DUMONT d'URVILLE, THE MAIN FRENCH BASE IN TERRE ADELIE. IT IS SITUATED ON I'lLE DES PETRELS IN THE POINT GEOLOGIE ARCHIPELAGO, THE FIRST POINT OF ANTARCTICA SIGHTED BY J. S. C. DUMONT d'URVILLE ON JANUARY 20, 1840. EXCEPT FOR THE PERIOD 1953-55 THE BASE ON THE ISLAND HAS BEEN OCCUPIED SINCE 1952. —Expeditions Polaires Francaises Photo

Vol. 6, No. 6 June 1972 AUSTRALIA

^CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND

TASMANIA

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INDEPENDENCE

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DRAWN BY DEPARTMENT OF LANDS S SURVEY WELLINGTON. NEW ZEALAND. AUG 1969 3rd EDITION ?mq -iiijLjp^

^iiP^iilBS^PII©^ (Successor to "Antarctic News Bulletin")

Vol. 6, No. 6 66th ISSUE Editor: H. F. GRIFFITHS, 14 Woodchester Avenue, Christchurch 1. Assistant Editor: J. M. CAFFIN, 17 Wilfrid Street, Christchurch 4. Address all contributions, enquiries, etc., to the Editor. All Business Communications, Subscriptions, etc., to: The Secretary, New Zealand Antarctic Society, P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch, N.Z.

ARTICLES WHO WAS THE ANTARCTIC ARCHER? 1 89 FIRST INTO THE ROSS SEA ... 201 POLAR ACTIVITIES NEW ZEALAND 186, 216, 218 U.S.A 188, 206, 216 AUSTRALIA 190, 216 BRAZIL 193 SOUTH AFRICA 193 UNITED KINGDOM 194 ITALY 196 FRANCE 197 JAPAN 200 U.S.S.R 205, 216 GENERAL ANTARCTIC BOOKSHELF 207 OBITUARY 211 THE READER WRITES 217 TOURISM 219

In this issue of "Antarctic" we are pleased to revive a feature which appeared regularly in our pages a few years ago. We refer to "The Reader Writes" in which we invite correspondence on aspects of our news items and feature articles. We would also draw attention to Mr A. G. E. Jones's article "First Into The Ross Sea" which suggests the possibility that Captain James Clark Ross was not the discoverer of the sea named after him N.Z. Research Programme Increased for 1972-73 New Zealanders will be involved in two long-term international projects—the Ross Ice Shelf drilling project and the dry valley project— in the 1972-73 Antarctic season. They will co-operate with Americans and Japanese in the dry valley project, and will be concerned with scientists of five other nations—the United States, Australia, the U.S.S.R., Japan, and Britain—in the drilling of a hole in the Ross Ice Shelf to investigate the shelf ice, the underlying sea water, and the ocean floor.

Next season's programme, which has vations, record temperatures, solar been announced by the Minister of radiation, and surface wind, and also Science (Mr L. W. Gandar). has been record temperatures at a number of increased to about the level of the 1970- satellite screens in the valley. 71 programme. More than 100 men from Two scientists from Victoria Univer the Department of Scientific and Indus sity of Wellington will check the trial Research, the Ministry of Works. physical limnology of Lake Vanda for the Meteorological Service, and four comparison with previous determina universities, will work at Scott Base, tions and study current velocities. An Vanda Station, on Ross Island, and in electrostatic phenomena study of blowing the dry valleys, the Trans-Antarctic dust and snow will be made at Vanda Mountains, and Northern Victoria Land. Station by a University of Auckland Antarctica's two known active vol scientist, and the present atmospheric canoes, Mount Erebus and Mount Mel potential gradient study will be con bourne, will be studied by the Institute tinued. of Nuclear Sciences and the chemistry FIELD WORK division of the D.S.I.R. For the first In the Wright Valley the Ministry of time the Ministry of Works, which Works Water and Soil Division team designed and established Scott Base 15 will make water level and gauging years ago, will have a part in the records of dry valley lakes and the Onyx research programme. Its water and soil River, and mass balance measurements division will make glaciological and of Asgaard Range glaciers. A survey hydrological studies in and about Lake will also be made of selected areas of Vanda in the Wright Valley. the McMurdo Ice Shelf. Scott Base will continue to be the Field work by the Geological Survey centre of activity for laboratory-type will include a study of the geology of studies (in radio, auroral and atmos the Bowers Mountains in Northern Vic pheric physics, geomagnetism, and seis toria Land, by four scientists. They will mology) and a base for much of the do mapping, structural interpretation, field activity. Organisations involved stratigraphy, petrography, and sedi will be the Physical Engineering mentation. Another party will study the Laboratory and the Geophysics Division, geochemistry of the Koettlitz Glacier D.S.I.R., the Meteorological Service, and region. the University of Auckland. The Geological Survey will also be Vanda Station, which has been a associated with the Institute of Nuclear summer station since the 1970 winter, Sciences and the Chemistry Division. will be a base for summer activities in D.S.I.R.. in the work on Mount Erebus, the dry valleys region. The Meteoro and Mount Melbourne (8337ft) which is logical Service will make weather obser in Wood Bay. Four scientists will make :mw^~

