jno psujea 3upq jjjom JC pajqeua aAeq ipujA\ uoijeuiiu aijijusps 3Joui piie 3Joui qj?M -jajap pue aauajsisjad' 'aauaijed aqi aAeq sueuojsiq A\aj '££61 ul luaui •uisqj jo ssn jssq -ujaAOQ ueiueuisex aqi Aq Ajenj, sqj speui Ajuiejjsa seq sh -pUBll °1 -oues ajq-piiAV e pajepap sbav ji itij 3so[a ssDjnossj psqeAuun seq snqj '0181 'II ^FVT uo (qSjnqpsseH ~i\ou3 pue 'sjnjijsuj qojeasa"a Jejoj qjnog -pajj 'jdeQ) ^aauejaAasjaj,, pss'aA sqj jo jsaujo uoijeuijojuj pue Suqeas aqj Aq AjaAoasip sji uiojj ueuejqn sqj osje si 'oqA\ joqjne ire 'jjeqojj jo qjnos sajiui piiesnoqj jo p3josdx3 3q pinoAv siqx 'P3lld e 'puejsi auenboejjv, aijajejuy-qns -uioa ussq seq ^ooq pipusjds siqj jo Ajojsiq aqj jo junoaae aAisuaq qaiqAV uiojj jeusjeui aiseq sqj ojui -ajduioa AJ3A pue pajuauinaop Aqnj subs seq qajesssj jo |B3p jbsjS y -ajea e si aumjoA jeijuejsqns siqx •-/SI/33 W£$ Bqejjsny ui aauj nodijj -^-q 'ssjnSy pue sdeui •sdeui **nf 'dd 08£ 'Bqejjsny 'BJJaq 'su6ijejjsn[[i 3jiqA\' pue ^aejq -ue3 'aoyjo Surjuuj juauiujaAOQ pue'jnojoa 'dd gn '(,%\ 'uopuoq •qouejg suoijeaqqnj uojsdumQ 'sssjj pjojpueig Aq psqsqqnj s f ^q cinvisi aravaODvw •gu!^ "H O 'H ^q 3II3HV1NV 3HI laiaHssooa oixoavjiNV

ouoaviNV 696 V Maqwajdes ANTARCTIC September, 1969

instance, is the story of how an ex- over, to have the island declared a convict extracted the latitude and sanctuary and the slaughter stopped. longitude of the 'new' island, in Slaughter is not too strong a word. formation which sent the "Lively" During the early period when the to "McQuarry Island" to share in sea-elephant was the main target, the profits of the seal-slaughter one ship, the 'Elizabeth and Mary', which ensued. And there are grip reached Sydney in 1811 with 17.037 ping first-hand tales of the hard skins. Later in the same year 'Per- ships suffered by sealing gangs left, severence' arrived with 35,740 skins. for reasons good or bad, for long In 1824 twelve vessels were engaged periods without relief: in the trade. But 1894 the slaughter had "practically ceased", for fairly "As to the island, it is the most obvious reasons. Attention was now wretched place of involuntary and directed to the penguin population. slavish exilium that can possibly be A skilled observer reported in 1900 conceived"; "The wretched stone that during the short season (Janu and turf-walled and grass-roofed ary to March) "as many as 2,000 hovels they inhabit are rendered as birds" (Royal penguins) "can be put dismal and dingy thereby as the in terior of an Esquimaux palace, and through the digesters in a day". send forth an odour to which that New Zealanders will be particu of the nightman's museum of foul larly interested in the activities of abominations is myrrh and frankin Joseph Hatch of Southland. For cense." some years a not very enthusiastic chemist in Invercargill, in 1878 he Sometimes near-starvation ensued. fitted out the 'Nancy' and soon be "About the middle of July all we came deeply involved in the Mac had left was a few pounds of dry quarie Island oiling industry. He tea, a small cask of flour, a few was a controversial figure through packets of hops and a cask of hard out his colourful career, Mayor of sea biscuit, so for the next four Invercargill 1877-78, a Member of months we had sea-elephants' Parliament 1884-87, and was always tongues and hearts, penguins' hearts much in the public eye until the and livers when we could get them cancellation of his licence in 1920, . . . The end of November would when he was 82. He several times have just about seen us starved visited Macquarie Island, and was out." But a ship arrived a few frequently involved in litigation weeks before that time. Others were over his oil trade activities. He was not so lucky. No fewer than ten a tough man, but Dr Cumpston ships were wrecked either on the seems to have disposed of the alle island or at sea en route to or gations that the penguins were from it, between the years 1812 and herded into the digesters at Hatch's 1914. In six of these there was loss works on the island and boiled of life. alive. The climate is generally described Of considerable interest also are in superlatives; "The weather was the first-hand reports of such keen usually misty to foggy with light and qualified observers of the rain, almost invariably accompanied natural life on the island as Pro by strong winds to gales . . . Snow fessor A. Hamilton of Otago Uni fell in every month." versity in 1894, and taxidermist J. R. Burton of the Colonial Museum. The first half of the book deals Wellington. Their reports are quoted almost exclusively with the seal and at considerable length. sea-elephant hunting till 1894. while a good part of the second half deals One of several shipwrecks de with the slaughter of the King and scribed is that of the 'Bencleugh', Royal penguins for their oil, chiefly which left Port