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DOG POWER STILL HAS A MODEST PLACE IN ANTARCTIC TRANSPORT. HERE A NEW ZEALANDER AT SCOTT BASE TRIES TO SORT OUT A TANGLE IN HIS TEAM OF HUSKIES. SCOTT BASE HAS A PACK OF 19 HUSKIES—AND SIX PUPS. Antarctic Division, D.S.I.R. Photo: Neville Peat

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ANTARCTIC PENINSULA 1 Teniente Matienzo arg. 2 Esperanza arg. 3 Almirante Brown arg. 4 Petrel arg. 5 Deception arg. 6 Vicecomodoro Marambio arg. * ANTARCTICA 7 Arturo Prat chile 8 Bernardo O'Higgins chile 9 P r e s i d e n t e F r e i c h i l e ^ ? 500 1000 Kilometres 10 Stonington I. uk. 13 11 Adelaide I. uk. ^ I ABBREVIATIONS: 12 Argentine Is uk. A> /& 13 Palmer usa. 14 Bellingshausen u.s.s.r • ■

larsen •; Ice.Shelf' 0 100km ^^H^PiilES^aCS^ (Successor to "Antarctic News Bulletin")

80th ISSUE December, 1975

Editor: J. M. CAFFIN, 35 Chepstow Avenue, Christchurch 5. Address all contributions, enquiries, etc., to the Editor.

CONTENTS

ARTICLES 267-268 CLIFTON HILL

POLAR ACTIVITIES NEW ZEALAND 232-236 UNITED STATES 237-245 AUSTRALIA 246 NORWAY 247 SOVIET UNION 248-249 JAPAN 252-254 SOUTH AFRICA 255

SUB-ANTARTIC CAMPBELL ISLAND 258-260

GENERAL OBITUARY 261-263 MUSEUM CENTRE 264-265 ANTARCTIC BOOKSHELF 240, 269-270

Nine men at Cape Adare celebrated Christmas in Antarctica a long time ago. Of Christmas Day, 1899, at Camp Ridley, Borchgrevink wrote: "On Christmas Day we had tinned plum-pudding, and Mr Evans, in honour of the occasion, baked cakes; and Mr Ellefsen even surpassed him self in the excellence of his cooking." Borchgrevink's successors, 76 years later, will also celebrate their Antarctic Christmas in traditional fashion. But they are better off than the lonely men of Cape Adare. Radio and air transport have brought them closer to their homes and each other. Once again "Antarctic" wishes them all a Merry Christmas.

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December, 1975 N.Z. PROGRAMME CUT ABOUT ONE-THIRD New Zealand's Antarctic research programme for 1975-76 has been reduced by about one-third only a month after the official start of the summer season because of an accident to a United States Navy Hercules at Dome C in Wilkes Land on November 4. This left the support force with only two ski-equipped Hercules aircraft for flights to inland stations, and the return of men at the end of the season. As a result the Antarctic Division, Valley Drilling Project—which involves Department of Scientific and Industrial drilling into the seabed of McMurdo Research, has had to cancel some pro- Sound from a platform on the sea ice. jeets, reduce the numbers going south Winds gusting to 70km an hour and later in the season, and shorten the lime poor visibility delayed the reopening of allowed for work by parties already in Vanda Station, 130km west of Scott the field. Basc jn thc Wright Valley, which is Last month 68 scientists and New Zealand's only continental base, others were listed to go south. Now But on October 21 United States Navy only 27 New Zealanders will take part helicopters flew in the four men who in the latter half of the planned pro- wj]j operate the station during the sum- gramme. Events which have been can- mer ancj morc t]ian four tons 0f equip- celled include the Leda project, a joint ment. Vanda Station, which was closed United States-New Zealand upper atmos last winter, is a staging post for field phere programme at Siple Station, the parties working in the dry valley region work of the New Zealand Antarctic By last month the first part of the Society's caretakers at the historic huts on Ross Island, and visits by reprcscnta- programme ]crs werc at was worlc in full in McMurdo swing. The Sound dril- Committee and the University urants on a sjtc 7()km north-west of Scott Base. Committee. ancj pve geological expeditions were in This season the Royal New Zealand thc ficld Four were Working in the dry tives of the Ross Dependency Research va|ley rcgjori) which includes thc Taylor. Air Force is making seven flights to the Wright, and Victoria Valleys. Antarctic—the first at thc end of last month—in support of thc United States FIRST IN FIELD and New Zealand programmes. But its First in the field was an expedition to Hercules aircraft are not ski-equipped, map the geological history of a little- and their operations are limited by the explored region of the Trans-Antarctic time thc annual ice runway in McMurdo Mountains south-west of Scott Base. Dr Sound remains in use. After the ice goes D. N. B. Skinner and Mr B. C. Water- out later this month operations are con- house, of the New Zealand Geological fined to the Williams Field skiway on Survey, and two field assistants, Messrs the Ross Ice Shelf. G. G. Brehaut and K. R. Sullivan, were TEAM RELIEVED flown to thc Skelton-Koettlitz Glaciers A new Antarctic research programme region by a United States Navy heli began officially on October 10 when the copter. Four flights were needed to carry first contingent arrived to relieve the the party and its gear to thc base camp winter team of 11 men at Scott Base, in thc Cocks Glacier, which feeds into and to initiate a wide range of scientific the Skelton Glacier about 160km from projects. The contingent included 11 Scott Base. The Skelton and Koettlitz members of thethc drilling team to work Glaciers both empty into thethc Ross Ice on thc main event of the programme— Shelf, and are surrounded by peaks of the conclusion of the international Dry up to 3700m in height. December, 1975

Originally the Geological Survey last month to work from the field planned to send a party into the Terra station which has been occupied by the Nova Bay region, about 400km north of university's biological unit for 10 years. Scott Base. This plan was dropped because no support by Hercules aircraft was available this season. FIFTH SEASON Two other geological parties began field work towards thc end of last Dr Horning, who is making his second month. Thc Waikato University expedi trip south, will concentrate on a study tion is studying glacial moraines, fluvial of a tiny land insect, thc springtail. Mr deposits, and rock formation in relation Sagar, who will bc working at Cape to melt-water streams and lakes in the Bird for his fifth season, will study dry valleys. Originally Dr T. Healy was shallow water marine life, and how com to lead a party of six for six weeks in munities adapt to coastal dynamics— the field. Now he is accompanied only sea, wind, and ice action. by Dr J. Shaw, and they will remain Early this month a geochemist and a for only four weeks. geologist resumed their vulcanological Drs Healy and Shaw were flown first studies of Mount Erebus, one of Antarc to the Lower Wright Valley 130km tica's two known active volcanoes. Dr north-west of Scott Basc. They will W. F. Giggenbach, of the Chemistry study first the bed formation of An Division, D.S.I.R., and Mr P. R. Kyle, tarctica's only real river—the Onyx— of the Victoria University of Welling which in summer flows 30km into Lake ton, were members of the New Zealand- Vanda from the Lower Wright Glacier. Frcnch-American expedition which Later they will visit the Taylor and attempted last summer to sample the Victoria Valleys, the Koettlitz Glacier unique lava lake of the volcano's inner and Black Island. crater. This year's party, which is led by Mr GLACIAL MORAINES C. C. Monteath, an Antarctic Division field oflicer, will observe the lake from Four members of the Victoria Uni the outer crater. Because working near versity of Wellington expedition also the summit of the 4000m mountain can began work in thc Taylor Valley last cause altitude sickness, the party plans month. Mr P. Robinson, the leader, Dr to acclimatise on thc summit of Mount J. Collen, and Messrs A. Palmer and A. Terror (3230m), an extinct volcano, and Eggcrs, went first to Cape Barne. 36km Ross Island's second highest peak. north of Scott Base. Then they flew to the Taylor Valley to map and sample One of the annual events in thc New ancient glacial moraines. Zealand programme is the census of Weddell seals and Adelie penguins in Two women geologists, Dr Susan West the south-west area of McMurdo Sound. and Mrs Margaret Bradshaw, began the The first count was made in October by collection of rock and fossil specimens the new season's counter, Mr C. Chap in the dry valleys for the Canterbury man, who is also thc dog handler. On a Museum's Antarctic centre. They flew United States Navy helicopter flight to first to Lake Bonney in thc Taylor Valley Cape Royds, 40km north of Scott Base, with two field assistants, Messrs M. he counted 224 seals, including the Wendcn and B. Chalmers. season's first pup. During the summer Because of the demands on aircraft the Mr Chapman will make five more coin,is University of Canterbury's expedition of the seal population. Scott Basc staff to Cape Bird has been reduced from will also make a count of the Adelie five to two. Thc leader, Dr D. S. Horn penguins in the Cape Royds rockery. ing, who is an American zoologist, and Since 1969-70 lake and river levels, Mr P. Sagar, flew south at the end of and glacier movements, in the dry val- SB ■ 'r---VV.

December, 1975 leys have been measured by teams from Zealand programme several women are the Water and Soil Division of the not going south this season. One who Ministry of Works and Development. went earlier was Miss Edith Farkas, of This summer another party led by an thc New Zealand Meteorological Ser hydrologist and glaciologist, Mr T. vice's research section. She spent several Chinn, is working from Vanda Station. weeks at Scott Base monitoring the sur Thc other members are Messrs P. face concentrations of ozone. Mason and G. Craig. The Scott Base monitoring project Mr Chinn expects to find that, as in was designed to offer a basis for com past year, lake levels are rising in tuna parison of ozone levels in New Zealand with the increasing average temperature. cities with those in Antarctica. Ozone, The McMurdo Sound area has warmed which is found in trace quantities on the by about two degrees Celsius since earth's surface, moves down from thc records were first taken 18 years ago. upper atmosphere, and usually is des And Lake Bonney in the Taylor Valley troyed on contact with solid surfaces. has been rising for more than 60 years But in certain conditions concentrations since it was first measured by Captain of the gas can be trapped in cities pol Scott during his 1901-1904 expedition. luted by factory fumes and car exhaust Because of the reduction of thc New gases. RARE SCOTT BASE VISITORS

Scott Base had two rare visitors early "There was nothing we could do. last winter. A pair of elephant seals, They were simply too big for us to each weighing about 1800kg, disrupted deal with. Thc outcome of the fight normal operations, and for several days was that one of them received a the winter team was unable to burn damaged eye and, beaten, it went away. rubbish in the nearby incinerator. Mr Newman whose New Zealand flag Normally the southern elephant seal was formally lowered on October 10 (Mirounga leonina) inhabits sub- when he handed over to the new leader, Antarctic and Antarctic islands north Flight Lieutenant H. D. Raynham, said of thc pack ice. Very occasionally it that the winter at Scott Base had been can be found in the pack ice. particularly severe this year. Temp eratures dropped to minus 56.1deg Mr J. A. Newman, last season's Celsius—just 0.9deg from an all-time leader, who returned to his home in low. But there had been few problems, Auckland early in October after 12 and the scientific programme was most months in thc Antarctic, explained in successful. Morale among the 11 men of Christchurch that the two seals—both the winter team was good, and their about 3 metres long—hung around thc health was excellent. base for about a month. "We were led Mr Newman had kind words for the to believe that they were the first dogs at Scott Basc. Not only did they elephant seals seen so close to Scott have recreational value for the men but Base for a long time," he said. "At one also the large litter of puppies born stage they camped near the incinerator during the year was fussed over by men so we were unable to use it. who had no other companions except their colleagues. "During the time they were around the base they upset thc daily routine. After all, they are not the sort of creatures to play with. We all treated them with great caution. On one occasion the pair, both males, had a fight outside thc base. December, 1975 Gas and cracks in ice stop McMurdo Sound drilling Cracks in the annual sea ice round the drilling rig, the presence of gas containing 38 per cent methane, and an increase in temperature, ended the first attempt to drill into the seabed of McMurdo Sound from a drilling platform on the ice. This operation was the final stage of thc Dry Valley Drilling Project, a three-year programme developed by scientific organisations of the United States, Japan, and New Zealand. Drilling began on November 7 after superintendent, Mr J. E. Hoffman, who the drill rig and a camp for 20 drillers is senior technicial oflicer in the Gco- and scientists had been established at physics Division, Department of Scienti- Sitc 1A (see map) 70km north-west of fie and Industrial Research, and thc Scott Basc. The rig was on sea ice 1.8m project geologist, Dr P. J. Barrett, thick, and above 120m of water. After director of the Antarctic Research two weeks drilling round the clock the Centre, Victoria University of Welling- operation was stopped on November ton, concurred in thc decision. 21 because of a combination of potent In its fifth season, thc Dry Valley ially unsafe conditions. Drilling Project was designed to obtain By that date the drilling team of 15 a better understanding of the Cenozoic New Zealand drillers had drilled to a geological history of the McMurdo depth of 69.625m through thc seabed Sound area. Since thc project began, sediment. Drilling was stopped when a ncw Zealand has been responsible for team of American, New Zealand, and aii drilling. Last season the seabed Japanese geologists and geochemists dis- programme—the last stage of the covered 38 per cent of methane "in gas project—had to bc postponed because obtained from some unconsolidated winter storms and high tides in core. The methane was detected at 68m McMurdo Sound broke up the ice, below sea level. There was also an leaving no drilling platform. increase in temperature and the temper Drilling at 14 earlier sites has yielded ature gradient. cores from the ice-free dry valleys of These gas and temperature factors Southcrn victoHa Laml, and 0n Ross indicated that further penetration could Is]an(]_ Ffom ^ ^ ,A drilHng has threaten the safety of thc drill team. come new information on thc McMurdo Because of technical and logistic prob Sound sub-surface geology, bottom lems blow-out preventers could not bc fitted to the drill rig. fauna, bathymetry, and the character istics and behaviour of annual ice. Other factors which were taken into account included the development of Geologists expected that traces of gas radial, and a few annular, cracks in the wouId bc encountered during the sea ice near the drill site and the McMurdo Sound drilling, but not sig- development of some large working nific»nt amounts. Japanese scientists cracks in thc annual ice, starting at installed at the site a mcthanamcter for Marble Point, and at Cape Bernacchi. early detection of methane, and a gas These large cracks were traced to within chromatograph which could measure five miles of the site before they passed both methane and ethane. into open water. But thc drilling superintendent, Mr Dr Samuel B. Treves, project manager Hoffman, who has been in charge of for thc operation, who is professor of all previous drilling operations, sai;J geology at the University of Nebraska, last month that the team did not expect Lincoln, made the decision to cease to strike gas so early. Also it had been drilling. The New Zealand drilling expected that the McMurdo Sound ice