June 1972

heat output and hydrothermal studies sity of Auckland study in the McMurdo of steaming ground and fumeroles, an Sound-dry valley area, will concern the analysis of geothermal gases, and steam physiological adaptations of inverte and sulphur studies. brates. In the Wright and Taylor dry valleys LED A PROJECT a team from the Soil Bureau, D.S.I.R., Next season New Zealand and the will make soil and dyke studies. It will United States will cooperate in the continue a soil mapping programme with Leda project for the recording of particular interest in the high altitude whistlers and other VLF phenomena. A and hydrothermally affected soils. whistler-mode VLF receiving station Japanese scientists will work in the built by the Physical Engineering final year of a three-year programme of Laboratory will be installed as early as geochemical studies of lakes and ponds possible in the season. It will be oper in the dry valleys. Their team of four ated by American scientists in conjunc will be based near Vanda Station. tion with Stanford University's studies Scientists from the Oceanographic of the magnetosphere. Institute will work from a United States One of the most interesting projects Coast Guard icebreaker examining the in the New Zealand programme will be sedimentation rates and trace element the inspection and possible reconstruc migration along the Ross Ice Shelf. The tion in part of C. E. Borchgrevink\s hut drill hole project will enable three scien at Cape Adare. Two huts built by his tists to study the ice margin of expedition in the summer of 1898-99 McMurdo Sound to extend the investiga are the oldest buildings on the Antarctic tion of currents and associated plankton. Continent, and have been recommended Cape Bird field station will be occu for preservation as historic huts by the pied again by biological parties from the last consultative meeting of the Antarctic University of Canterbury. They will Treaty nations. continue studies of marine benthic No work has been done on these huts ecology, plankton, and penguins and in the past because of the difficulty of skuas. In southern McMurdo Sound access to Robertson Bay, which is about three members of the university's Ant 70 miles from Hallett Station. The huts, arctic research unit will continue popula and a third built by Scott's northern tion and behavioural studies of the party in 1911. were last visited in the Weddell seal. The long-term banding 1960-61 summer. Next season a United and re-siting programme will be con States Coast Guard icebreaker will land tinued. a small reconnaissance party to look at Teams from Victoria University of ihe huts and decide how much work is Wellington will work in the dry valleys. required to restore them. McMurdo Sound, South Victoria Land, During the summer a collector from and the Shapeless Mountain area in the the Canterbury Museum will collect a Boomerang Range, which is about 150 limited number of seals, birds, and miles west of Scott Base. One team of penguins from the McMurdo Sound four will continue work on the volcanics area. These will be placed in the national project in the McMurdo Sound area, Antarctic centre which is part of the investigate distribution of salts in ice- museum's new anniversary wing. free areas of South Victoria Land, and complete the programme of paleomag- netic sampling in the McMurdo and Shapeless Mountain areas. New Zealand will be the venue this A team from the University of Wai year for the seventh consultative meet kato will work in selected areas of the ing of representatives of the Antarctic dry valleys next season. It will study Treaty nations. The meeting will be held post-glacial geomorphology, soils, and in Wellington from October 30 to lake bed and delta sediments. A Univer November 10. Main American Support Base Not Moving to Marble Point McMurdo Station, the main American support base in the Antarctic, is likely to remain on Ross Island for a long time. To establish a new base at Marble Point, the rocky promontory about 50 miles from Ross Island on the western side of McMurdo Sound, and provide an airfield and harbour, would cost close to US$1000m. This figure was given by Rear- Command Starlifter flights next summer Admiral L. B. McCuddin, the United compared with 34 last season. States Navy support force commander, Next season the support force will be when he was in New Zealand to slightly larger than usual. An additional seek additional air support from the 134 men of the Navy's Mobile Construc tion Battalion will continue work on the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The Marble Point proposal was included in geodetic dome complex which will re the study of support costs made for the place the present Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, now buried under 20ft of National Science Foundation by the ice and snow. The other major con Bechtel Corporation last season, but struction project will be the completioi Admiral McCuddin said it appeared to of Siple Station in Ellsworth Land, have been shelved because of the cost. which will be manned next winter. Such a move could be made but the The Navy is now carrying out studies major costs could not be recovered on Elliot Quay in Winter Quarters Bay, before the year 2000. which was damaged by storms late last One major change likely to be made season. Divers will inspect the damage in the next few years, according to early next summer. If they find the Admiral McCuddin, could be the closing wharf is damaged beyond repair, the of the nuclear power station on Obser construction of an ice wharf (a desper vation Hill, which has provided power ate measure, according to Admiral for McMurdo Station since 1962. He McCuddin) will be considered. Alterna said a decision on the station would be tively Elliot Quay could be replaced by made in the next year or two by the a portable wharf such as has been used Navy and the Atomic Energy Commis successfully in Vietnam. sion. Admiral McCuddin will return to Because of the loss of a Hercules air Christchurch at the end of August with craft supporting the French scientific three Hercules aircraft and a Starlifter. traverse across Wilkes Land last season, One Hercules will be used to take scien the Navy will have only three ski- tists to McMurdo Station equipped Hercules aircraft next season This will be Admiral McCuddin's last for support operations. Two Hercules visit as commander of the support aircraft on order cannot be delivered force. The navy has transferred the because of a production backlog. support force headquarters to McMurdo Admiral McCuddin has suggested to Station and the new commander will be the R.N.Z.A.F. that its Hercules aircraft Captain A. N. Fowler. The re-organisa might help make a number of fuel drops tion means the abandonment of the at the South Pole. Also he would like summer command team in Christchurch. the use of an R.N.Z.A.F. Orion to make The navy will also close its Washing a seal census. Although it will not have ton headquarters on August 31 and enough ski-equipped aircraft, the sup transfer the stall to Davisville. Rhode port force will use 43 Military Airlift Island. j*j.piiiJWi*iji A*\uwm^