Chalmers for Mac during the period 1890-1919, and quarie Island and was driven on to with the ultimately successful efforts the rocks off one of the usual of Sir DouglasMawson, backed up anchorages on August 6, 1877, with by nature-conservationists the world the loss of one life. One of the September, 1969 ANTARCTIC owners, John Thomson, was on out of sugar. The pie was made of board and Dr Cumpston draws on sea-elephants' hearts and tongues his description of the disaster. Four and was "excellent". McKibbin de teen days after the wreck another clined to leave the island, "Why vessel arrived, but left without the should I?" he asked. "I'm happy castaways, who "set to work to enough here, and have all I want. make themselves as comfortable as I'm glad to have seen you though, possible." A stove was made for the and hope you get safe home." The Captain's cabin from a five gallon new oiling party arrived on August oil drum, and a lamp to burn ele 9, McKibbin stayed on with them. phant oil from a meat tin. The wick Supplies ran short: butter was ex was a fragment of moleskin hausted on March 18. sugar on the trousers. Quite neat and serviceable 28th, flour oh April 1, oatmeal and clothing was made from Bencleugh's haricot beans on the 10th, tea on sails. As the men were short of the 15th and biscuits on May 4. footwear, moccasins were eventually "From that time onwards thev lived fashioned from sea-leopards' skins. on penguin and elephant hearts, Dried grass proved to be a useful tongues and steak, and Maori hens substitute for socks. (wekas) and Maori cabbage." The whole party was relieved by the Government steamer 'Hinemoa' on "The party lived on scones, fried on an old broken shovel, damper July 25, 1910. cooked overnight in the ashes, and Dr Cumpston's muted narrative pancakes. They found three large leaves the reader in no doubt that bottles of lime juice, and a quantity life on Macquarie Island in the of liquid sugar in the bottom of a barrel, left in the hut by the pre 1800's meant normally hardship fre vious occupants. For vegetable they quently privation and sometimes death, either by shipwreck or by used Macquarie 'cabbage', which some misadventure coupled with was a combination of parsnip and the bleak, inhospitable environment. cabbage, and not particularly palat able. When the penguin eggs began (In 1915 the highest temperature to arrive, and the men commenced was 49.3° F. and the lowest 24.3° F. to work among oil they fattened The sun shone for only 377.5 hours visibly." They were finally relieved during the year.) on November 27. There were sporadic revivals of sealing and penguin oiling, but the Personal stories include that of end of commercial exploitation William McKibbin, who landed from came with the closing down of the the 'Jessie Niccol' in late 1908. Mc Southern Isles Exploitation Com Kibbin was then 51. The party was pany Limited in 1919. relieved in March, 1909, but McKib bin elected to stay on alone with A minor annoyance for the reader his two dogs, in spite of the warn of this notable book is the arbitrary ings suggested by such inscriptions division into chapters with little as "The Lord help us. We are starv unity of subject and sometimes mis ing" and "Flour and tea finished. leading chapter headings. There are Living on biscuits". When Shackle 70 fine illustrations, but these are ton's 'Nimrod' called on her way nearly all unobtrusively bunched at home to England on May 25, Cap the end of the book, where much tain J. K. Davis went ashore and of their potential value to illustrate was escorted by "our Crusoe-like the text is liable to be lost. But one friend" to his "very warm and com must end with a round of hearty fortable and scrupulously clean" applause for a splendid piece of hut. He put in front of Davis a historical research which is at the "large brown juicy pie, and a crisp same time a veritable treasure loaf both fresh from the oven", house of thrilling stories. apologising because the bread was not as good as usual because he was ANTARCTIC September, 1969

POLAR OPERATIONS by Captain The foreword is by Rear Admiral Edwin A. Macdonald. U.S.N. George Dufek (Retd.), the first (Retd.). Published by the U.S. Commander of Operation Deep Naval Institute, Annapolis, Mary Freeze. The book is dedicated to land, U.S.A. Contains 239 pp, and those early captains who dared to freely illustrated. pit their small, weak vessels against the dangers and unknowns of the Captain MacDonald has journeyed to both the Antarctic and the Arctic The book is most attractively regions many times, both during his bound and printed on a heavy white naval career and since his retire ment from the Navy. gloss paper. The price is not yet known, and only two complimentary During his naval career, Captain copies have reached New Zealand. MacDonald gained extensive experi