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December, 1975 mm

McMurdo Sound /ni

Ross Island

DVDP 3 (McMurdo Station)

Site 1A in McMurdo Sound at latitude 77 deg 27 min 40 sec S is thc site chosen for thc ﬁnal phase of the Dry Valley Drilling Project.

would stay intact until the middle of The 15 drillers and United States and this month. Japanese scientists working on the project After thc evacuation of thc site was were flown back to McMurdo Station by ordered the drill rig was dismantled, United States Navy helicopters. and essential components and camp equipment were returned to McMurdo Early in October a joint American- Station by United States Navy heli New Zealand survey of the seasonal ice copters. Thirty flights were made to showed that it was thick enough lor thc bring back thc men and their equip drilling project. A party, which ment. Some equipment was hauled by included Dr S. B. Treves, of the Univer sledge to Marble Point, 30km cast of sity of Nebraska, who is the DVDP thc site, for storage there, and at New co-ordinalor, and Mr J. A. Newman, Harbour. leader at Scott Basc last season, inspected Unpredictable tidal fluctuations in some "dirty" ice about 30 kilometres McMurdo Sound hampered the drilling from Scott Base, and established that a from the outset, according to Mr road to the drilling site could bc built Hoffman. The fluctuation was as much on it. as 1.5m in a day, whereas only 55cm had been predicted. There was also a Two tractor trains and a United States slight problem from swells with the rig Navy helicopter were used to establish riding over 120m of water. thc drilling camp in the last two weeks Before drilling began early last month of October. Thc first tractor train took installation of the drilling rig was ham six drillers and camp materials to the pered by rapid up and down movements site, and two were with thc main tractor of the ice. When thc drilling bit had train which left Scott Base on October penetrated 7m into the seabed work 29. The rest flew to the site on October round the clock was stopped because of 30. a southerly gale of up to 50 knots. On November 11 the site had to bc evacuated because of a storm warning of winds up to 70 knots which might weaken thc ice and cause it to break out.

mt December, 1975 Flights by American Starlifters begin new research season United States scientific research in the Antarctic this season will cost $30.7m. This figure is slightly more than the allocation for the 1974-75 season, but rising fuel costs and inflation have effectively reduced the amount of money to be spent. The size and scope of the research pro gramme have been limited in some areas because of lack of funds, and the reduced number of aircraft available for logistic support. This season the summer airlift of Mr Wolak and his men were thc first scientists, servicemen, and supplies by completely civilian team to winter at Starlifters of the United States Air Force the Pole Station. They were also the Military Airlift Command was not first to occupy the new station, which delayed unduly by bad weather in the was dedicated in January this year. Antarctic. Storms near McMurdo Commander F. C. Holt, commanding Station on October 20 delayed the officer of the Navy's VXE Squadron, departure of two United States Navy made thc first flight. Passengers in the Hercules aircraft, but last month thc aircraft were Captain E. W. Van Reeth, Starlifter supply flights were made thc support force commander, Mr D. without interruption. Bresnahan, of the National Science A new season of scientific research Foundation, and Mr E. Herbst, repre began on October 10 when two Star sentative for the civilian contractors, lifters flew from Christchurch to Mc Holmes and Narver. Murdo Station with 176 passengers, and VIRUS RESEARCH mail and fresh food for the men who Also on the flight was Dr H. G. had been there all winter. One aircraft Muchmorc, of thc Oklahoma Medical carried 82 passengers and about 44001b Research Foundation. He arrived to of cargo, mainly letter mail—the first continue his annual studies of immuni- since the Winfly flights in September. logical changes in men who winter at The other took 94 passengers only. thc Pole Station. His purpose is to More than eight months isolation for isolate and identify thc respiratory virus 17 scientists and civilians at the Amund which causes infections after the men sen-Scott South Pole Station ended on return from the Antarctic. October 25 when a Hercules made this Dr Muchmore's assistants arrived on first flight of thc season from McMurdo the second flight to the Pole. They Station. The aircraft brought a cargo included his wife, Mrs Donna Much- of fresh vegetables and mail—the fust more, and Miss Nan Scott, who worked the men had received since they settled at the station last summer. in for the winter on February 13. ALMOST A YEAR Christmas gifts One man had been at the Pole for One again New Zealanders at Scott almost a year. He was the station Base and Vanda Station, and those leader, Mr Richard Wolak, who relieved working in the field, will have home Lieutenant Robert Braddock in Novem made biscuits and fruit cake for Christ ber last year when thc new geodesic mas. Early this month 834- dozen bis- dome complex was transferred to thc suits and 10 fruit cakes were flown operational control of civilian contrac from Christchurch to the Antarctic. tors for the National Science Foundation. Members of thc Canterbury branch of Since 1957 the station had been operated the New Zealand Antarctic Society are by the United States Navy. responsible for the Christmas gifts. -; * -* \>»>?' ■ ■',

Three damaged aircraft in East Antarctica Dome C, an ice dome in East Antarctica, 1150km from McMurdo Station, has become a place of ill omen in United States Antarctic operations this year. Two ski-equipped Hercules aircraft damaged in take-off accidents have remained abandoned there since January 15. A major project to recover one of the aircraft this season was abandoned temporarily after a third Hercules was damaged on November 4. After acclimatisation again at thc Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station the recovery party returned to Dome C on December 7. It will resume preparation of the skiway started last month.

Last season's involvement in the build a skiway as a preliminary to the International Antarctic Glaciological establishment of a recovery camp where Project in East Antarctica has proved a team of 50 men could repair the two costly to the National Science Founda aircraft damaged in January so they tion and the United States Navy's could be flown to McMurdo Station, support force. Research programmes and later to Christchurch and the United which required the use of Hercules air States. The cost of recovering thc two craft to establish field camps or deliver aircraft worth about $18m was estimated supplies have been cancelled, and the at 52 to S3m. Navy has been left with only two air Last month priority was given to thc craft to supply inland stations, and recovery of the third aircraft damaged bring back scientists and support staff on November 4. But later it was at thc end of the season. decided that rather than jeopardise the Because of lack of funds and the two remaining aircraft thc resupply shortage of aircraft after thc accidents in flights to the Pole and Siple Stations January, the Ross Ice Shelf drilling pro should be completed first. ject was postponed for this season. The accident to the third Hercules also caused After this programme is completed an thc cancellation of a geophysical and attempt will be made to bring back thc third Hercules to McMurdo Station. geological survey on thc ice shelf because it would have involved open The success of the operation will field landings by the two remaining air depend on the weather at Dome C craft. where temperatures on the ice-cap at This season 25 flights will be made to 3300m above sea level can drop as low the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station as minus 50deg Celsius, and whether instead of 47. Siple Station, thc most there is sufficient time before the season isolated station at the base of thc Sen ends. tinel Mountains in Ellsworth, which is Air support of glaciological research 2173km from McMurdo Station, may in East Antarctica ended last scasor not be used next winter. Flights will with the damage of the two Hercules be made this season to take in a larger aircraft at Dome C. One flew there to party which will prepare the station pick up a field party of French, Ameri for thc winter, and to bring everyone can, and Russian scientists. During back before summer operations end. take-off a jato (jet assisted take-o(V) When the new season started an bottle exploded, damaging the fuselage advance party was flown to Dome C to and starting a fire in one engine. December, 1975

Another Hercules landed and picked up the five passengers and five crew McMURDO SOUND members. It took off without using jato bottles, but the nose ski collapsed during thc long take-off from the ice-cap. A DEATH third Hercules returned thc passengers and crews to McMurdo Station without An American biologist died in Mc incident several hours later. Murdo Sound early in October when Plans were made at thc beginning of a tracked vehicle broke through thc this season to establish thc field camp annual ice and sank in about 1500ft of at Dome C, and fly in thc recovery team water. Three other scientists in the vehicle escaped before the vehicle sank and equipment to repair the two air near thc Erebus Ice Tongue about 10 craft, which arc about one mile apart. Fifteen men selected to prepare a land miles from McMurdo Station. ing strip were given snowcraft and The man who died was Mr Jeffrey D. survival training by New Zealand Rude, aged 26, single, of La Jolla, instructors at Scott Base, and then spent California. Those who escaped were several days at the Pole Station, which Messrs D. P. DeMaster and R. Huempf- is at an altitude of 2800m, to become ner, of the University of Minnesota, and acclimatised to working in the rarefied Mr D. Watson, of thc Scripps Institution atmosphere at Dome C. of Oceanography, University of Cali After an aerial reconnaissance on fornia, San Diego. October 22 a Hercules flew to Dome C Messrs Rude and Watson were mem on October 29, landing and taking off bers of a field team which flew south without incident. A small party of early in September to continue last scientists and naval officers spent three season's studies of benthic communities hours in a temperature of minus 32dcg in McMurdo Sound. Messrs DeMaster Celsius, inspecting thc damaged aircraft, and Huempfner were also on the early and checking sites for construction of an flights to continue studies of the seal access skiway. population in thc Ross Island area. THIRD ACCIDENT On October 12 thc four men left On October 31 the advance party was McMurdo Station about 8 a.m. to make flown from the Pole Station to begin a survey of the ice before fish huts were work on the skiway so materials and placed in position for their studies. machinery could bc flown in from Mc Earlier thc ice had been estimated to Murdo Station. But four days later a be between 3ft and 5ft thick, but it Hercules which had just delivered cargo gave way, and Mr Rude, who was to the site was damaged on take-off in driving the vehicle, was trapped in thc the same way as the first aircraft on cab. January 15. A jato bottle broke loose, and hit a propeller. Metal "shrapnel" The accident happened about 10.30 damaged an engine, and punched holes a.m. but was not reported until 2.30 in the fuselage. p.m. because the three survivors had to Work on the site, including prepara walk 10 miles back to McMurdo Station. tion of the skiway, continued in temper atures between minus 17deg and minus 55deg Celsius until the decision to post pone recovery of thc third aircraft was made. Then on November 17 the advance party was flown back to Mc Murdo Station. Thc aircraft, which did not use jato bottles, took off on the second attempt. ^mm ANTARCTIC December, 1975

ANTARCTIC BOOKSHELF

POLAR AND COLD REGIONS LIBRARY RESOURCES: A DIRECTORY COMPILED AND EDITED BY NORA T. CORLEY, OTTAWA, NORTHERN LIBRARIES COLLOQUY, 1975. lv. (unpaged).

This directory was published in May, 38 links for the tracks. They hope 1975, by the Northern Libraries more links for the tracks. Colloquy. It lists 153 libraries (in 20 different countries) whose collections For 13 years after the crossing snocat deal with the Arctic, the Antarctic Able was used by New Zealanders at and/or cold regions research. Some of Scott Base. In 1971 Mr R. B. Thom the libraries are actually situated in thc son, superintendent of the Antarctic north. Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, arranged for it to be brought to New Zealand in Complete names, addresses, telephone H.M.N.Z.S. Endeavour, the Antarctic and telex numbers are given, as well supply ship. as a short history and description of thc libraries and their resources. Entries After 12 months of seeing only ice run from a few lines to several pages, and snow Mr Newman looked forward depending on thc size of the library. to the joy of standing on a beach and Three indexes arc included: (1) name getting warm in the sun. When he flew of library, including translations, back to Christchurch some friends acronyms and former names; (2) were waiting at the airport with thc be personal names; and (3) subject. ginnings of a beach—a small box of sand with green grass and a "tree". Thc directory, compiled and edited by Nora T. Corley, for many years During thc winter months the men librarian of the Arctic Institute of spent much of their spare time reading North America in Montreal, Canada, or making models. Painting was among is available from: Polar Libraries the hobbies, and the model makers Directory, c/o Mrs G. A. Cooke, produced several cannons, and a steam librarian, Boreal Institute for Northern engine. The dog handler, John Stevens, Studies, University of Alberta, Edmon made a scale model of a dog sledge, ton, Alberta, Canada, at a cost of the winter in good health although S5.00 Canadian, including handling and some suffered with frost-bitten paws postage (book rate). when temperatures were low. "The scene is wholly enchanting, and If first-class or air mail is requested, such a view from some sheltered sunny there will be an extra charge for the corner in a garden which blazes with postage. Cheques, money orders, etc., masses of red and gold flowers tends should be made payable to Polar to feelings of inexpressible satisfaction Libraries Directory, c/o Mrs G. A. with all things." Cooke. A small stone shelter still stands at Because Ferguson farm tractors went the bottom of the garden. It was built out of production many years ago, it at the edge of the cliff by Sir Joseph is difficult to obtain spare parts to Kinsey so Mrs Scott could observe the restore the Pole vehicle. Messrs Smith birds rising in the updrafts against the and Norris have found that they need cliffs along the edge of the property.