June 1972 WHO WAS ANTARCTIC ARCHER IN BYRD'S EXPEDITION? Who was the Antarctic archer on Rear-Admiral R. E. Byrd's 1933-35 expedition, and why did he take a bow and arrows to Little America? These are questions raised by the presentation to the Canterbury Museum of a hunting arrow from the expedition. Mr D. S. Bennett, who presented the aviation officer, did not produce the arrow through the Canterbury branch of hoped for result. the New Zealand Antarctic Society, Murphy also comments on the honest received it from Byrd's second-in- apprehensions which caused the inclusion command, Dr Thomas C. Poulter, when of the strait-jackets among the he was on board the expedition's ship, properties of the first expedition, and a Bear of Oakland, at Port Chalmers. But quarter of a ton of cough drops for a he knows nothing of its history. climate where colds were almost un It is possible that someone in the known. According to Dr L. M. Gould, expedition decided that penguins or second-in-command of the first expedi skuas might be killed more easily with tion, the cough drops were supposed a bow and arrow. Dr Poulter, however, to have been hard candy. Some were was one of the expedition's physicists, fed to Byrd's fox terrier, Igloo, to make not a zoologist. him sick, by men working off petty Perhaps one of the veterans of the annoyances with their leader. expedition might be able to provide the The second expedition, Murphy answers, and also tell us what happened admits, also brought some strange to the bow. supplies with it. Among them were two A hunting bow and arrows arc not the bales of horsehair and a case of Lydia strangest items taken to the Antarctic. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound for Charles J. V. Murphy, the "New York which the supply officer could not Times" correspondent with Byrd's account satisfactorily. There would second expedition has some amusing have been two handsome coffins as well, references to discoveries made in caches satin-lined and with silver name plates, left by the first expedition. but Byrd sent them back in the Jacob While Byrd was at Advance Base Ruppert. Murphy kept the expedition records and later wrote three chapters for his leader's book, "Discovery." He says that mem bers of the expedition used to amuse themselves by fossicking in the caches, and records among the finds a dozen strait-jackets, a case or two of a popular New Zealand cough syrup, KILLER WHALES EAT Baxter's Lung Preserver, and a neat little still. PENGUINS As Murphy recalls, from memory, Thirty Emperor penguins were that the alcoholic content of the cough observed on the ice in Winter Quarters syrup was about 28 per cent., the Bay early in April by Americans winter presence of the still was not surprising. ing at nearby McMurdo Station. The Little America was then in a state of birds did not remain there long. A killer involuntary prohibition, but the com whale broke the relatively thin ice the bined technical abilities of the medical birds were on and made a substantial officer, biologist, geologist, and senior meal. ANARE REPORTS Australians Meet Russian Scientists During Survey Another phase of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedi tion's survey of the southern Prince Charles Mountains survey several hundred miles south of Mawson was completed last season. In the course of their work Australian scientists made contact with members of the Soviet Antarctic Expedition working in MacRobertson Land. The Russians visited the Australian base camp at Mount Cresswcll, and also made three calls at Mawson. The Australian survey concentrated used to move the field teams for the on the extension of the previously survey, and also made reconnaissance established geodetic survey and a study flights to Komsomolsky Peak and the of the total mass flow of ice into the Grove Mountains. Lambert Glacier drainage basin. The Seven men were stationed at the geology of the area was examined on a Mount Cresswcll camp during the macro-scale as a preliminary to more survey, and a weather forecaster worked intensive work in the future, geomag at Mawson. A tellurometer survey netic examinations were made, and loop was established from Mount Cress- lichens collected throughout the region. well via the Scavcrs Nunataka, Mount Long periods of fine flying weather Menzies, Mount Ruker, Mount Newton. enabled the Prince Charles Mountains Wilson Bluff, the south of the Mawson Escarpment, and Mount Stinear, and group to make an earlier start on field was closed back at Mount Cresswcll. work from the main camp at the base of Mount Cresswcll. A tractor team Additional measurements were made from Mawson had established the camp to Mount Johns, a previously estab before the arrival by air of the survey lished geodetic station, and Mount Rubin. Komsomolsky Peak, an isolated party. 10,000ft peak 250 kilometres south-west Three two-man teams of surveyors, of Wilson Bluff, was visited and a baro geologists and geophysicists worked in metric height measurement made at the the mountain locations, and a glacio summit and the base. Angles to Komso logist and a surveyor established survey markers on the ice at 11 points round molsky Peak were taken from Mount Menzies, Wilson Bluff, and Mount New the perimeter. The expeditions fixed ton. A reconnaissance flight was made wing turbine-powered Pilatus Porter from the Mount Cresswcll camp to ferried men and freight between Maw Mount Harding in the Grove Mountains son and Mount Cresswcll and Moore to the east with a view to establishing Pyramid, the base camp for the second more glaciological stations there in and third phases of the survey, and future phases of the survey. also established fuel dumps. A radio operator and a weather observer linked RUSSIAN VISITORS Moore Pyramid with Mount Cresswcll, Russian scientists visited the Mount Mawson, and the aircraft. Cresswcll camp twice, and Mawson The Pilatus Porter was fitted with ice three times. Members of the Prince thickness radar and obtained more than Charles Mountains survey team visited 4000 miles of ice thickness profiles. the Russian weather station manned by The three Hughes 500 helicopters were three men at Tatte Rocks in the Grove June 1972