Polar Operations provides the ence and knowledge of the polar first thorough, practical explanation regions. He served as Deputy Com of the technology and techniques of mander of Antarctic Operation Deep sailing and surviving in polar Freeze, Task Group Commander of waters. the Weddell Sea Group, Command Captain MacDonald covers a broad ing Officer of the Hydrographic and range of topics vital to success and Oceanographic Vessel U.S.S. Tanner, survival in Arctic and Antarctic Cold Weather (Polar) Planning operations, such as the polar en Officer for the Office of Naval vironment, design criteria for ice Operations and Commanding Officer breakers, icebreaking techniques and of the icebreaker U.S.S. Burton the special problems of navigation Island (A.G.B.—1). and piloting near the earth's poles. It will thus be appreHat*H that LEN DONNELLEY, his extensive Polar back0 him admirably to write with such authority on the subject of ship operations in polar regions. He was THE ICE ADMIRAL by Jack Mc- responsible for the ship re-supply of Clenaghan. Published by Whit- U.S. Antarctic Stations and for co combe and Tombs Ltd., New Zea ordinating U.S. operations in the land, 1969. 238 pp. N.Z. price: Antarctic. $3.60. This novel, by a New Zealand The chapters cover: The Environ writer, deals with tu' K1 ■•"•■ u ment, Polar Icebreakers and Boats, tensions nnH thp l Icebreaking, The Ice Convoy. Voy age Procedures. Iceworking Vessels and Polar Boats. Polar Navigation, Christchurch and in the Ross Ice Seamanship, Wintering over, Dependency. Safety and Survival. It is obvious that the author has Appendices cover the following: not only done considerable research Wind Class Plans, Cargo and Traffic but has a knowledge of the Antarc on Sea Ice, Ice Prognostication and tic and of the Deep Freeze opera Reporting Aids, Icebreakers by tions around which he has built his Countries, Finland's Board of Navi story. gation Rules, Institutions Co-ordinat Not all the novel is set in modern ing Polar Research Programmes, times down south, for there is a Tables, and finally Glossary. long flash-back to pre-Deep Freeze days in the Bay of Whales which The book is not a fiction story helps to portray the type of man but a thesis on Polar exploration, the Ice Admiral, Peter Canaris, is, particularly Sea Operations and is and sets the pattern for his later written with such an extensive behaviour. knowledge that no ship can afford The book moves at a good pace to sail to Polar regions without it and interest heightens to a fitting in the Ship's Library. It is a must climax to the story. on any Antarctic bookshelf. —A.S.H. September, 1969 ANTARCTIC

THE SEVENTH CONTINENT by Daphne Machin Goodall. Pub CARETAKERS FOR lished by The Priory Press Ltd., Royston, England, 1969. 74 pp., HISTORIC HUTS U.K. price 42s. Colour and black and white illustrations. This beautifully produced book Caretakers are essential on the An has some splendid illustrations, and tarctic continent now that touricm a foreword by Lord Mountevans, has reached those icy shores. the son of Scott's companion. How :sult of the New Zealand Antarctic ivision of D.S.I.R. concern, the ever, the text is not comparable to the illustrations, and there are far Canterbury Branch of the N.Z. An too many errors of spelling. tarctic Society will provide care The author, who is a keen horse takers or curators for historic j ' woman has an impressive array of on the ice. books on horses to her credit, had In a letter to the Canterbury the opportunity of joining the first Branch the Superintendent of the tourist party to travel by sea to Division (Mr R. B. Thomson) said: the Antarctic regions. Judging by "We are now approaching a new her own account she is not very stage in Antarctica with the advent adept at making friends in a new of tourists and other additional group, and thus seems to have lost people visiting McMurdo Sound." some of the enjoyment of the trip, Because of this change the which, in any case was largely D.S.I.R. are concerned for the pr< limited to a visit to the sub- servation of the historic huts a Antarctic Islands. their contents at Cape Royds ana This is her first travel book, and it is a pity that she did not check Cape Evans. her title before publication and thus A proposal to set up a museum avoid duplication of a name already and zoo at Cape Royds and to seek used. assistance from Society members for caretaking and guidance of or —A.S.H. ganised tourist tours would involve two men spending a few weeks at Cape Royds during the peak season. Between the arrival of visitors ICE FOR THE they would be required to clean the area, undertake some basic scien DESERTS tific studies such as meteorology and repair and maintain Shackle A U.S. expert has said Antarctic ton's hut and the summer hut in icebergs could be towed around the which they