IWOOTMEjnvH ^M %&.v:-;. U.S. SCIENCE PROJECTS THIS SUMMER

Geological studies directed towards an evaluation of the Antarctic Peninsula area for petroleum and natural gas, are among thc projects of the United States Antarctic Research Programme this season. Another study of thc development of the Antarctic Peninsula and the Scotia Arc is being made to evaluate this region eventually as a source of minerals, especially copper. Before the season ends scientists ﬁnanced by the National Science Foundation will have completed projects at the South Pole, on Ross Island, in the Ross, Scotia and Weddell Seas, and in the Indian Ocean.

This season several projects have been by a team from Ohio State University, cancelled or completed earlier because led by Dr David H. Elliot, of thc Insti of an accident to a United States Navy tute of Polar Studies. Its objective will Hercules in Wilkes Land early last be to determine the geology, stratigraphy, month. But scientists from more than and palaeontology of the exposed, 25 universities and scientific organisa raised continental shelf sediments in the tions, the National Aeronautics and Antarctic Peninsula, Scotia Arc, and far Space Administration, and thc National southern South America. Thc ultimate Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra utility is towards an evaluation of thc tion, are engaged this summer on a wide Antarctic Peninsular area for petroleum range of projects related to atmospheric and natural gas. and earth sciences, glaciology, ocean ography, meteorology, and thc study of Last season four geologists from thc bird and marine life. Institute of Polar Studies, and Northern Illinois University, led by Dr Elliot, Several projects in thc programme are were invited by thc Argentine Antarctic being carried out in co-operation with Institute to take part in its field project scientists of other nations. United on Seymour Island. This season Dr States scientists arc associated with Elliot's team will bc flown to thc island those of Britain, Japan, the Soviet by the Argentine Air Force. Union, New Zealand, Australia, Argen tine, Chile, Canada and Brazil. They A related project with one of its ulti will work with French scientists aboard mate objectives the cvalulation of the the Marion Dufresnc on her biological Antarctic Peninsula and the Scotia Arc survey cruise in the Indian Ocean, and as a source of minerals, especially cop the British Antarctic Survey's Royal per, will bc carried out by a geological Research Ship Bransfield will transport team from thc Lamont-Dohcrty Geo most of the resupply cargo for Palmer logical Observatory, Columbia Univer Station, on Anvers Island, off the Antarc sity, led by Dr I. W. D. Dalziel. This tic Peninsula. team will work in the Antarctic Penin sula area from the research vessel Hero.

EARLIER STUDY MARINE RESOURCES Geological investigations on Seymour Island, about 100km south-cast of thc The object of the study is to deter Antarctic Peninsula, will be conducted mine thc structure and tectonic history ANTARCTIC December, 1975 of the Antarctic Pcninsula( Scotia Arc, Washington State University, and Mr E. and far southern South America. This Robinson. This is to help establish a is part of thc Scotia Arc-Antarctic Pen polar halocarbon concentration profile. insula Tectonics Project. Its purpose Types of halocarbons present, which are is to obtain an understanding of the past being removed, and thc rate of removal, interrelationships of Antarctica with the also will be determined. A primary adjacent continents and ocean basins. question related to this research is how the polar atmosphere removes trace A third team from the University gases, especially chloroflurocarbons, from of Wisconsin, which will include a the global atmosphere. Chilean geologist, will work from Tierra del Fucgo to study various sites on thc Antarctic Penisula. The objective of CLIMATE CHANGES the team, led by Dr R. H. Dott, of the department of geology and geophysics, Geophysical monitoring for climatic is to investigate Cretaceous conglomer change will be continued at the Pole ates to provide evidence about thc be Station which is one of the six planned ginnings of thc upheaval of thc Andes clean air monitoring observatories of Mountains. thc National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Thc purpose is to de Marine resources of commercial inter termine background levels of trace gases est will also bc studied in thc Antarctic and aerosol particles in thc atmosphere, Peninsula area. A team led by Dr to record their rate of change, and to M. A. McWhinnie, of the department assess the effects they may have on of biological sciences, DePaul Univer climate. sity, will study thc biology and popula tion dynamics of Erphausia supcrba, the Measurements will bc made of car predominant species of krill in the bon dioxide levels to determine thc rate Bransfield Strait and thc Scotia Sea. Thc of increase from combustion of fossil team will operate from thc research fuels, biotic uptake etc., surface and total vessel Hero, and collect krill samples. ozone to study short-term variations in Further studies on metabolic pathways climate as reflected in year to year shifts will bc undertaken with krill, and other in thc concentrations of these gases, and pelagic and selected benthic inverte of aerosols to establish baseline values brates colcctcd near Palmer Station. for turbidity and global pollution.

An aerosol chemistry sampling pro OZONE SHIELD gramme will be continued at thc Pole Station by a team led by Dr W. Zollcr, Present scientific concern at the effect of the department of chemistry, Univer of trace gases on thc earth's protective sity of Maryland. Atmospheric ice cry ozone shield in the stratophcre is re stals and bulk particulate matter will be flected in the nature of atmospheric collected and analysed. These will be science studies which will be made at compared with surface ice and snow thc Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station samples to evaluate thc importance of and McMurdo Station this season. Cur thc polar ice cap as a thermal trap for rent theories indicate that these trace particulate and gaseous materials. gases, especially chloroflurocarbons, may bc depleting the ozone shield. GAS SAMPLING Enriched concentrations of halocarbons and other trace gases in snow Four balloon-borne soundings to will bc measured at the South Pole by measure aerosol particles and gas sam of civil and environmental engineering, ples in the polar stratosphere will be December, 1975 made next month from McMurdo and This season geoceivers will be used Amundsen-Scott South Pole Stations. to establish accurate positions of study Gas samples wilt bc retrieved from two sites that were established on the Ross flights at McMurdo Station and par Ice Shelf during thc 1974-75 field season. ticles will be counted in two flights at Geoceivers will be used also in a co the South Pole. operative programme with the British Antarctic Survey to establish accurate After recovery the gas samples will be controls for positioning satellite imagery of the Ellsworth Mountains. analysed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These During next winter two members of measurements arc aimed at studying the Geological Survey team will operate how chlorine atoms may possibly reduce telemetry equipment for the N.A.S.A. earth's stratispheric ozone shield by dual air density Explorer satellite pro catalytic destruction of ozone mole gramme. They will also assist in a cules. The leader of thc field team for seismological monitoring programme of the study is Dr D. J. Hoffman, of thc the survey's office of Earthquake Studies. department of physics and astronomy, University of Wyoming. Atmospheric processes and energy transfers will be studied at the Pole by a team from thc University of Cali- A command and data acquisition fac fori ility will operate at the South Pole is to determine thc energy balance of Station this summer and next winter for the Antarctic and its effect on lar the National Aeronautics and Space scale atmospheric circulation ii Administration's dual air density twin Southern Hemisphere. Data obtained satellite experiment. Two Explorer is expected to help to an understanding satellites launched late this year arc ex of global weather and climate. pected to remain in about the same orbit throughout their two-year mis- COSMIC RAYS Scientists at McMurdo Station are Each satellite uses a mass spectro meter as part of a unique system that is engaged in continuing studies of seals, penguins, marine life, and Antarctic insensitive to orientation, highly sensi fishes. In addition thc cosmic ray in tive to thc upper atmosphere, and cap tensity measurements which have been able of calibration in flight. Compari made by thc Bartcl Foundation for sev son of measurements from thc two satel eral seasons will be continued with the lites should reveal thc atmosphere's aid of a new 10-tonne cosmic ray detec vertical structure on a global scale from tor which has statistic precision exceed altitudes of 350 to 1500km. ing that of any on earth. This cosmic ray detector has been shipped to McMurdo Station, and next ICE MOVEMENTS winter it will be operated in a test mode. In thc 1976-77 season it will be installed Doppler research will continue at thc Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station by at thc Pole Station just before thc maxi the United States Geological Survey to mum period of thc present sunspot cycle obtain data on ioncspheric and tropos- when events of special interest, particu phcric effects of radio propagation, ice larly thc production of solar cosmic sheet movements, and polar motion and rays, will occur in profusion. the earth's spin axis. Satallitc track Antarctic fishes survive in the icy ing facilities at the Pole and McMurdo waters of McMurdo Sound because Station will serve as master translocators their body fluids arc fortified with gly for geoceivers. coproteins that possess anti-frccze pro-

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December, 1975 pertics. These anti-frcezes have been from 1961-1962 to 1969-1970, is ncaring studied for several seasons by Dr A. L. completion. This season a team from DeVries and other scientists from the the Point Reyes Bird Observatory, physiological research laboratory of thc Bolinas, California, is studying the old Scripps Institution of Oceanography. est birds — those nine to 14 years of age — to find out thc incidence of breed FISH SURVIVAL ing, and what thc mortality was among old birds last winter. This season the scientists will study how these anti-frcezes protect thc var DRY VALLEYS ious fishes of McMurdo Sound. Glyco proteins will bc purified from blood Geothcrmal studies in the dry valleys samples taken from the large Antarctic of southern Victoria Land will be made cod (Dissostichus mawsoni). To deter by geologists from thc University of mine how and where these glycoproteins Wyoming. Subsurface temperatures are synthesised, and how they prevent will be measured in holes drilled in past ice from propagating across the body seasons by thc Dry Valley Drilling wall, the black cod notothcnia angustata Project. Other field work will include will bc transfused with anti-frcczc, and the collection of core samples for radio the effect on its survival will bc studied. activity measurements (uranium, thor This black cod. which belongs to thc ium and potassium), and thc thermal Antarctic cod family, is one of thc few properties of thc rocks penetrated. members that lacks anti-freezc com These studies will provide new data pounds. For comparative purposes on permafrost thickness, recent climate black cod will bc collected from thc changes, heat flow, and very deep sub United States Coast Guard icebreaker surface temperatures near McMurdo Burton Island in the area of Scott Station and thc diy valleys. More Tsland and the Balleny Islands. This is knowledge of these phenomena may lead the only place where thc fish can be to thermal explanations for glaciation found. and other aspects (young volicanims and uplift) of this portion of Antarc tica's gcogolic history. SEAL CENSUS Hydro-geological investigations made For thc last five years scientists from during the last two summers will bc thc University of Minnesota have con continued this season in the Wright and ducted a census and tagging of Antarctic Taylor Valleys by a team from the seals in the Ross Island area. This Illinois State Geological Survey. Par season studies of the status and popula ticular emphasis will bc placed on study tion dynamics will bc conducted at Hut- ing groundwater above frozen ground, ton Cliffs, and at a remote colony about and detailed investigations will be made 8km off thc coast. Weekly census trips in thc Wright Valley from Lake Vanda will be made by helicopter to thc Dell- west to the Labyrinth. Information bridge Islands. obtained should lead to an understanding Earlier in thc season another Uni of thc mass balance and chemical char versity of Minnesota team studied the acteristics of lake, pond and soil waters. breeding behaviour, activity and dis GLACIAL ICE tribution patterns of leopard and crab- cater seals in unconsolidated pace ice Scientists from thc University of near Palmer Station. Thc team worked Maine will continue their studies of thc from thc research vessel Here, and used late Cenozoic glacial history of East radio frequency tags to track seals Antarctic, working in thc dry valleys through the pack ice. and thc McMurdo Sound area, and at A study of thc population biology of Cape Crozier. Field work since 1957 Adelie penguins, started at Cape Crozier suggests that thc Ross Sea, and probably by the banding of 5000 chicks annually the Weddell Sea, were filled to a large

AT'jjr. December, 1975 extent with grounded glacial ice at thc WEDDELL SEA maximum of thc last glaciation. After thc piston coring project is com This sheet represented an extension of pleted thc Glacier will proceed to thc west Antarctic ice, fed also by outlet Weddell Sea with scientists from the Scripps Institution of Occonography. glaciers from East Antarctica, onto As a continuation of the International adjacent continental shelves. Carbon-14 dates indicate that ice recession began Weddell Sea Oceanographic Expedition, earlier than 10,000 years ago, and has a physical oceanographic investigation continued even through thc last several of the west Weddell Sea will bc car thousand years. ried out. Continuous measurements of salinity, temperature, and depth will be Because of speculation about thc pos made, and at the edge of the pack ice sibility of continued recession and con in the northern Weddell Sea three cur cordant changes in sea level, the scien rent meters stored there in February tists will obtain cardon-14 dates on this year will bc retrieved. This work raised marine sediments in thc McMurdo is to further understanding of thc form Sound region, map glacial deposits in ation of Antarctic bottom water. the Ferrar Valley and elsewhere in the region, and examine nunataks behind the Taylor and Wright Valleys. Most southerly

PISTON CORING voters This project is linked with another in New Zealand's most southerly voters which a second University of Maine in last month's General Election were team will do piston coring from thc Messrs B. V. Maguire and R. D. Stainer, United States Coast Guard icebreaker two meteorologists at the Amundsen- Glacier for a quantitative palaeoclima- Scott South Pole Station. More than tic analysis of Ross Sea continental 800 miles to the north the leader at shelf sediments. Scott Base, Flight Lieutenant H. D. Recent studies of thc Ross Sea in Raynham, made a 10-hour trip by heli copter to collect votes from New Zea West Antarctica have produced evidence landers in thc field. suggesting that the Ross Tec Sheet is As returning oflicer Flight Lieuten inherently unstable. To test this and ant Raynham flew out to the drilling other hypotheses, a study of thc dyna mic history of thc Ross Ice Sheet will party on the sea ice in McMurdo bc made by scdimcntological and micro- Sound, and to Vanda Station in the Wright Valley. Near the Cocks Glacier, palacontological analyses of core mater about 128km from Scott Base four New ial from thc Ross Sea, the Ross Ice Zealanders voted at a specially-rigged Shelf, and thc dry valley and deep sea booth with a New Zealand flag flying drilling projects. from an ice axe. It is hoped that this study will: (1) About 85 men and women in the determine chronology, duration and field and at Scott Base cast their special extent of past fluctuations of thc Ross votes, which were sent by mail to New lec Sheet shelf system; (2) provide a Zealand. One man, 24-year-old Allan stratigraphic link between sediments of Dawrant, who is thc basc Post Office thc sub-Antarctic Southern Ocean and technician, voted for the second time the glacial stratigraphy of the Trans- in his life, and again in thc Antarctic. Antarctic Mountains; (3) determine the Mr Dawrant voted at Scott Base in relationship between documented glacial the 1972 General Election when he events in thc Antarctic, and climatic became eligible at 21. He wintered there events documented for the rest of the in 1973, and will have a second winter world. next year.