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-jd&S&rji An Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (light over the Prince Charles Mountains. —A.N.A.R.E. Photo. D. J. Lugg. Mountains, and the geological team changeover and did zoological and working at Mount Rubin. botanical work. Long-term studies of The survey programme began on wandering and light-mantled sooty alba December 29 last year when the Moore trosses and fur seals are being continued Pyramid base was established. It was this winter. The work is being done by closed on February 13 when the two untrained observers directed by An men there were withdrawn. tarctic Division biologists in Australia. Summer surveys of the biological resources near Mawson, Casey, and MAWSON MINERS Davis, were made to complete reports Men at Mawson last season had to which will collate all previous informa work as miners and tunnellers when tion. These reports will provide a base they helped to build the new cosmic ray for future biological research and a facility. They had to blast a deep shaft guide to its future direction. The and vault in the monolithic granite on Antarctic Division's policy is to transfer which Mawson Station is built. The the main biological research from Mac- excavations were done by one trained quaries Island to the Antarctic Con hard-rock miner, who was assisted by tinent. one or two members of the expedition An Antarctic Division biologist and when they could be spared from their a technologist from the University of regular duties. Adelaide spent seven weeks at Mawson; The cosmic ray facility was designed another Antarctic Division biologist was to house various pieces of equipment, at Davis for a month, and a biologist including several fixed and moving tele from the Commonwealth Scientific and scopes, neutron monitors, and data pro Industrial Research Organisation was at cessing equipment. A significant part Casey for ten days during the change of the cosmic ray observation is associ over. Helicopter visits were made from ated with the study of variations in the Mawson to several offshore islands, the higher concentration of the stream of Scullin Monolith and the snout of the high energy cosmic particles reaching Forbes Glacier to assess colonies of sea the earth. birds. A subterranean chamber had to be ISLANDS VISITED designed and excavated to supply a sufficient mass of high density absorber Helicopters were also used to visit for detection of these variations. The inland nunataks where particular atten chamber excavated from the native tion was paid to the occurrence of granite is 27ft by 12ft and 8ft high. A lichens. Several islands were visited shaft 45ft deep gives access to the cham briefly by boat at Davis, and about 230 ber which was driven horizontally from miles of coastline and the interior of the the bottom of the shaft. A smaller Vestfold Hills were explored on foot. chamber. 10ft by 10ft and 8ft high, Survey work was done round Casey and houses seismic equipment. It was driven the old Wilkes Station, and many off from the opposite side of the shaft. shore islands were visited by boat and The shaft and chambers are lined, helicopter. insulated, and heated to a closely con This winter a biologist at Mawson trolled temperature, and the insulated, will continue inshore marine work pre-fabricated panels used are six inches started during the summer. During the thick to meet the necessary temperature summer the first scuba diving pro control. gramme was started at Mawson. Tran An additional extension from the sects were established on the sea floor, main section houses fixed telescopes, and areas were cleared to record the and the whole building is 54ft by 24ft. rate of their future recolonisation by The shaft mouth and the floor of the benthic organisms. building are connected by an insulated Biologists visited Macquarie Island enclosure. for five days last November during the A more sophisticated latrine building. June 1972