would live. world to irrigate the Australian The Canterbury Branch has wel desert. comed this great opportunity for Dr Wilford Weeks, of the U.S. many members to visit Scott Base Army Cold Regions Research and and Cape Royds and at the same Engineering laboratory at Hanover, time take an active part in preserv made the suggestion at Cambridge ing Shackleton's hut and safeguard during a hydrology symposium of ing the nearby penguin rookery. experts from 18 nations. Antarctic icebergs as tall as a The Branch has circulated all skyscraper and with the area of a members for men interested in at large airport could be towed by least three weeks on the ice be giant tugs to the north-western tween November 12 and December Australian desert and the Atacama 30. desert in South America, beached, Because it is expected that this and the melted fresh water pumped will be a continuing activity each inland, he said. year the Branch will encourage a [This is by no means the first pool of interested members to apply time that this suggestion has been not only for this season, but for made—or something very like it.] future years. ANTARCTIC September, 1969 A CLOSER LOOK AT ANTARCTIC EARTHQUAKES By R. D. ADAMS. Antarctica is by far the least active of the continents as far as earthquakes are concerned. Maps of world seismicity leave a blank over Antarctica, except for some shocks associated with volcanic eruptions on the Graham Land Peninsula, to the south of South America. Up to the time of the Inter the close of access for the winter, national Geophysical Year, it was 27 local events were recorded at thought that earthquakes of moder Vanda, of which nine were big ate magnitude, say up to 5 or even enough to be recorded at Scott Base 6, could periodically have occurred also. To our surprise, these nine in Antarctica without being detected events did not come from near Mt in other parts of the world. The Erebus, or from the edge of the recordings at many first-order Ross Ice Shelf to the east of Scott seismograph stations in Antarctica Base, but from about 160 miles to since 1956 have failed to detect any the north of both stations, near such earthquakes, and the compara Terra Nova Bay on the Victoria tive aseismicity of Antarctica still Land Coast. The magnitudes of the remains one of the puzzles of geo earthquakes as measured at Scott physics. Small shocks have been Base are between about 2i and 3, detected close to individual stations, but the earthquake energy seems to however, but the spacing of stations propagate exceptionally well to in the Antarctic is still too great for Vanda, giving a magnitude there any of these earthquakes to have that is sometimes up to one unit been recorded at several stations, higher than at Scott Base. It is felt, and thus located. though, that the smaller magnitudes computed from Scott Base give a Scott Base has always picked up truer indication of the earthquakes' small disturbances of local origin— size. in fact, several hundred were de tected during the I.G.Y. Some of We still do not know what sort of the very close events appear to earthquakes we are dealing with. come from the nearby volcano, Mt Those already located fall into two Erebus, and others have been groups, one of which is near the thought to have originated from the David Glacier and Drygalski Ice calving of icebergs from the Ross Tongue, where they protrude into Ice Shelf. But as these events were the Ross Sea. These earthquakes recorded at only one station, their could be due to the breaking-off of location could only be guessed at. icebergs, particularly as they were With the installation of a seismo observed during the summer. A graph at Vanda Station last sum second group of earthquakes, how mer, about 80 miles to the west of ever, is well to the south, where Scott Base in the Wright Dry Valley there does not seem to be any con of Victoria Land, it became possible venient ice field to provide earth for the first time to record these quakes of this type. If the earth small Antarctic earthquakes at two quakes were ordinary shocks of the stations, and gain a much better tectonic type, such as we have in idea of their location. In about five New Zealand, from the observed weeks of operation between the in frequency of small magnitude stallation of the seismograph and events we would periodically expect September, 1969 ANTARCTIC larger ones, which we know have first time to be able to locate them not occurred. It thus seems most with some certainty, and thus to be likely that the earthquakes observed able to learn something of their early this year were in the form of likely origin. an earthquake swarm, such as occurred near Lake Taupo in the summer of 1964-65. Although these swarms occur in volcanic regions, they are not usually associated with active volcanic manifestations. It is