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These three women are the first to be included in an Australian expedition to thc Antarctic Continent. From left they are: Juta HoscI, Shclagh Robinson, and Elizabeth Chipman. They will sail south to Casey early next month. Nella Dan begins relief of Australian stations Relief of Australia's four scientific research stations in Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic began last month when the Nella Dan sailed from Melbourne for Macquarie Island. Eighty-eight men of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) have wintered at the three continental bases, Mawson, Davis, and Casey, and on sub- Antarctic Macquarie Island. Those in the Antarctic will be replaced early next month. This season the Antarctic Division, , ^J^.*™*™^. t0 K! Department of Science and Consumer "*•? ™* ANARE sincc l*59> but Affairs, will use the Danish polar ships ;h,s '? thc nr-st, l'mf a eroup of women Nella Dan and Thala Dan again for llas ,bcen -eluded in an Australian relief operations. The Nella Dan. which êdition to the Antarctic Continent. _ . On u rvno n hr>r Aiietrn inn wnmnn Mrc returned to Melbourne late last'month g^"08 oth.crr Australian woman, Mrs with thc thc Macquarie Macquarie Island Island winter winter party, party, *el Law! '>cl '-""• wife ,of "/"' Dr ' Philip '''"',. Law, *"".'." a will. _. . „ „ , _ make i . . 1 _ . .two . u . . 1 . . . voyages a : . . u f , o i „r m fo e rsouth r m d e ir r e d c i with r t e o c r t o o rthe f o t f h .t c h , c A ... n A t n a t .r a c r. c t i t,. ci c . D D i. i v v i i s s - .... c »» j t-»» .: ion, has visited an Australian Antarctic new expeditions tor Mawson and Davis, '. and the Thala Dan will relieve Casey, station before. Mrs Law accompanied ■ and, ,bring • . , back , , .. thc „ Macquarie • ^ T Oates . ,, an Island Land ANARE in_ Athe expedition _ , 1960-61 . *, .nsn** to season. Mawson and summer party. SUMMER VISITORS On her voyage to Casey early in Eighteen men will winter on Mac- January the Thala Dan will have aboard quaric Island next year. The officer in three women staff members of the charge is Mr D. W. J. McKcnzie, of Antarctic Division. They are Elizabeth Yeerongpilly, Queensland. He and his Chipman (publications officer), Jutta party will spend the next 12 months Hosel (photograph officer) and Shclagh carrying out a research programme Robinson (welfare oflicer), who will which includes physics, biology, and spend more than a week at Casey. All meteorology. They will also undertake have visited Macquarie Island before. a building construction programme. December, 1975

Summer visitors with the relief expedi amphibious vehicles. tion, which is led by Mr W. F. Young, An electronics engineer, Mr Ian Bird, senior technical officer, Antarctic who established an international reputa Division, included four women, who tion for his many contributions to An will carry out scientific and administrat tarctic technology, has retired after 12 ive work, a number of Australian years with the Antarctic Division. Government scientists, members of uni Mr Bird was senior engineer (elec versities from Victoria, Tasmania, and tronics) in charge of the division's Queensland, two Queen's Scouts, and scientific instrumentation section. In 1973 the chief wildlife officer of the Tas he shared the Hayes Memorial Award manian National Parks and Wildlife of the Institution of Radio and Elec Service. A detachment of nine men from tronics Engineers for his work in the the Army was responsible for thc trans development of an unmanned geo port between the ship and the shore by physical station for use in Antarctica. NORWAY PLANS EXPEDITION IN QUEEN MAUD LAND NEXT YEAR Next year the first independent Norwegian scientific expedition to visit Antarctica since 1960 will spend about two months and a half in Queen Maud Land. The expedition of about 16 scientists, which is being organised by the Norwegian Polar Institute, will visit the western tip of Queen Maud Land during the summer of 1976-77.

Glacier studies, geology, biology, Therefore a site was selected for a hydrographic studies, marine biology, new basc at 70deg 18min 32sec S/2deg and marine biophysics will be among 21min 30sec W. The buildings were thc subjects to be covered by thc exped constructed in South Africa, and taken ition. This programme will continue to Sanae by the relief ship R.S.A. on thc research carried out by Norwegian her maiden voyage at the end of 1961. scientists in recent years. Norway has During 1962 the buildings were assem had no permanent station in the bled at Sanae and put in position on Antarctic since Norway Station was the new site. vacated in December, 1959. Although Norway has no station in As part of Norway's contribution to the Antarctic, it has been able to do thc International Geophysical Year research with American aid. Last season Norway Station was established in Queen four scientists from the Norwegian Polar Maud Land at 70dcg 30min S/2deg Institute carried out geological studies 32.2min W* on December 31, 1956. Thc in the Ellsworth Mountains with logistic station was 55.7 metres above sea level, support from the United States, and two and 30 kilometres from the ice front. others took part in a United States ice The Republic of South Africa took core drilling project at the South Pole. over Norway Station on January 12, 1960, and established its own basc, Sanae. During 1960 and 1961 the South Africans used the Norwegian base. But thc buildings were covered by some 18ft of snow, and as a result thc timber supports were cracked and thc roofs began to cave in. ■

■ December, 1975 SOVIET NEWS New Flagship built for Antarctic expeditions This season the 21st Soviet Antarctic Expedition's fleet of research and transport ships has a new flagship, the 14,000-ton diesel-electric Mikhail Somov. She is named after the polar explorer, Mikhail Somov, who died last year. He was the first Soviet citizen to set foot on the Antarctic Continent in 1956, and commanded North Pole II, the second Soviet Arctic station on the drifting ice.

The new flagship, built at thc Kherson will take part in the international pro shipyards, on the Black Sea, replaces gramme Polex-South in Drake Passage the veteran research and supply ship between South America and thc Ob. In the winter of 1973 thc Ob Antarctic Peninsula. Polex-South is tart was trapped in heavy pack ice and of the International Global Aimospheric drifted 450 miles in 90 days from the Research Programme which studies thc King George V Coast to the Davis Sea. interaction between the ocean and thc She began her Antarctic career in 1956 atmosphere, and its elfcct on thc weather. when she took the first Soviet expedition Scientists at Novolazarevskaya on the to Mirny. coast of Queen Maud Land recently Designed for operations in thc Wed completed a deep drilling project on the dell Sea, thc Mikhail Somov's four ice-cap. The drill reached bedrock at engines develop 8000 horsepower. She 1,230ft. A core was raised intact, and thc will be able to negotiate ice up to 5ft drill hole was treated with a firming thick. solution to keep the walls from crumb One of thc major tasks of this season's ling. Instruments have been installed expedition, led by Gcnnady Bardin, at various levels to record temperatures will be the establishment of the new and movements of thc ice mass. station, Druzhnaya (Friendship) on the MARINE MAP northern edge of he Filchner Ice Shelf. The collection of Soviet marine maps Also it will relieve 224 men who have of thc Antarctic region has been com wintered at six Soviet stations. plemented with one more work. This is a bathymetric map of Antarctica. It Scientists of other nations sometimes shows Antarctica and its surrounding spend two consecutive years in Antarc tica. Soviet teams arc relieved every Southern Ocean. Scientists and sailors can use the new map in their practical year. But some scientists return for activities during voyages in the so-called another winter after an interval of a Southern Ocean. year or two. Many have spent three to When thc compilers of the map drew four years, and some even six years on the continent. up the relief of the bottom, they tried to convey its characteristic features as This year's scientific programme explored by echo sounder measurements includes studies of the atmosphere, undertaken from the Soviet diesel- climate, geology, snow and ice cover, electric Ob which covered more than and other Antarctic phenomena. The 80,000 miles. Special attention has been Soviet Union will also contribute to paid to thc depiction of mid-oceanic thc International Glaciological Project. submarine ridges, uplands and ramparts, The research vessel Professor Vize deep troughs and island arcs. December, 1975

In comparison with former general shausen and Moscow University Shelf bathymetric maps of oceans, which Glaciers, thc Gagarin Mountain Ridge, included near-Antarctic waters, the new and the Tereshkova Oasis. map gives a more detailed picture of British explorers gave the names of the underwater relief. For example, thc the Russian composers Borodin, Glinka, Crozet depression was formerly depicted as a moontonic plain. The new map Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky to geo graphical features on the Antarctic shows that this depression is divided by Peninsula. Early in 1975 a peninsula in a chain of hills into two parts. this region was named by the British The space of the ocean floor south of after thc Soviet composer Shostakovich. Prince Edward Island is depicted in Soviet explorers pay in kind in this quite a new way. Soviet scientists have discovered a gigantic volcanic highland respect; they have named a number of here. There are two shallow banks on geographic objects after foreign explor its summit which have been named after ers. For example, fringe seas washing thc Soviet ships Ob and Lena, which the shores of East Antarctica have been took part in the studies of the Soviet named after the Norwegian scientist, Antarctic marine expeditions. Riiser-Larsen and the Australian Thc Antarctic ice-cap is shown on explorer Sir Douglas Mawson. the map as if it were transparent. This has made it possible to show thc ridges and lowlands that have been discovered SYMPOSIUM ON by geophysical methods under thc ice during tractor traverses into the interior. GEOLOGY The names of geophysical features on An international symposium on thc map commemorate many outstanding Antarctic geology and geophysics will scientists, explorers and sailors of the be held from August- 22 to 27, 1977, Soviet Union and other countries who at thc University of Wisconsin, Madison, have contributed to thc study of under the sponsorship of the Scientific Antarctica. Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), thc International Union of NEW NAMES Geological Sciences (IUGS), and thc A special study of 881 new names Inter-Union Commission on Geody- that have appeared on maps of Antarc namics. tica in recent years has been made at the A five-day field trip on the Pre- Soviet Arctic and Antarctic Research Cambrian and Quaternary geology of Institute in Leningrad. Thc writers are the Lake Superior region is planned a geographer, L. Dubrovin, and an before the meeting, and a shorter trip engineer, M. Prcobrazhenskaya, who on the Pre-Cambrian and Paleozic have taken part in many polar expedi geology of the Baraboo Range after tions. wards. Mountain ranges, islands, lakes, and Early preliminary registration is en other geographical features have been couraged. The first circular is available named to commemorate men who gave from Professor C. Craddock, Depart their lives in the fight against the hostile ment of Geology and Geophysics, Uni environment of Antarctica — Ivan versity of Wisconsin, Madison, Wiscon Khmara, the first Soviet citizen to die sin 53706. He is chairman of the SCAR in the Antarctic, Oldjiz Kostka, and working group on geology. Vasily Ryskalin. Other features have been named in honour of cosmonauts, scientists, writers, composers, artists, and other Soviet personalities. Antarctic maps now bear the names of the Kurchatov Mountains, the Belling -» K.VTC ■ I I ■:- •" '.T^vi - ^%?* December, 1975

Drilling into the seabed of McMurdo Sound from a platform on the annua last month. In the photograph above a giant iceberg half a mile away and mo Basc. Below a tractor train hauls drilling equipment across thc sen ice to the dril

^B..>• December, 1975

ice was done for the ﬁrst time in the ﬁnal phase of thc Dry Valley Drilling Project c than 200ft high is the backdrop for the drilling camp 70 km north-west of Scott |.v I ' ma I site. In the foreground Weddell seals lie sunning themselves on the ice. j£

December, 1975 Emperor penguin rookery found west of Syowa A large Emperor penguin rookery has been found by the 16th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-16) about 180km west of Syowa Station. The rookery was spotted at the eastern side of the Riiser-Larsen Peninsula at 35deg E—69deg S on October 1 during a test flight of the expedition's Cessna aircraft. On October 2 the leader, Dr Takao Hoshiai, and a biologist, Hiroatsu Shimizu, flew over the rookery and confirmed the existence of some 3000 adult birds and chicks in a group on sea ice near the edge of the ice shelf.