using electricity and liquified petroleum gas was installed at Mawson last season. MARION ISLAND It replaces the incinerators, known as RESEARCH "flaming furies," which were built at the station some years ago. Other build A study of the food cycle in the wild ings erected recently include surgery at life communities on Marion Island Davis, an emergency power-house and where millions of birds and seals thrive a hydrogen generation building at was made by the second South African Casey, and remote transmitter buildings biological expedition to the island. After at Davis and Macquarie Island. a stay of five months the research party brought back large quantities of material and a documentary film of its work. The party, with its laboratory equip ment, went south in the French research vessel Gallieni, and was landed on the island by helicopter. Organisers of the expedition, financed by the Department of Transport, were Professor E. M. van Zinderen Bakker, professor of botany at the Orange Free State University, and Mr J. U. Grobbe- Brazilians to go laar, lecturer in botany at the univer sity. Other members of the party were South Messrs R. Croome (Tasmania), V. Smith (Witwatersrand University) and A. de Brazil is organising its first scientific Villiers (Cape Town University). expedition to the Antarctic. The expedi A modern, new field laboratory is tion, which will be sponsored by the being built on the island. It will be Engineering Club in Rio de Janeiro, is ready for use by the next expedition in expected to sail to the Antarctic Penin December. sula in mid-December. A Brazilian meteorologist, Mr R. J. Villela, who has been to the Antarctic with the Americans in 1961 and 1962, is the co-ordinator of the expedition's scientific programme. The Club of Sao R.G.S. DIRECTOR Paulo is responsible for the procurement of cold-weather clothing and other indi KNIGHTED vidual equipment. The name of L. P. Kirwan, director Mr D. Giobbi, founder of the Alpine and secretary of the Royal Geographical Club, and Mr Villela, have written to Society since 1945, appeared in the Mr R. B. Thomson, superintendent of Queen's Birthday Honours list in Britain the Antarctic Division of the Depart this month. He was created a Knight ment of Scientific and Industrial Re Commander of the Order of St Michael search, about possible purchases of and St George. equipment in New Zealand. The items Sir Laurence Kirwan is the author of sought include 30 to 40 sets of light a history of polar exploration, "The gear, and 12 of heavy gear, clothing, White Road," published in 1959, but his boots, sleeping bags, ice-axes, and tents. main concern has been with archaeology Mr Thomson says he concludes from and geography in the Middle East. He this information that there would be has contributed papers on archaeology, about 30 in the Brazilian party. The historical and political geography, and cost of buying such equipment would exploration, to scientific and other be between 510,000 and 515,000. publications. June 1972

BRITISH SURVEY NEWS Winter Party of 101 Will Work at Seven Bases This year there will be a winter party of 101 men at the seven British Antarctic Survey bases. The main bases are at the Argentine Islands, Adelaide Island, and Stonington Island, all off the Antarctic Peninsula, Signy Island (South Orkneys), South Georgia, and Halley Bay. There is a subsidiary base at Fossil Bluff on the east coast of Alexander Island, and several field huts will also be occupied, some continuously by relays of staff. Last season bad weather held up the end-of-season flight by the B.A.S. field parties and grounded aircraft but aircraft to South America. On her the sea was exceptionally ice-free, and final visit to Signy Island and South B.A.S. ships were able to move without Georgia in mid-April when she picked difficulty, even reaching the Marguerite up the biological party from Bird Island Bay stations in early December—a she experienced bad weather with winds record. Most areas were still ice-free, exceeding 100 knots. apart from scattered bergs, at the end The John Biscoe, having completed of April. Halley Bay was the only her zoological programme, sailed for exception, and even there small leads the Falklands at the end of March, and were still open. arrived at Southampton on May 4. The The R.R.S. Bransfield returned to the Bransfield was expected on May 19. Falkland Islands from Halley Bay on AIR OPERATIONS February 8 and after a short trip to Punta Arenas visited all the bases in In spite of the usual very variable the Antarctic Peninsula area. Calls were weather, the Twin-Otter and the Turbo- also made at Admiralty Bay (King Beaver flew from Adelaide Island to George Island) Danco Coast, Port Lock Fossil Bluff several times in February roy, Graham Coast, and Loubet Coast and March to support field parties. A to examine the unoccupied British particularly bad spell of weather at the bases. All the buildings except those beginning of February delayed the at Admiralty Bay were in good condi evacuation of a geophysical party from tion, and well supplied with emergency western Alexander Island, but the party food and clothing. was finally taken back to Adelaide At the end of February the Brans Island on February 8. field met the John Biscoe at Marguerite Flying was impossible again at the Bay. The John Biscoe then sailed to end of February and the beginning of the South Orkneys and South Georgia March. The aircraft were grounded at by way of the Falklands, and continued Fossil Bluff, but they were able to the marine zoological programme. A collect and deliver final supplies from six-man geological-geophysical field Adelaide Island to the Bluff on March party was established by the Bransfield 8. on the Arrowsmith Peninsula in Another two weeks elapsed before the northern Marguerite Bay. weather was sufficiently good over the After a final visit to Adelaide Island whole Antarctic Peninsula for the air the Bransfield took summer season craft to start their flight back to Canada visitors to Punta Arenas. She then for winter servicing. They arrived at acted as a beacon in Drake Passage for Toronto on March 28. June 1972