RESIGNATION OF EDITOR known that much of the Victoria It is with extreme regret that I have Land coast has been subjected to to announce my resignation as Edi recent volcanism, and present-day tor of "Antan geothermal activity has been found issues. near Mt Melbourne, about 80 miles However. I am about to leave to the north-east of the present New Zealand to take up a three- earthquakes. year appointment in Rarotonga. in the Cook Islands, as General Man There are still two and a half ager of the Cook Islands Tourist months of records taken at Vanda Authority, thus exchanging my keen at the end of last summer to be interest in the southern continent analysed, once they can be shipped for an equally great interest in a out after the winter, and these tropical island. should provide information about Because there are at present poor many more earthquakes. The communications between the Cook seismograph at Vanda stopped re Islands and New Zealand and there cording at the end of April because are no facilities on the island for of too severe temperatures, not in gathering material on Antarctic mat the seismograph vault, but in the ters I have had to sever my edi recording compartment of the torial connections. My interest will science hut, and plans are in hand continue in all matters affecting to start recording again as soon as Antarctica. a replacement part can be taken to Elsewhere in this issue I write Vanda in the coming season. To about an offer to hold the 1972 add further to the precision with Midwinter Celebrations in Raro which earthquakes in Victoria Land tonga, and look forward to seeing can be located, the Seismological as many as possible present on that Observatory will also set up a tem occasion. porary station at Hallett for the My thanks go to all correspond coming season, about 400 miles to ents in the various countries who the north of Scott Base. Our re have supplied valuable information cording network will be in opera and also to Mrs Wheeler the tion, but it remains to be seen if Assistant Editor. this local "hot-spot" of earthquakes is still active. If the shocks have been caused by ice movement, we can expect a seasonal repetition of last year's activity, but if they were NOTE THIS DATE ! an earthquake swarm their activity might have migrated elsewhere, or IT IS 40 YEARS SINCE— completely stopped. Whatever we On Sunday, November 30, at 3 find on the records already ob p.m., a ceremony will be held at tained but not analysed, or from the Byrd Memorial on Mt Victoria, this summer's recording, will add Wellington, to mark two notable to our understanding of Antarctic occasions in Antarctic history. seismicity. The important step made These are <1) the fortieth anni by this aspect of New Zealand's versary of Rear-Admiral Byrd's Antarcic Programme has not been flight over the South Pole and (2) to show that there are small earth the tenth anniversary of the signing quakes in the Antarctic, but for the of the Antarctic Treaty. ANTARCTIC September, 1969 CANTERBURY BRANCH NEWS TRANSFER OF PRESIDENT Deep Freeze and as a result has Mr Randal Heke, the President of seen parts of Antarctica seldom the Canterbury Branch, is being visited by others. transferred from Christchurch to Other planned activities are a Cock Wellington in the near future, neces tail Party early in October to wel sitating his resignation from the come Vice-Admiral Welch, new position as President. He will be Commanding Officer of Operation succeeded by Mr Colin Gray, who Deep Freeze. is at present Vice-President. A dedication Church Service in the Christchurch Cathedral on Novem FUTURE MEETINGS ber 9. OF THE BRANCH A visit to an Icebreaker at Lyttelton. The following meetings are Talk by Rob Stanley on his visit to scheduled for the remainder of the the Antipodes Islands. year: On Tuesday, September 9 at "Alders- gate" in Durham Street. Mr Eric Porter from Lake Coleridge will TWENTY APPLICANTS be the guest speaker. Eric has Twenty applicants have been re visited McMurdo and other An ceived by the Canterbury Branch tarctic bases with most of the for the two vacancies to work at Commanding Officers of Operation Cape Royds this summer. WELLINGTON NEWS MEETING OF BRANCH AND OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS CUSTODIAN A meeting of the Wellington Previous tourist groups that went Branch in October will hear Bob south on the Magga Dan suggested Thompson, Superintendent of the guides as a desirable adjunct. Antarctic Division, D.S.I.R., tell of It is proposed that this season the programme for the 1969/70 sea the Canterbury and Wellington son and outline the proposal to in Branches each send members to vite Society members to carry out carry out custodian duties. It is Curator duties at Cape Royds. As some years since the Society car described elsewhere in this issue, ried