With the return of the Antarctic Other relevant research programmes of spring JARE-16 scientists resumed their upper atmosphere physics will bc field activities from Syowa Station. The carried out. In order to make two-point J A RE-17 programme for 1975-77 was or multi-station observations of ionos initiated on November 25 when the ice pheric and magnetosphere disturbances, breaker Fuji sailed from Tokyo. She is upper atmosphere studies will be carried expected off the station on New Year's out at Mizuho Camp and an unmanned Day after calling at Fremantle this station will be established in the month. vicinity. There are 40 men in the JARE-17 Scientific programmes at Syowa winter and summer parties. They are led Station will cover various disciplines by Dr Takeo Yoshino, professor of such as meteorology, geomagnetism, radio physics at thc University of seismology, sea ice studies, biology, Electro-communication in Tokyo, who geochemistry, geomorphology, and wintered with JARE-3 in 1959, and will medical science The glacial-meteorolog winter at Syowa Station again. ical programme will be continued at JARE-17 will conduct a major Mizuho Camp during the winter. scientific programme of upper atmos The summer party of JARE-17 will phere physics at Syowa Station and carry out marine science programmes Mizuho Camp about 300km to the aboard the Fuji and upper atmosphere south-east on the inland ice. The pro physics studies. Terrestrial and geo- gramme is part of Japan's involvement morphological surveys, and biological in the International Magnctospheric research will bc conducted near Syowa .Study (IMS, 1976-1979). Station in January and February, 1976. SEVEN ROCKETS Reactivation of thc rocket launching Seven sounding rockets will be facilities at Syowa Station will be the launched from the launching facility main task of the logistic and scientific south-west of the centre of Syowa staff in January next year. Station during the winter of 1976. One Professor Takesi Nagata, director of of these rockets is the newly-developed thc National Institute of Polar Research, S-310JA, which weighs 670kg, is 6 8m who led JARE-1, 2, and 3, will return long, and has a diameter of 310mm. to Syowa Station as an observer of Its payload is 40kg, and its peak JARE-17, Mr George Laurent, a altitude is 220km. French upper atmosphere physicist, will Signals sent from scientific satellites also join thc JARE-17 summer party will be received by an auto-tracking on board the Fuji, which is expected to reception system which will be installed leave the Antarctic at the end of Feb at Syowa Station in January next year. ruary. The icebreaker, which carries a

h&ESs81k&: ■ December, 1975

crew of 34 ofﬁcers and 148 men, in traverse party in 1958-59. It left Syowa cluding pilots for her three helicopters, Station with two snow vehicles and is commanded by Captain Tsunezo sledges and after some mechanical Kuramoto, who is making his third trouble reached the southern end of Antarctic trip. She will call at Port the Yamoto Mountains on November Louis, Mauritius, from March 12 to 17, 24 when two meteorite samples were and the JARE-16 winter party will ﬂy found. from there to Tokyo.

SPRING JOURNEYS MIZUHO TRAVERSE From November 24 to December 29, Spring journeys from Syowa Station began in August when a party of earth 1974, the party found 659 samples, thc scientists made a trip south near the largest of which weighed about 5kg, and Shirase Glacier. They made geological, was about 20cm in diameter. Most of the samples were less than 10cm in geomorphological, gcochemical and diameter. They were designated as meteorological studies, and made a terrestrial survey of the coastal area Yamoto 74001 to 74659, and were south of Syowa Station. Another party catalogued at the National Institute of made a trip to Mizuho Camp, laying Polar Research where they will be sub caches, and making glaciological and jected to further detailed study. upper atmospheric physics studies. A traverse from Mizuho Camp to Field surveys of exposed rock areas about 77deg south, glaciological re along the Soya Coast south of Syowa Station were also begun. search and drilling of thc ice-cap at the camp were other field activities last Early in November a traverse party season. Glaciological programmes in led by Dr Yukio Matsumoto was dis inland areas were started in 1969, and were concluded in 1974-75. Thc main patched from Syowa Station to the Yamoto Mountains about 300km to the task was to remcasure the snow ac south to continue the search for Yamoto cumulation stakes and the strain grid meteorites, and to make a terrestrial between Mizuho Camp and the Sander- cock Nunataks in Enderby Land in con survey. There arc several bare ice areas in the southern end and western side junction with the deep drilling of the of the mountains, and Yamoto ice-cap. meteorites were found on the surface of these areas for thc first time in 1969, A glaciological party made a traverse and again in 1973 and 1974. to the south, reaching about 77deg S. It started from Mizuho Camp on This season the Yamoto Mountains October 1 and returned at the end of party will remain in thc field until the November. This party initiated the re- end of January 1976. Last season's survey of the strain grid network be party which was in thc area for three tween Mizuho Camp and the Sander- weeks found 659 meteorite samples al cock Nunataks where the survey by together some of which might be non- Australian and JARE parties was ex meteorite samples. Nine samples found pected to be tied. in December, 1969, were designated Yamoto (a) to (i) in that order, and 12 Because of an unexpectedly heavy samples found in December, 1973, were snow accumulation near the Sandercock designated (j) to (u). Nunataks, the party failed to find thc stakes which were installed in the Last season's party of four men in summer of 1970-71 by a JARE-11 party. cluded one geologist, Dr Keizo Yanai, The party also met difficulties in a now a research associate at the National crcvassed area about 300km from the Institute of Polar Research, who was a Sandercock Nunataks and had to return member of the Japanesesc South Pole to Mizuho Camp. ^m\ ANTARCTIC December, 1975

Ice core drilling at Mizuho Camp was Yukihiro Ohniwa (physical oceano carried out from December, 1974, to graphy); Nobuyuki Shibayama (chemical the end of January, 1975 with the oceanography); Tsutomu Mayama assistance of members of JARE-16 who (marine biology); Takehiko Gomi joined the drilling team from the middle (surveyor); Michio Nogami (geography); of January. Because of thc sticking of Yoshikuni Ohyama (biology); Mizuo the thermal drill head in thc ice, drilling Sato (upper atmosphere physics); Hiroo had to be stopped at a depth of 147m. Nishizima (construction engineer); Ice cores, and other snow and ice Fusashi Ito (general assistant). samples were brought back to Japan. WINTER PARTY (1975-1977) This season Japanese scientists will Takeo Yoshino (leader); Kikuji continue their co-operation with those Yoshida, Jitsuki Hokama, Kunio from New Zealand and the United Enoshima, Yoshio Kato (meteorology); States on the final stage of the Dry Akihisa Yamakoshi (ionoshperic Valley Drilling Project, which began physics); Toshio Hancda (geophysics); last month. They are Dr Katsutada Hiroshi Fukunishi, Kazuo Makita, Kaminuma, geophysicist at the National Toshiro Matsuo, Tsutomu Sasaki, Institute of Polar Research, Dr Kunio Nikki, Yoshio Koinuma, Koji Nobuyuki Nakai, a gcochemist at Nakai, Osamu Mariko (upper atmos Nagoya University, who also holds an pheric physics); Ryozo Goto (physical additional post at the National Institute, meteorology); Masaaki Wakatsuchi, and Dr Tetsuya Torii, a geochemist at Fumihiko Nishio (glaciology); Masatakc the Chiba Institute of Technology. Drs Murakami (medical science); Shigeo Kaminuma and Nakai who arc now Shiga, Koji Kasaba, Shigeo Takahashi, working at McMurdo Station, expect to Shigeki Mitsuyama (mechanic); Hiroaki attend the DVDP Seminar in Wellington Yoshizawa, Masao Yamada, Masao next month. Aihara (radio operator); Masahiro SUMMER PARTY (1975-76) (Ishida, Kazuji Mochizuki (cook), Members of thc 17th expedition are: Tatsuro Yoshiyama (doctor); Hiroshigc Takeo Hirasawa (deputy leader); Shibano (general assistant). FIRST TO FIND EMPEROR PENGUIN'S EGG Lance Corporal A. H. Blissett, Royal of Dumont d'Urvillc's expedition be Marine Light Tnfantry, who served with tween 1837 and 1840. Known as rhe Scott's Discovery expedition of 1901- Drcyton egg, it was found on the sea 1904, was not the first man to find an ice, sold privately, and ended up in Emperor penguin's egg. The honour thc Norwich Museum, where it is today. belongs to an anonymous Frenchman. Edward Wilson mentions thc egg in his Blissett, who settled in New Zealand 1907 report ("Zoology", Volume n.) after thc First World War, has been Dr Stonehouse, who is now at the given a place in Antarctic history on School of Environmental Science. Uni the evidence of a statement in Scott's versity of Bradford, has studied thc "Thc Voyage of the Discovery". (See ecology of Antarctic, sub-Antarctic, and "They Came Back to Lyttelton." Baden temperate-latitude penguins on expedi Norris. "Antarctic", June. 1975 Page tions with thc Falkland Islands Depen 190). But Dr Bernard Stonehouse, a dencies Survey (now British Antarctic world authority on penguins, tells a Survey), thc University of Canterbury different story in a letter to the Editor. Antarctic biological unit, which he led Dr Stonehouse says that the first for five years, and while he lived in Emperor egg was picked up, not by New Zealand. He is a member of thc Blissett, but by an unrecorded member New Zealand Antarctic Society.

■ ■ mi December, 1975 ANTARCTIC

SANAE REPORT Geological parties head for Kirwan escarpment A field trip to bring back all the stores and supplies from depots between Sanae and Grunehogna, 230km to the south, was the main task of the 16th South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAh 16) when the winter in Queen Maud Land ended. All the supplies have to be returned because SANAE'S earth sciences programme has been suspended for two years. Early in January SANAE 17 will arrive to relieve the present team at Sanae. All the members of the new team have been selected, and began their training in Pretoria last month. A full-scale storm delayed thc SANAE over, he found that his fire had sunk 16 field party for a week. It did not leave several feet below the melted snow sur- the basc until September 21, much later face. than usual. At the same time thc geo- Snow has been a pre-occupation of the logical team of five men, which had Sanae team this year. There has been wintered at Grunehogna, left for thc such an accumulation on the surface Kirwan Escarpment. above the base buildings that the hatches Soon after the team's departure one which provide access to the outside vehicle broke down, and two men had to world have had to bc cleared three stay behind. Communication was estab- times. lished with Sanae, and another vehicle MARION ISLAND left with spare parts. After many delays, Towards the end of thc winter the men and a nerve-wracking journey through on Marion Island had no water for a a stretch of crevasse area, it reached week because of frozen pipes. Water Grunehogna. and the broken vehicle had to be carried in buckets from a was repaired. nearby pond so the meteorologists could Then thc Grunehogna team continued continue their twice daily balloon towards Borga, which is 380km from launchings. Sanae, to meet the geologists from the Next month four biologists who will base's winter team. Both parties will work on the bio-encrgetics programme not meet again until they return to arrive aboard the French research ship Sanae early in January. Marion Dufresnc to join the present Most of this season's geological work team on thc island. In April next year will be done in the Kirwan Escarpment, the ornithological programme will be south of Borga Base. When thc earth expanded by more research on subjects sciences programme is resumed in 1978 hitherto untouched. geological parties will have helicopter In October thc Marion 32 team had support. two "visitors" from a French yacht. While the field party was on its way While the yacht sailed round the island, north again, collecting all the depot thc "visitors" were introduced to the stores on the route, thc men at Sanae team, and were given a conducted tour had more work to do. But they found of the base and laboratories, time for fun. The return of summer After half an hour the "visitors" apparently made one man forget where could not control their laughter. They he was. He tried to prove that a barbe- were well disguised members of the cue could be held on the snow, but team hidden behind dark glasses, with when he turned around to turn the meat beards and moustatches shaven off, long M ANTARCTIC December, 1975

hair hidden under balaclavas, and wear Africa, radio technicians are in great ing the clothes they had brought from demand. South Africa. During the relief period a non- Some major construction projects were directional radio beacon mast 30m high completed when the 21st relief team was erected for civil aviation navigation. arived at Gough Island in October. A Thc landing stage, snapped off during a radio technician for the team was ob storm, was replaced, and the floor sup tained with some difficulty. Since the port beams, which had rotted because introduction of television in South of the high humidity, were strengthened. WOMEN SCIENTISTS WORK AT IBEBrais SOUTH POLE STATION Two American women scientists are working at the South Pole this season. Women have visited the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station before but none worked there until Miss Nan Scott took part in a medical research project last season. Earlier this year the Australian Minister of Science decided to allow women scientists to work on Macquarie Island in the summer as a contribution to International Women's Year. His successor has since decided to allow women to work on the Antarctic Continent for the first time. wQwSfiSSraP-MWL&rScS This season about 30 women will work Research Foundation in his studies of at American, New Zealand and Austra human adaptation to thc stresses of lian bases. The Americans and New living through the winter at thc South Zealanders have been selected basically Pole. Mrs Muchmore is thc wife of the because they are needed in the icsearch principal investigator. programmes. WORK ON KRILL Three Australian women will spend On thc other side of the continent several weeks at Casey, thc base on two more American women scientists thc Budd Coast of Wilkes Land, which will study krill in the Bransfield Strait is manned by a team of 26. One of and the Scotia Sea. Dr Mary Alice them is Miss Elizabeth Chipman, publi McWhinnie and Charlcne Denys will cations officer for thc Antarctic Division, work from Palmer Station on Anvers Department of Science. Four other Island off thc Antarctic Peninsula, and women will go to Macquarie Island in from thc research vessel Hero. Dr thc sub-Antarctic. McWhinnie, of Depaul University, At Casey and on Macquarie Island Chicago, was one of thc first two women the women will work on communica scientists to winter in thc Antarctic. tions, biological studies, a film for the Fifteen other American women will Australian Broadcasting Commission, work at McMurdo Station, Ross Island, and other projects. this season. They will do meteorological, When a United States Navy Hercules communications, and medical duties. One aircraft made the second flight of the is a secretary, and another an adminis season to the Pole Station Mrs Donna tration officer. Muchmore and Miss Scoti were aboard. Two New Zealand women are work They flew there to assist Dr Harold G. ing with university expeditions in the Muchmore, of the Oklahoma Medical field. Another is a meteorologist at ^^^H December, 1975 ANTARCTIC