In addition to the established observa part of South Georgia all summer were tory programmes an airglow project picked up from Royal Bay by the has been set up at the Argentine Bransfield at the beginning of February. Islands. By the end of March the photo She also picked up a Dutch film party meter was operative and awaiting clear which had been at the Bay of Isles since nights. Programmes of simultaneous mid-November. A group of geologists whistler recordings at Halley Bay and which had been working at Royal Bay the South African Sanae Station were and to the south was picked up by the started to coincide with the passes of the John Biscoe in mid-March. Ariel 4 satellite. Other geologists worked on both sides Professor D. H. Griffiths, continuing of Cumberland West Bay. Glaciologists his geophysical work on the Scotia continued work on Hodges Glacier Island arc from the R.R.S. Shackleton inland from Grytviken, living in a small erected a seismic array of one main hut which was erected earlier in the and two satellite stations on the BarlV season. Peninsula on the eastern side of Cum Two zoologists who spent the summer berland Bay, South Georgia. This is at a small hut on Bird Island, at the now performing satisfactorily. western extremity of South Georgia, studying fur seals and wandering alba FIELD PARTIES trosses, were picked up by the Brans Because of the bad weather surveyors field on her final visit in mid-April. who set out from Stonington Island in Botanists on board were then landed mid-March made very little progress briefly at several points in the extreme although heavy snowfalls had bridged south-east of South Georgia. the numerous crevasses revealed by the In the Halley Bay area short glacio exceptional summer ablation and melt. logical journeys were made to level and All parties had to return to base in the measure the movement of stakes. The second half of April. hinge zone marking the boundary be On Adelaide Island short journeys tween inland ice and the ice shelf was were made at the end of April to check investigated again and a new route the field depot at the plateau "air-strip" reconnoitred across it. Equipment was in preparation for next summer's flights. also salvaged from the sledge lost with At the Argentine Islands trips were a dog team down a crevasse earlier in made to neighbouring islands to con the season. tinue a census of Adelie penguins. Much maintenance work has been Further north at Signy Island marine, necessary at Halley Bay. Floors have freshwater and terrestrial biological had to be levelled and access shafts extended because the depth of over projects were continued, and several parties also visited Coronation Island. laying snow has increased and the build As reported in "Antarctic" (Septem ings have become distorted. ber. 1969) there arc believed to be some 4000 reindeer on South Georgia, most of them on the Barff Peninsula "where overgrazing appears to be threatening the vegetation. Successful hunts in this NO MORE FOOTBALL area have provided the base at King Edward Point wih a welcome supply of One result of the permanent closure venison. of Byrd Station last summer is the end A small field hut has been erected on of the traditional New Year's Day foot the Barff Peninsula for botanists and ball match between teams of scientists geologists who will be in the area again and Navy men, which has been played next summer. This hut will also be used for 11 years. This year the scientists by parties making a reindeer census won the last game 13-6. The score sheet throughout the winter. is: Scientists, five wins; Navy, four. Botanists working in the south-eastern Three games have been drawn. June 1972 Italian Plan to Send Team South in 1973-74 Season An Italian scientific team is interested in participating in New Zealand's Antarctic research programme in the 1973-74 season. A small Italian scientific and mountaineering team worked with the New Zea landers in the 1968-69 season, and now the Italian National Research Committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have agreed to finance a second expedition to the Antarctic. In the coming season Dr Carlo Stoc taken part in an ascent of Mount chino, chief hydrographer of the Insti Erebus. With him were Alessie Oilier, a tute of Oceanography, Genoa, and Dr leading guide and alpinist, Ignazio M. Manzoni, a geologist who was in the Piussi, an alpinist and former champion 1968-69 team, will come to New Zea skiier of Italy, and Dr Marcello Man land to discuss policy, transportation, zoni, a geologist. fuel, and supplies with Mr R. B. Thom Mauri and Oilier worked with the son, superintendent of the Antarctic Victoria University of Wellington and Division, Department of Scientific and D.S.I.R. geological parties as field Industrial Research. They have indicated assistants in the Boomerang Range, that they would like to visit the Ant about 150 miles west of Scott Base. arctic to locate a suitable area for their Piussi and Dr Manzoni helped in the research. construction of Vanda Station and scien Already the Italians have begun tific investigations in the dry valley area. negotiations with an Italian firm for the During their two months in the Ant supply of one or two snocats and trailers arctic Mauri and Oilier, who were which might be left behind in the Ant experienced movie photographers, made arctic once their task is completed. The a documentary film to assist Italians to proposed expedition will be purely gain a knowledge of Antarctic condi