out renovations and repairs to the intention is to provide some the huts at Cape Royds and Cape protection both to the penguin Evans and also at Hut Point, so the colony and to the restored hut of opportunity may be taken to survey the Shackleton Expedition. So many current requirements insofar as visitors now visit Cape Royds in the maintenance is concerned. There is summer months that apart from some support for the return to the disturbing the penguin rookery huts of items held at the Dominion there and the inevitable losses from Museum, but never on display be the historic hut and the surrounds cause of lack of space. of articles retained for display pur Transfer of the Antarctic Division poses, the use of helpful guides will News of the impending transfer serve a dual purpose. With the of the Antarctic Division of D.S.I.R. possibility of Air New Zealand run from Wellington to Christchurch has ning regular tourist flights from aroused much speculation. Over the 1971 onwards the need to provide years the presence of the Division security to the historic huts and has maintained an interest in An natural life takes on a new signifi tarctic affairs in Wellington and has cance. greatly helped in maintaining a link September, 1969 ANTARCTIC SPECIAL ANTARCTIC REUNION FOR 1972 A most warm welcome is extended to all old (and young) Antarctic and sub-Antarctic hands to gather at Rarotonga, capital of the Cook Islands, at Midwinter in 1972 to celebrate in appro priate fashion the passing of the shortest days. This will be a most unusual A special invitation is extended gathering for those New Zealanders to those woh have served on sub- who traditionally foregather in Antarctic Islands, so that they will Christchurch and Wellington, and be able to compare at first hand more latterly also at Auckland, for midwinter climates and celebrations it will be spent in warm sunny con on, say, Macquarie, Campbell, Auck ditions, and it is planned to feature land, Heard or Kerguelen with the a swimming contest as part of the tropic warmth of Rarotonga. celebrations. In addition there will Some might ask what is the con be a "Umukai", or typical Cook nection between Rarotonga and the Islands feast, and a concert party Antarctic. A good question. Well, it will entertain the guests. There will so happens that on tropic Raro be a ball. tonga, the crossroads of Polynesia, that the tradition of the first re corded visit o" south w~ three h Battle of Hastings, in about A.D. 750, Polynesia was in a ferment. The the Antarctic men, their wives, discovery of various groups not pre viously known took place, and the ds, will be able to art or navigation by the stars was brought to a high degree of accuracy. Large canoes were built Aitutaki, 140 miles distant. and highly trained crews served It is too early yet to talk about under skilful and daring captains. fares, but you can be assured that One of the noted explorers came the lowest possible fare will be from the island of Rapa, now one arranged with Air New Zealand for of the Austral Group in French a large group travelling together. Polynesia. His name, preserved with It is hoped that not only New Zea honour down the long centuries, landers, but also veterans and their was Ui-te-Rangiora. nor was the relatives and friends from Australia, name of his canoe, Te Ivi-o-Atea, the United States, the United King forgotten. dom and all other countries which Blessed with a magnificent har have Antarctic expeditions will be bour, Rapa was then, as now, the able to send representatives. home of fine seamen, for many whaling captains later recruited crewmen from this island, and the with "Antarctic". There is a chance French today still look on them as that editorial activity may move to the most expert sailors of French Christchurch. As well as Mr A. S. Polynesia. Rapa lies well to the Helm, the former Assistant Editor, south in Polynesia, and was thus a Mrs R. H. Wheeler has also relin natural starting point for the quished her association with the expedition. Bulletin. Her work on the prepar There was much competition to ation of the Index has been of tre join the expedition when it was mendous benefit. announced that the south was to be ANTARCTIC September, 1969 explored. The big canoe was well stocked with tropical foods before PENGUINS AND D.D.T. leaving Rapa and for a month the voyagers continued southwards, de Adelie penguins on Ross Island spite severe storms. Finally the cold close to the United States and New was such that the men, bred to the Zealand bases in McMurdo Sound tropics, suffered severely. They had were found to have six times more sighted no land, not was there any D.D.T. in their fat in 1967 than pen indication that they were approach guins sampled at Cape Hallett, 400 ing it. However, to their amazement, miles away, according to Mr