Scott Base. And a Welsh-born geologist, minimal. Provision for women to live Dr Susan West, worked for eight years at Scott Base has been made in the with the British Antarctic Survey, but rebuilding plans. And thc Ministry of had to come to New Zealand to get to Works architect assigned to the project Antarctica. is a woman, Miss Ros Empson. Britain has yet to send women to In the last 20 years the male monopoly Antarctica. There is no provision for of Antarctic has been broken many short visits in thc summer, and teams times by women tourists, women mem sent to Antarctic Peninsula bases usually bers of the crews of Soviet ships, and winter there. women scientists who have worked in Dr West did her Ph.D. thesis on the Antarctic waters. A marine geologist, M. petrology of the Danco Coast of thc Klenova, was a member of the first Antarctic Peninsula. She will spend six Soviet Antarctic expedition in 1956, and weeks in the dry valleys of Victoria others have been a biologist, E. Korot- Land, west of Scott Basc, collecting kevich, a hydrochemist, M. Konovalova, rocks and fossils for thc Antarctic and an aerologist, N. Kazakova. centre of thc Canterbury Museum. And a French woman engineer, Mrs With Dr West will bc Mrs Margaret Christine Gillet, has been to the Antarc Bradshaw, mother of two young children, tic for the last 12 years. She made her who is the museum's geologist. Antarc seventh visit to Dumont d'Urville in tica appears to be in the family. Her Adelie Land last season. There, as chief husband, Dr John Bradshaw, a univer engineer, she supervised the construc sity lecturer in geography, took oart in tion and servicing of buildings and a major expedition to the Bowers power supplies. Mountains in Northern Victoria Land • Mrs Gillet has a typically Gallic last season. approach to the questions of women New Zealand women have been work in Antarctica. She says it is no more ing in Antarctica for five years, iruiinly d'fiicult for a woman than a man; the in the field, and their demands on only problem is having to have a accommodation at Scott Basc have been separate room. New Zealand Science Congress Sir Vivian Fuchs, who retired from in the sciences; monitoring programmes the position of director of the British and world environmental studies, e.g. Antarctic Survey two years ago, will climatic, oceanographic, geophysical etc. be thc official guest speaker at the 13th ( c ) T h c f u t u r e o f A n t a r c t i c a . New Zealand science congress in Resources of ocean and continent, Dunedin from May 10 to May 14 next questions of exploitation, conservation, year. One of the five major themes of radio-nuclcidc dumps, international and thc congress, which will bc under thc domestic issues in Antarctica, tourism, auspices of the Royal Society of New occupational research programmes, the Zealand, will be Antarctic. law and Antarctica, New Zealand's role An Antarctic symposium will bc held in Antarctic affairs. during the congress. Interested speakers Information on the Antarctic are invited to contribute to the sym symposium can be obtained from Mr posium which will have thc following J. T. Darby, convener, Antarctic Section, three sessions:— XIII N.Z. Science Congress, c/o Otago (a) Research in Antarctica with Museum, Great King Street, Dunedin. particular reference to the natural Further information on the congress is history of thc Ross Dependency, and the available from the secretary, 13th Royal dry valley region. Society of New Zealand Science Con (b) Global implications of Antarctic gress, Department of Physics, University research—researches showing thc posi of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New tion of Antarctica for baseline studies Zealand. ANTARCTIC December, 1975

SUB-ANTARCTIC Scientiﬁc study of sheep left on Campbell Island

Campbell Island's flock of wild Merino cross sheep, abandoned more than 40 years ago, are being studied this summer by New Zealand scientists to determine the long-term effects of their removal on the island's natural flora and fauna. The expedition, divided into short-term, first-term, second-term, and full-term parties, will also study the plants, animals, birds, soils, and geology of the island.

Early last month the first party led good part of the island's vegetation by Mr N. J. Judd, a reserves ranger against damage by sheep, and to study with the Department of Lands and thc long-term interaction between the Survey, sailed south in thc motor vessel animals, the vegetation, and albatrosses. Acheron. On her second trip the About 1500 sheep remained on the Acheron took the second-term party, southern side of the fence. and brought back members of thc short- As part of the expedition's studies, term party. Research on the island will the leader, Mr Judd, will trap some live end early in February when thc rest of sheep. A representative sample will be the expedition will return aboard the tested for disease, and if the results Royal New Zealand Navy's frigate confirm reports that the flock is free Taranaki. from the common diseases of New Zea Campbell Island, 663km south of the land flocks, 10 will be captured later port of Bluff, is controlled by the and brought back aboard H.M.N.Z.S. Department of Lands and Survey, and Taranaki for evaluation by the Ministry since 1954 has been a reserve for the of Agriculture and Fisheries. preservation of flora and fauna. When Scientists from four universities, the the island was abandoned as a sheep Department of Scientific and Industrial station in 1931, large flocks of merino Research, the Wildlife Service, the cross sheep were abandoned. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Between 1931 and 1961 the sheep and the Australian Commonwealth population declined steadily from about Scientific and Industrial Research 4000 to 1000. But in thc next eight years Organisation, are taking part in the thc numbers increased to about 3000. Campbell Island studies. Their research There were misgivings about thc possible will include thc following projects: effects of an expanding sheep population on native flora and fauna, particularly SHORT-TERM PARTY the Royal albatross. But in eight years Mr I. Campbell, of the Soil Bureau, while the sheep increased threefold, the D.S.T.R., will make an assessment of albatrosses also increased from about the erosion problem on the island. He 2,300 to 4,400 breeding pairs. will study thc likely contribution by sheep to past erosion, and by those on SHEEP KILLED thc south side of the fence to future In 1970 a fence was erected across erosion. In additon he plans study of the narrow waist of the island, and all the soils of thc island, and an examina thc sheep in the northern half were tion of thc peats and pleistocene killed off. The purpose was to secure a deposits for comparison with those on

■ • w $-:'.-•* December, 1975 ANTARCTIC other outlying islands such as the Auck and population dynamics of some sheep land and Chatham Islands. parasites and pathogens. He also plans to study the effects of ticks and lice on sea birds. Dr F. M. Climo, of the National Museum, is revising the taxonomy of the Australian representatives of the small Mr J. B. Hutton, of thc Animal Health land snails belonging in thc family Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Punctidac. His research is required to Fisheries, will monitor the health status fit the Campbell Island fauna into thc of thc island fauna, with emphasis on complex pattern of species and sub thc sheep population, to learn about the species in the New Zealand sub- possibility of different disease patterns Antarctic. He also plans to make developing between sheep populations in ecological notes of the faunal assem New Zealand and on the outlying blages and the intcrtidal zone of the islands. He will make observations of island. the fauna before and after death to define the range of syndromes encoun Dr P. R. Wilson, of thc Ecology tered. Division, D.S.I.R., will establish liaison with other members of the first-term Mr W. R. Regnault. of the wool party. He will also, on his return, brief department, Massey University, plans Mr J. P. Dilks, of thc Ecology Division, to inspect all or as many of thc sheep who is in the second-term party. as possible to record the incidence of weak back wool, and over or under shot jaws. He also proposes to shear FIRST-TERM PARTY and weigh thc fleeces of some sheep of known age. Weak back wool is the Mr C. J. R. Robertson, of the Wild cause of the culling of many thousands life Service, will continue thc studies of of otherwise good breeding ewes in New the Royal albatross conducted by the Zealand each year. Mr Regnault, who National Museum and thc Wildlife has worked on a short-term unselccted Service, especially thc ecological require flock at Massey University, wants to ments of their habitat. He will assess observe thc long-term effect of natural thc population sizes of the black-browed selection on thc culling factor. mollymawk, grey-headed mollymawk, and wandering albatross, and will study Dr T. K. Crosby and Mrs M. B. May, the behaviour displays of thc two molly- Entomology Division, D.S.I.R., will con mawks and the sooty albatross. Other tinue the arthropod survey to sec if it work will include an assessment of the is possible to relate the arthropod fauna numbers and taxonomic status of thc to different vegetation and soil types, giant petrel, and a faunal survey of and to survey arthropods' association Dent Island and other offshore islets. with vertebrates. Mrs May's study will refer particularly to associating immat Mr R. Russ, of thc Wildlife Service, ure forms with adults; Dr Crosby will will assist the leader, Mr Judd, in the be concerned with stream fauna. maintenance of thc fence across the island. He will also make a census Dr G. F. Van Tets, of the Division of albatrosses and sheep (the latter of Wildlife, Commonwealth Scientific being destroyed) north of the fence. and Industrial Research Organisation, will study the nest ecology and Mr A. C. Heath, of the Wallaceville behaviour of the endemic Campbell Animal Research Centre, will carry out Island shag. His research is part of a postmortem examinations of a large long-term comparative study of the sample of the island sheep. His purpose shags and cormorants of Australia and is to obtain data on the epidemiology New Zealand. ANTARCTIC December, 1975

SECOND-TERM PARTY Island in order to complete an ecological and taxonomic paper. Dr D. G. Given, Botany Division, D.S.I.R., will study the compistae and ferns of the island. In association with FULL-TERM PARTY Mr C. D. Mcurk, of the botany depart Mr Meurk will continue ecological ment, University of Otago, he will study studies on behalf of the Ecology Divis thc conservation status of individual ion. These will involve re-mapping the plant species for the New Zealand rare 20 permanent quadrats established on plants register, and the taxonomic either side of the island fence to pick status of certain problem exotic species. up the early recovery stages in the grazed swards on the northern side, and Mr Dilks and an assistant from thc possibly any slower and background Ecology Division, D.S.I.R., will continue trends in other communities and to the studies of the interactions between south. sheep, the vegetation, albatrosses, and Mr Mcurk will also study the genera other Campbell Island fauna. The pro Acacna, Blechnum, Rostkovia in con jects will include the distribution and nection with a number of taxonomic number of the wild sheep south of the problems, and make productivity com fenccline, thc numbers and range of parison studies of zones equivalent to the wild cattle, and the distribution and thc Otago alpine grassland, covering numbers of nesting southern Royal selected areas of Chionochloa antarctica, albatrosses both north and south of the Poa litorosa, Marsippospermum gracile, fenccline. Changes in the vegetation and Dracophyllum scrub. and erosion will be monitored, using In the ﬁrst term Mr Mcurk will work photography from permanent points with Mr Robertson on a botanical sur mostly established in 1970. vey of an offshore islet. This supports probably the only pristine zonal com Mr P. M. Johns, of the zoology munity in the region. Permanent line department, University of Canterbury, transects and quadrats will be estab will continue work done previously on lished during the survey. Campbell Island, Auckland island. Snares Island, and Antipodes Island. THALA DAN NOW Messrs J. M. Beggs and P. A. Morris, geology department, University of REBUILT Otago, plan to make a modern geological study of the island to supplement the After nearly 20 years' service in thc work done by Professor P. Marshall Arctic and the Antarctic thc Danish in 1907. They propose to revise thc polar expedition ship Thala Dan has geological mapping of the island, paying been rebuilt and modernised. The Thala particular attention to the areas of Dan made her ﬁrst trip to the Antarctic metamorphoric and sedimentary rock as in 1957 with an Australian expedition, well as the more common volcanic and since then she and her sister rhip rocks. Magga Dan have taken relief parties to Australian and French bases each season. Mr P. C. Harper, of the zoology Accommodation for passengers and department, Victoria University of Wel crew has been entirely rebuilt Terra Nova expedition, Sir Charles Seymour Wright, died in Victoria, British Columbia, on November 1. He was 88. Another member of the shore party, Sir Raymond Priestley, died last year, and the last survivor is Tryggve Gran, the Norwegian ski expert, now 86, who lives in retirement at Grimstad, Norway. Gran and Wright were the last two members of Edward Atkinson's search party which found the bodies of Scott, Wilson, and Bowers just 11 miles south of One Ton Depot.