scientific, and is not expected to number tions. Later the four men worked with more than six. New Zealand field parties before their Italy's first Antarctic project was the return from the south. result of a decision by the Ross Depend Since he was in the Antarctic the ency Research Committee that some adventurous Mauri has crossed the support be given to small groups from Atlantic aboard Thor Heyerdahl's papy countries which are not concerned in rus raft Ra. Now he is planning to the Antarctic Treaty, provided that retrace Marco Polo's journey across logistic support was available. The Asia. Italians had set up a committee to investigate the possibility of ultimately participating in Antarctic expeditions, and Mr Thomson visited Rome to dis cuss the project. VOLUME V INDEX Four Italians were then invited to Subscribers to "Antarctic" arc re work at Scott Base in the 1968-69 minded that the index to Volume V summer to gain knowledge and experi (1968-70) has been printed. Copies can ence of New Zealand's scientific work. be obtained from the New Zealand The party was led by Italy's best-known secretary, P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch. alpinist, Carlo Mauri, who had visited The price is 35 cents in New Zealand Scott Base the previous season, and currency or the local equivalent. June 1972 Weather and Bad Terrain Reduce French Traverse Because of bad weather, the difficult terrain, and the need to repair equipment, the French scientific traverse party led by Robert Guillard was unable to complete the whole of its planned journey across Wilkes Land towards the Soviet Vostok Station this season. In his report on the 1971-72 expedition to Adelie Land Paul-Emile Victor, director of Expedi tions Polaires Francaises, says the party could not push beyond the 800- kilometre mark although plans were based on covering 1000 kilometres. This season the Thala Dan left Le Jean Vaugelade, assistant director of Havre on October 14, having shipped E.P.F. The ship arrived at Hobart on 770 tons of material for the summer March 6. season of the 22nd French Antarctic On the day after the Thala Dan left Expendition. It arrived at Hobart on Dumont d'Urville a responding beacon December 1. The 46 members of the was installed on an iceberg at 65deg expedition, scientists and technicians, 11 min S and 139deg 44min E. This ice arrived by air from France and em berg is of triangular shape, 800 metres barked on December 5. Also aboard on one side, 200 metres at the base, and the Thala Dan were Mr Pierre Rolland, rises 30 metres above the sea level. chief administrator of French Southern and Antarctic Territories, and Mr SATELLITE REPORTS Gaston Rouillon, assistant director of This new type of installation is in E.P.F. tended to follow the movements of the Delayed by fairly thick pack ice iceberg, and therefore learn the direc several hundred kilometres wide, the tion and strength of the ocean currents. Thala Dan arrived in sight of Dumont The beacon will be interrogated by the d'Urville on December 15. In spite of E.O.L.E. satellite, which is in polar several days of blizzard, the disem orbit, and it will reply, indicating its barkation was completed on December position. It will also transmit informa 26, and the ship sailed on December 27 tion by the satellite to ground receiving with Messrs Rolland and Rouillon. and stations, particularly to those of the 13 members of the 1971 winter party (TA National Space Research Committee in 21). It reached Melbourne on January 3. Brittany. Six members of TA 21 arrived in Paris The Wilkes Land traverse was the by air on January 9 after an absence main scientific project in the French of nearly 13 months. programme last season. It was part of the International Antarctic Glaciological BASES RELIEVED Project planned by France, the United After having relieved Australian bases States, the Soviet Union, and Australia. for the Australian National Antarctic The first French objective was to link Research Expedition, the Thala Dan Dumont d'Urville (66deg 40min S— left Melbourne on February 14 to 140deg .Olmin E) to Vostok (78deg return to Terre Adelie. She left again 28min S—106deg 48min E). the distance on February 28 to bring back 46 men: of 2000 kilometres being covered in two the members of the summer party, the seasons, half last season and half next rest of the TA 21 winter party, the season. members of the Wilkes Land traverse, All the material for the journey was except for Robert Guillard, who will put on the Polar Plateau by TA 21 lead the 1972-1973 winter party, and Mr during the 1970-71 season. It included five Castor tracked vehicles specially from the vehicles and sledges which had fitted out for long polar journeys (a been parked for a year, the Hercules cabin with bunks, telecommunications took off with Paul-Emile Victor and a and navigation equipment), eight sledges member of the winter party whose re and two caravans, one for use as a patriation had been arranged. In spite glaciology laboratory and the other for of an accident which damaged the front cooking and eating. This equipment ski of the aircraft it was able to land was stocked at an advance camp called at McMurdo Station without difficulty. Carrefour (66dcg 5()min S—139deg 15 It took the traverse party two weeks min E) at an altitude of 860 metres and to remove the material, load the sledges, 33 kilometres from Cape Prudhomme. and install the scientific apparatus in Several possible landing areas were the laboratory caravan and the vehicles. marked off, the best (D 21) being situ The sector of Antarctica where the ated about 20 kilometres south of the surface is most distorted is in Adelie camp beyond the crcvassed area. The Land. Therefore the party had diffi leader of the traverse, Robert Guillard. culties to overcome as soon as Guillard and the scientific leader, Claude Lorius, gave the signal for departure. It had to were put in position at this spot in halt at D51 (altitude 2020 metres) after November. covering 110 kilometres in order to begin repairing the springs of the cara SECOND POLE VISIT vans, and the sledge runners. Under the direction of Paul-Emile On November 28 Guillard signalled Victor 16 members of E.P.F.