H. V. great banners of colour caused by Brewerton of the Chemistry Division the Aurora Australis streaked across of the Department of Scientific and the sky. Many centuries later, the Industrial Research, in an article in Maoris of the southern part of New the "New Zealand Journal of Zealand, who also saw this phen Science". omenon of the southern lights called it "Tahu-Nui-a-Rangi"—"the great Mr Brewerton says that this dif burning of the sky". ference is highly significant. "The Then, to their further amazement, main source of the much greater their way was barred by towering quantity of D.D.T. residues in the icebergs and the pack-ice. After Ross Island penguins could be the wards, when they told their friends presence of the substantial human and relatives at Rapa and Raro population at the United States and tonga their wonderful stories, they New Zealand research stations in were at a loss for words to describe McMurdo Sound". what they had seen. Searching for a simile, someone likened it to a Mr Brewerton does not say how sea of arrowroot, a crop still grown humans at McMurdo Station and on the island, and this phrase crept Scott Base could have affected the into the traditional description. D.D.T. level in Ross Island penguins, Finally, daunted by the bitter cold but Mr J. Warham, a lecturer in the and the sunless conditions, they Zoology Department at Canterbury turned the prow of Te Ivi-o-Atea University suggests that D.D.T. from northwards once more, and at last human wastes and food scraps dis made their way back to their home charged into the sea could be taken land with an almost unbelievable up in the "food chain" of the area tale to tell. and so affect the local penguin From generation to generation the population. story of their epic journeying was handed down to become one strand Mr Brewerton's sampling of fat in the rich history of Rarotonga. from penguins and seals began in There will be plenty of Raro- 1965 after reports of the finding of tongans to help the Antarctic party D.D.T. and related compounds in celebrate midwinter in 1972, and an Antarctica animals the year before. effort will be made to ensure, if possible, that a representative from "This was of interest to New Zea Rapa will also be present. land," he says, "in its position as By the end of 1971 the new jet the nearest major agricultural user international airport at Rarotonga of D.D.T. to the Antarctic." will be in operation, and Air New Zealand which hopes also to be Mr Brewerton states that his taking tourists to Antarctica by analysis revealed no significant dif then, will transport the group at the ference in the D.D.T. residue con appropriate time to celebrate mid tents of the fats of Weddell seals winter in tropical sunshine. taken at McMurdo Sound in 1965 From time to time announce and 1967. They indicated no increase ments will be made through the in D.D.T. deposition in seals in the pages of "Antarctic" as to progress McMurdo Sound region over two of reunion plans. ANTARCTIC"

Apply to the Secretary, New Zealand Antarctic Society, P.O. Box 2110, Wellington, New Zealand.

Out of Print: Very few left: Volume 1 numbers number 8 1, 2. 9 Volume 2, numbers number 8 1. 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 Volume 3, number 7 number 5 Some other issues are in very short supply. Copies of avail able issues may be obtained from the Secretary of the Society, P.O. Box 2110, Wellington, at a cost of 50c per copy meanwhile. Indexes for volumes 1, 2 and 3 are also available, 30c each. Copies of our predecessor, the Antarctic News Bulletin, are available at 50c per copy, except for numbers 9 and 10. The copies of numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 11, 17 and 18 are authorised reprints.

The New Zealand Antarctic Society comprises New Zealanders and overseas friends, many of whom have seen Antarctica for themselves, and all of whom are vitally interested in some phase of Antarctic exploration, development, or research. The Society has taken an active part in restoring and main taining the historic huts in the Ross Dependency, and plans to co-operate in securing suitable locations as repositories of Polar material of unique interest. There are currently two branches of the Society and functions are arranged throughout the year. You are invited to become a member. South Island residents should contact the Canterbury secretary, North Islanders should contact the Wellington secretary, and overseas residents the secretary of the New Zealand Society. For addresses see below. The membership fee includes subscription to "Antarctic". New Zealand Secretary Mr. V. E. Donnelly, P.O. Box 2110, Wellington. Branch Secretaries Canterbury: Mrs. B. Burley, P.O. Box 404, Christchurch. Wellington: Mr. V. E. Donnelly, P.O. Box 2110, Wellington. • i»,..:.^pi-^^|i-[Ur-T-JT.^,**r"W*