Affectionately known by his colleagues as "Silas" after Silas K. Hocking, an American novelist, Charles Wright was a young Canadian physicist who became the expedition's glaciologist in the Antarctic. After his return to England and service in the First World War he began a distinguished career as a naval research scientist. As a glaciologist he played a leading part in the expedition's ﬁeld work, and was a member of the Western Party which explored the Koettlitz, Ferrar, and Taylor Glaciers under thc leadership of his friend and colleague, Grifﬁth Taylor. Scott held the young Canadian scientist—he was only 23 when he went south—in high regard. There are references in his journal to Wright's intelligence and energy—"a hard and conscientious worker"—and in another entry he is described as "good-hearted, strong, keen, striving to saturate his mind with the ice problems of this wonderful region." And in October, 1911, when he was preparing for the South Pole journey, Scott wrote: "One of the greatest successes is Wright. He is very thorough and absolutely ready for anything . . . Nothing ever seems SIR CHARLES WRIGHT to worry him, and I can't imagine he ever complained of anything in his life."\{[e" the top of the Beardmore Glacier (the Upper Glacier Depot, 85deg 7min S). Charles Wright was a member of the Scott noted: "All are disappointed— first supporting party—Atkinson, poor Wright bitterly, I fear." Cherry-Garrard, and Keohane — which turned back on December 21, 1912, at

December, 1975

PART IN SEARCH at the same time, to see if they could walk thc 50 miles in 10 hours. On the A p a r t f r o m h i s fi n e w o r k a s a voyage south when his nickname was scientist with the expedition Charles "Jules Verne" for a reason never ex Wright has a place in Antarctic history plained, Wright became interested in for thc part he played in the search for Antarctic icebergs, and Wilson engin the bodies of Scott and his companions. eered his re-appointment as the ex The story has been told many times. pedition's glaciologist, and he became On October 30, 1912, the seven Indian eligible for field work away from Cape mules and eight men making up the Evans. Pony Party started south. Charles Wright was in command because he was a skilled navigator. Atkinson followed WAR SERVICE on November 1 with Cherry-Garrard, Demetri Gerof, and the two dog teams. After his return to England Wright was appointed a lecturer in cartography On thc morning of November 12 when and surveying at Cambridge. He served thc party had marched 11 miles Wright with thc Royal Engineers in the First saw "a curious-looking and very large World War and won a Military Cross. cairn off to the west. Through the Later he was in command of wireless, glasses he could see a number of poles Second Army, and finally was awarded sticking up beside it. It was in a place the O.B.E. for his work as an intelli where he had not expected anything to gence officer at General Headquarters. be. He told the mule party to continue south on its track, and went over on In 1919 Wright began his dis tinguished career as a naval research ski to sec what the strange object was. scientist. He joined the Admiralty De It was the tent. partment of Scientific Research and Experiment, and after 10 years there Wright tried signalling to the mule became superintendent of thc Admiralty party to come over but they did not understand very well. Eventually they Research Laboratory at Tcddington. From 1934 to 1946 he was Director of came over, made camp, and wailed for Scientific Research at the Admiralty, Atkinson to come along a couple of and when thc Royal Naval Scientific hours later. Service was formed in 1946 he was Charles Wright was born in Toronto, appointed its first chief. He was knighted and educated at Upper Canada College. the same year. He was an undergraduate at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridgem, and Wright retired in 1947, but almost d i d r e s e a r c h a t t h e C a v e n d i s h immediately became adviser for the Admiralty with the British Joint Ser Laboratory between 1908 and 1910. He vices Mission in Washington. Then he and Griffith Taylor were fellow- returned to North America to continue members of an informal club of re his own research, working at the search students. Taylor persuaded Sir physical laboratory of thc Scripps Douglas Mawson to come and talk to Institution of Oceanography, California, the group, and Wright applied to join the Pacific Naval Laboratory of the Scott's expedition as physicist because Defence Research Board of Canada, he thought his research on penetrating and the University of British Columbia. radiation might bc quite different in the Antarctic. After his second "retirement" in 1955 Wright continued to be actively engaged Although he was rejected for the post in research projects. And for four years one day, Wright was accepted the next before he finally retired in 1968 he by Scott on Wilson's advice. Taylor had lectured in geophysics at thc Institute persuaded him to walk from Cambridge of Earth Sciences, University of to London to see Scott and Wilson and British Columbia. December, 1975 ANTARCTIC

RETURN SOUTH research programme at Byrd Station. And once again he visited the historic In 1960 Wright returned to the An huts, and climbed Observation Hill to tarctic at the request of the Canadian see the cross erected in memory of the Defence Research Board in association men with whom he struggled up the with Stanford University to carry out Beardmorc Glacier 53 years earlier. ■research into the fluctuation of the Wright's report on the glaciological earth's geomagnetic ﬁeld. During his work of the Terra Nova expedition, stay at McMurdo Station he visited written jointly with his brother-in-law, Cape Royds and his old home at Cape Sir Raymond Priestley, and published in Evans, where he was intensely interested 1922, became a classic in its ﬁeld. in the work of the New Zealand After he retired to live on Saltspring Antarctic Society's hut restoration Island, near Vancouver, Wright was party. He was the popular guest of always most generous with his memories honour at Scott Base for Christmas of Terra Nova days when writers and dinner. Perhaps his most joyful ex historians sought his help. In 1968 he perience in the Antarctic was to stand found time to write an article for beside the bunk in the hut at Cape "Antarctic" (June, 1968, Pages 109-111) Evans which he had occupied 50 years on the role of fuel in Antarctic dis before. covery and research, which dealt also When he was 77 Wright returned to with old and newer methods of trans the Antarctic for the third time. He portation, particularly the mules and the worked with the United States Antarctic motor sledges. Scientists? studies of penguins

New Zealand scientists who have largest contribution in thc book on the worked at Cape Royds and Cape Bird Crested penguins. He also contributes on Ross Island with the University of a colour photograph of erect-crested Canterbury Antarctic biological research penguins which appears on the jacket unit in thc last 15 years are well of the book, numerous drawings illus represented in "The Biology of Pen trating penguin behaviour, photographs, guins", published by McMillan Press and reproductions of sonograms of Ltd as part of a series on biology and penguin calls. environment. Thc 555-page book is Dr I. Spcllerbcrg, now of the biology edited by Dr B. Stonehouse, formerly a department at Southampton University, reader in thc university's zoology depart who worked on Antarctic birds and ment, and now director of the School mammals for three seasons with the of Environmental Science, University university's Antarctic unit, writes about of Bradford. the predators of penguins. Dr E. B- Dr Stonehouse, who is an English Spurr, who is now doing post-doctoral man, headed thc research unit at Cape research in Scotland, writes about Royds for ﬁve years from thc 1960-61 communication in thc Adelie penguin season. Since the 1966-67 season the after several seasons' research with thc unit has worked at Cape Bird. Dr unit. Stonehouse, who provides a general Dr G. W. Yeatcs, who now heads a introduction, previously worked for thc soil biology research section in the British Antarctic Survey at Antarctic Department of Scientiﬁc and Industrial Peninsula bases. Research, writes about micro-climate, Another English member of the climate, and breeding success in zoology department, Dr J. Warham, Antarctic penguins. He studied Adelie who has worked on the sub-Antarctic penguins with the unit while a Ph.D. islands south of New Zealand, has thc student. **♦'.--+

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ANTARCTIC December, 1975 INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR MUSEUM'S ANTARCTIC CENTRE

Britain, Norway, the United States, Australia, and the Soviet Union are among the nations involved in Antarctic research which have supported the Canterbury Museum's Antarctic centre in recent months. Relics of historic expeditions have come from survivors, and the international support has included a ﬁrst instalment of $5500 from a fund-raising project initiated by Mr Lars-Eric Lindblad, of New York, who has been respon sible for regular Antarctic tourist cruises in the Lindblad Explorer. Also the museum now has an assistant curator for its Antarctic collecions.

Mr Lindblad's contribution represents Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-17 is the proceeds of New Zealand sales of Mr Irvine Owen Gaze, of Melbourne, 100 signed prints of an Antarctic paint who is now 86. He has given to thc ing he commissioned from the marine museum his original field diary, and an artist, Keith Shackleton, a nephew of album of annotated photographs. Thc Sir Ernest Shackleton. Proceeds from other survivor, 81-year-old Mr R. W. thc sale of another 650 prints in the Richards, also of Melbourne, who pre United States arc expected to increase sented a transcript of his personal diary the fund to $30,000. for thc period from February 23 to March 19, 1916, has presented addi Mr David Harrowfield, a 35-year-old tional material of historic interest. senior technician in the geography department of the University of Canter Pamphlets, mostly religious, were bury, has been appointed assistant issued to members of Scott's 1901-1904 curator of Antarctic collections. Last Discovery expedition before they went month he began thc selection and south. Some were salvaged when rubbish annotation of items illustrating Antarc was cleared from the Discovery hut at tic history for display in the historical Hut Point in 1957. They have been section of the museum's Antarctic hall. presented by Mr M. Sevier, who was a young supply officer with the United Mr Harrowfield became interested in States Navy's task force in the Inter archaeology as a schoolboy. He was national Geophysical Year, and retired an assistant to a senior boy at thc this year to live in Christchurch. same school, Michael Trotter, now the museum's geologist. Later he became a When the Morning sailed from Lyttel member of the museum's archaeological ton in 1902 on her first voyage she society, and is now treasurer of the carried fresh New Zealand mutton for New Zealand Archaeological Associa the Discovery party. Canterbury farmers tion. contributed 100 sheep for the expedition, and Mrs J. F. Coates, grand-daughter of Last season Mr Harrowfield worked Mr F. W. O. Weymouth, secretary of the at Cape Bird, Ross Island, as a field Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, has assistant with Dr Robert Kirk, a senior presented to the museum letters and lecturer in geography, who took part accounts of thc victualling of the Morn- in the University of Canterbury's sum mer research programme. One of the last survivors of the Ross In thc list arc the names of the farmers Sea Shore Party of Shackleton's Imperial who contributed the sheep, and original

'W.-.I December, 1975 letters from Sir Clements Markham, for Americans and New Zealanders who Captain Scott, and Captain W. Colbeck, have died in thc Antarctic since 1946. master of thc Morning. The Morning Captain E. W. Van Reeth, the support arrived in McMurdo Sound soon after force commander, presented a new 50- Scott, Wilson, and Shackleton had star flag to the cathedral authorities. returned from their southern journey. Soviet gifts to the museum include a Doorly describes in his book, "In the medal struck by the Antarctic Committee Wake," how Wilson and Shackleton did of the Soviet Academy of Sciences to extraordinary justice to the mutton and commemorate the 150th anniversary of fresh potatoes thc Morning had brought. the voyages to the Antarctic by Belling Other relics of Scott's first expedition shausen and his second-in-command, arc copies of the shipbuilders' plans of Lazarev, in the Mirny and the Vostok. the Discovery. They have been pre Thc museum has also received the two- sented by thc National Maritime volume "Atlas of Antarctica," the first Museum, Greenwich. complete survey of the Antarctic Contin In 1956 a service was held in the ent and the Southern Ocean. Christchurch Cathedral for Americans A sub-Antarctic relic has also been and New Zealanders who were going added to the museum's collections. It south. A 48-star United States flag was is one of two earthenware ciocks from presented by Rear-Admiral George J. a shipwreck depot of 1886 on Bounty Dufek, commander of the United States Island. It was retrieved on May 20 this naval support force. This year thc flag year by Lieutenant-Commander I. A. was formally handed over to a museum Hunter, R.N.Z.N., of H.M.N.Z.S. Can representative at the memorial service terbury.

THE READER WRITES Sidelights of Antarctic Research Letters, preferably not longer than 500 to 600 words, are invited from readers who have observed some little-known facet of Antarctic life or have reached conclusions of interest on some Antarctic problem — Editor

OVER AND UNDER over as staying over the winter—over meaning a period of time such as over Sir,—Having spent the winter at night, etc., and not "above." McMurdo (Station) I did not see a copy As a radio operator over to me means of "Antarctic," March, 1975. until after an invitation to transmit. So, as I said, the September "Winﬂy." The "over and it's a matter of semantics. under" letter in "The Reader Writes" column was food for thought. I have Yours,ctc, no opinion concerning over-use of RMC BILLY ACE BAKER, U.S.N. Antarctic cliches, but I am unable to see how thc alleged over-use of cliches docs McMurdo Station, Antarctica. any harm or why it would upset anyone. I have spent four winters at McMurdo, [After four winters Mr Baker obviously and I have always thought of thc term knows the meaning of winter-over. But "winter-over" as strictly an American in the days before semantics men usually term. Perhaps it is a matter of seman wintered in the Antarctic.—Ed.] tics instead of cliches. I deﬁne winter- .^'.'

December, 1975 SOUTH POLE FARM TRACTOR AND SNOCAT FOR MUSEUM One of the three Ferguson farm tractors used by Sir Edmund Hillary and his parly on their journey to the South Pole in 1957-58 is now being restored for display in the Antarctic centre of the Canterbury Museum. It has been in storage since it was brought back from the Antarctic in 1967.

After thc New Zealanders reached Norwood Ltd, who have undertaken to thc Pole on January 4, 1958, tine three restore it to its original condition. Mr tractors were left there. Later one was Norris and another member of the shipped back to Britain, and thc other Antarctic Society, Mr S. W. M. Smith, is preserved in thc Auckland Museum have been finding out all they can of Transport and Technology. about thc vehicle so that every detail For two years the Canterbury will be correct. Museum's tractor remained at the Pole, Recently Sir Edmund Hillary and Mr and was used by thc men at the Murray Ellis, engineer in the Pole Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. It party, visited Christchurch and inspected established a reputation as the only the tractor, which, like the other four station vehicle which could be relied presented to the expedition, was upon to start without trouble in the extensively modified in Britain, New winter. Zealand, and the Antarctic. Both were Then thc tractor was flown to able to give details of the original McMurdo Station. It was used for the condition of thc vehicle to assist in next seven or eight years by the United its restoration. States Navy's VXE6 Squadron. In 1966 By the time thc diesel mechanic, Mr the curiosity of a member of the New J. G. Bales, and other ingenious New Zealand Antarctic Society initiated a Zealanders had finished work on the project to bring thc tractor back to tractors, they bore litle resemblance to New Zealand. the typical Model TE20 farm tractors THIRD TRACTOR produced by Masscy-Ferguson Ltd. That Mr B. N. Norris, honorary curatoi is why thc restoration team has sought of Antarctic relics at the museum, knew further information from Mr Bates and what had happened to two of the the radio operator of the party, Mr tractors; he wondered what had Peter Mulgrcvv. Memories become a happened to the third. He was told trifle dim after 18 years. where it was by Lieutenant-Commander In spite of its gruelling 1250-mile J. Morrison, of VXE6 Squadron. journey to thc Pole, and nearly 10 In 1967 the tractor was flown back years of short trips in thc Antarctic, to Christchurch. Sir Edmund Hillary thc tractor is in fairly good condition. was able to identify it as one of the It still has its original tyres, but lacks three Pole tractors by the fencing a tow-bar and other fittings. standards which had been welded on to When thc Antarctic centre is opened it when it was virtually rebuilt at Scott nexl year it will have on exhibition Basc, and early in 1968 it was formally two vehicles which reached the South handed over to thc museum by Rear- Pole, and one which also crossed thc Admiral J. Abbot, commander of the Antarctic Continent. The museum United States naval support force. already has snocat Able, the command Since then the tractor has been stored vehicle used by Sir Vivian Fuchs and by thc Massey-Fcrguson agents, C. B. his party on their 2158-mile journey.

■ December, 1975 ANTARCTIC Scott's happy memories of home on Clifton Hill

"They are dear good friends both to thc expedition and even more to us," Edward Wilson wrote in the diary he kept on Scott's last expedition. These "dear good friends" were Joseph and Sara Kinsey, and to thc ofﬁcers and scientists of three Antarctic expeditions their home on Clifton Hill was indeed "The Breath of Heaven" or "Te Hau Ote Atua, the Maori name given to it by the Kinseys.

Sir Joseph Kinsey, as he became Clifton Hill and the scene Scott gazed later, acted for Scott in the Discovery on have changed in the last 65 years days, and for Shackleton in 1907. Scott but "Te Hau Ote Atua" still stands in wrote of him as a thoroughly shrewd a street named after its owner—Kinsey businessman, which he was. He was also Terrace. And the garden where Scott a kind and generous host to thc ex and his wife slept at night "under peditions for which he acted, and truly peaceful skies" is still there. In it are a good friend to all the young men who relics of thc expedition. went south. And his wife became equally dear to those who enjoyed his hospital There is an ice anchor from thc Terra ity. Nova, and many of the terraces are built from kenyte lava rocks brought Scott had the highest regard for Sir back from Mount Erebus to Lyttelton Joseph Kinsey. "His interest in thc ex as ballast. Kenyte rocks also border the pedition is wonderful . . . His kindness garden paths. to us was beyond words." And Wilson wrote: "He is one of the best in the Next to "Te Hau Ote Atua" is a world—a man to be trusted with every small house which has an even closer thing in the world that one most association with Scott's last expedition. values." It was once a special hut designed and pre-fabricated in London for use at When the Terra Nova sailed south Cape Evans. But it was never used, and Scott and his wife had happy memories was brought back to Lyttelton in the of the "The Breath of Heaven". "They Terra Nova. spent four weeks there while thc ship was at Lyttelton. Sir Joseph Kinsey bought the hut, In his journal Scott wrote: "The which was erected next to his home, house stands at the edge of the cliff, and used it as a smoking room. For 400ft above the sea, and looks far over more than 60 years it has been known the Christchurch plains and the long as "The Cabin." northern beach which limits it; close beneath one is the harbour bar and Later "The Cabin" was converted into winding estuary of the two small rivers, a pleasant home, and was occupied for the Avon and Waimakariri (sic). Far many years by Sir Joseph Kinsey's head away beyond the plains are thc moun gardener, Mr Harold Stemmcr, whose tains, ever-changing their aspect, and descendants still live in Kinsey Terrace. yet farther in over thc northern sweep And for some time Scott's Russian dog of sea can be seen in clear weather the driver, Dcmitri Gcrof, lived in "The beautiful snow-capped peaks of the Cabin" being employed as an assistant Kaikouras. to Harold Stemmcr. '■\i/-v//'-

ANTARCTIC December, 1975

Demitri, who was born in Sakhalin, in eastern Siberia, helped Cecil Meares to choose the expedition's sledge dogs. After the return of the expedition he worked for Sir Joseph Kinsey, went to England, and then returned to New Zealand where he stayed for some time before going back to Siberia. In front of "The Cabin" is a frame for a grape vine. Once it was an ex ercise rail for dogs, and one of the most famous huskies in Antarctic history—the mighty leader, Osman—spent some time there under Demitri's care until he was sent to the Wellington Zoo. There was a great affection between Demitri and the leader of the team he had driven in the Antarctic. This is not surprising. Osman was the king of all the dogs with Scott's last expedition. "Our best sledge dog," according to Scott, and Cherry-Garrard described him as an aristocrat.

In New Zealand Osman was the DEMETRI GEROF fiercest dog of all. He almost did not reach Antarctica. When the Terra Nova was hit by a furious gale in the Scream Perhaps most interesting of all is a ing Sixties he was washed overboard, bag of geological specimens left behind and saved by one of the seamen when at Cape Evans by Edward Wilson. The carried aboard on the crest of the next bag began life as part of a tablecloth wave. familiar to all who have seen the photo graphs in "The Great White South." Ponting says in "The Great White South" that the adventure seemed to Sir Raymond Priestley, who served have a sobering effect on Osman. He with Shackleton, and was with the was gentle and good-natured—a sociable, Northern Party of Scotts last expedition docile animal. "With his massive build identified the bag as having been made and magnificent head he looked every from the tablecloth used at Cape Evans inch the chief he was." for special occasions. It is the cloth shown in Pontings famous photograph One Antarctic relic in "The Cabin" of the first Midwinter's Day dinner, for many years was a chair from and was cut up when calico became Scott's cabin on the Terra Nova. He short. gave it to Mr J. F. Stanley, who worked for Sir Joseph Kinsey's shipping com pany when the ship was being lightened at Lyttelton in preparation for the voyage south. The chair and two other relics are now in the possession of the previous owner of the Kinsey property. One is a brass pocket compass which Captain Oates gave to Sir Joseph Kinsey's daughter as a keepsake. December, 1975

ANTARCTIC BOOKSHELF

FOOTPRINTS ON A FROZEN CONTINENT By John G. McPherson Hicks, Smith and Sons Ltd. 152 pp. Two maps and 222 illustrations. N.Z. price $13.75.

Nature provided the stimulus to the ters, and he writes with authority on great talents of Herbert Ponting, perhaps scientific matters in terms which can be Antarctica's most famous "camera readily understood by the layman. In artists" (as he preferred to call himself), particular there is an excellent section according to his biographer, H. J. P. on the dry valleys of Victoria Land, Arnold. He says that Ponting strove and a geological appraisal—supported after what the considered "felt" right by some fascinating photographs and and represented its mood. drawings—of Gondwanaland and the Sixty-five years after Ponting photo The wildlife photographs also are graphed Scott's last expedition camera superb. There is one magnificent scene equipment and transportation have made of a hundred or so penguins on an ice the Antarctic photographer's task easier. floe in the blue Antarctic waters. And Nevertheless, today's "camera artists" a photograph of the mighty Beardmore still requires the same attributes as Glacier shows graphically why its ascent Ponting. was such a terriflying ordeal to "Footprints on a Frozen Continent" Shackleton, and Scott, and their parties, is principally a photographic book about relationship of the continents. the Ross Sea region of Antarctica. The Surprisingly, in a book which deals text, some instructive diagrams, and a principally with the Ross Sea region helpful map of the region are valuable Dr McPherson has summarised the adjuncts to a fine range of photographs, activities of the Ross Sea Shore Party of most of them taken by the author. Shackleton's expedition in two sentences. Dr McPherson is a New Zealand It would have been more appropriate geologist who has spent two summer to have included some material on the seasons on geological work in Antarc party, and omitted the Hurley photo tica with Victoria University of Welling graphs, which are widely known. ton expeditions. In his second season he Nevertheless, Dr McPherson's fine was deputy leader of the expedition. photographs and lucid accompanying The author's personal interpretation of prose express admirably his feeling a remarkable part of the earth's surface for the Antarctic environment, and the comes through clearly and sensitively majesty and beauty of thc continent. in the photographs, the majority of them Paradoxically, the environmental aspect in colour. In addition there arc 28 is presented more effectively because it historical photographs which thc author is not emphasised unduly. has obviously gone to some pains to In fact, Dr McPherson says little obtain. Recent photographs of the about the adverse effects of man's intrus historic huts at Hut Point, Cape Evans, ion on the Antarctic scene. He is con and Cape Royds are interposed effec tent to present the natural beauty of tively. the continent, and explain the worth Dr McPherson provides an objective, while exploratory and scientific aspects clear, and simple text. He has done of man's achievements there. careful research for his historical chap R.G.M. December, 1975

RADIO ECHO SOUNDING MAP OF ANTARCTIC (90°E-180°)

David J. Drewry "Polar Record", Volume 17, No. 109, 1975, pp 359-74.

This publication comprises three degree of relationship to bedrock relief, maps and a 14-page explantory text which is to bc expected. plus photographs and diagrams. Map 1 The central and highest dome (4100m), depicts thc ice sheet surface relief; Map for instance, lies over the highest 2 the sub-ice relief; and Map 3 shows measured portions of thc sub-ice Gam- ice surface contours superimposed on burtsev Mountains. Surprisingly, how sub-ice relief between approximately ever, the lowest of the three domes 90°E and 180. (3200m) is not strongly controlled by a The Scott Polar Research Institute, nearby sub-glacial massif, although this which produced these maps, has been mountainous area must have played an a pioneer in the field of airborne radio important part in the growth of the ice echo soundings. The institute undertook sheet. its first long-range soundings of the The sub-ice bedrock topography is Antarctic ice sheet in 1967, and carried shown in considerably more detail on out subsequent programmes in the sum thc radio echo sounding map than has mers of 1969-70, 1971-72, and 1974-75. been available on previous maps, e.g. In thc text, thc details of gathering and in the Antarctic Map Folio Scries pub reducing data for the maps are outlined, lished by the American Geographical and some comparisons are made between Society. The Wilkes Subglacial Basin, it and previously published Antarctic for example, which trends parallel to surface of sub-glacial maps. A final but inland from the Transantarctic section deals with some of the glacio Mountains, is delineated in considerable logical and geological implications of detail. the features depicted on the map. It is now clear that it extends below Basically, the radio echo sounding sea level as far south as thc catchment equipment is used to determine both of the Byrd Glacier, beyond which it the height of the ice surface and the is terminated by a series of major upland ice thickness. From this data at any blocks. Certain morphological elements one point thc bedrock elevation beneath can be recognised, particularly in thc thc ice can bc determined. Map 1, which inland subglacial portion of thc Queen depicts the ice sheet surface relief, is of Maud Mountains, where submerged importance in comprehending the dyn mesas and tablelands with steep flanking amics of thc East Antarctic ice mass escarpments are considered to result because surface topography controls to from the structural control of relief by a large degree the principal character thc flat-lying Beacon Supergroup. istics of thc ice flow pattern. In general Only a few maps of Antarctica show and on a regional scale, ice flows at ing surface ice contours and sub-ice right angles to the surface contours. bedrock relief have so far been pub Although ice flow lines have been lished. This latest map which is a con constructed for portions of Antarctica siderable refinement on earlier attempts, before, thc much greater precision ob thus provides a wealth of up-to-date data tained in constructing surface contours on sub-ice topography, ice thickness, from radio echo sounding has led to a and ice dynamics, and is well worth much more accurate knowledge of ice study by any with an interest in these dynamics. Three separate centres of ice fields. outflow can bc recognised in the mapped M. G. LAIRD, area. It can bc seen from the map that New Zealand Geological ice surface topography shows a certain Survey, Christchurch.

-I M L f . l ' t H V I V

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

The New Zealand Antarctic Society (Inc.)

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

New Zealand Secretary Miss J. Kerr, P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch.

Branch Secretaries Canterbury: Mrs E. F. Cross, P.O. Box 404, Christchurch. Wellington: Mr G. D. Sylvester, P.O. Box 2110, Wellington

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