—10 men his position at D59 (altitude 2460 for the traverse and six for the sum metres) 190 kilometres south of Carre mer season, flew to the United States four. His average speed was five kilo Antarctic support force headquarters at metres an hour. The minimum tempera Christchurch. They flew to McMurdo ture was minus 29.5 degrees, and the Station in a Starlifter on October 23. maximum wind speed 16 kilometres. Because of bad weather at D21 two Guillard reported permanent driving flights by a United States Navy Hercules snow, and sastrugi up to a height of one planned to put the traverse party in metre. position, had to be cancelled before The main American contribution to take-off on October 26 and 27. This the I.A.G.P. is the air support given delay allowed Paul-Emile Victor to to the French group. In addition to take part in the first supply flight (since putting in the men and the last supplies, February) to the Amundsen-Scott South four resupply flights were planned at Pole Station. No flight had taken place 200, 400, 600, and 800 kilometres. sooner, the temperatures having been On December 2 a Hercules flew over too low. On October 27 the tempera the vehicles without being able to land. ture was minus 48deg. Two days later the aircraft repeated its The last time Paul-Emile Victor was attempt which succeeded this time. at the South Pole was in 1956. He was Thirty-six drums of fuel, fresh food and then attached to the United States Ant mail were unloaded on the ice-cap. arctic expedition as a polar technician The take-off of the Hercules was less and French observer. happy than the landing; two J.A.T.O. A flight to D21 took place on Octo bottles broke loose on firing and struck ber 28. But the weather having deterior the inside left engine. This broke loose, ated during the flight, the Hercules causing damage to the outer engine, and could not land and had to return to the propeller blades went through the McMurdo Station after having flown fuselage. The aircraft, which had lightly over Dumont d'Urville. lef: the ground, dropped back, and in The positioning flight finally took its fall the left wing dragged deep in place on November 1 in the late after the snow, and it and the radar were noon. While the 10 men of the party damaged. immediately began removing the snow The ten members of the crew, who Juno 1972 were safe and sound, evacuated the 27, and at the 600th on January 2, the Hercules and set up a temporary camp Americans resupplied the convoy. Ten on the ice near the French group. A days later on January 12 there was relief aircraft landed on December 7. another drop at 800 kilometres. The The damaged Hercules, which could not convoy ended there at an altitude of be salvaged, was abandoned, and will 3181 metres. The temperature was serve as a depot shed. minus 35deg C, the wind strength was The party continued its march at seven metres, and there was snow. reduced speed because of snow, white- On the return journey the convoy had out, more and more severe temperatures to struggle against a blizzard. But in (minus 32deg C) and a surface which spite of bad visibility it was able to was always corrugated by sastrugi. advance by following the tracks, still Because of the loss of their resupply visible, of the outward journey. The last Hercules the Americans decided not to stage of the route proved to be the most land any more but to drop fuel, supplies, difficult because of a heavy fall of snow. and mail. The incident was disagreeable The vehicles have been overhauled, for the isloatcd men; they could receive and, with the equipment, will be stored letters but it was impossible to send for the second journey in the 1972-73 their own. season. During the winter the sledges At the 400th kilometre on December will be overhauled at Dumont d'Urville.

Kinsey Cottage Now Preserved A cottage closely linked with Captain site in three weeks before all the build Scott's two expeditions has been saved ings at 66 Papanui Road were demol from demolition and preserved as a ished. A site was found at Ferrymead; result of the energy and enthusiasm of the next problem was how to move the members of the Canterbury branch of cottage a distance of several miles. the New Zealand Antarctic Society. The Funds were provided by the branch, building, at least 70 years old, has been several business firms made contribu moved from 66 Papanui Road, to a site tions, and members helped to transfer at Ferrymead where historic material is the cottage, and establish it on its new preserved by the Ferrymead Trust. site. "Warrimoo," 66 Papanui Road, was There was a pile of rocks on the the home of Sir Joseph Kinsey, who has property for many years, but it has now a place in Antarctic history as the New disappeared except for a few rocks saved Zealand agent for both Scott and by the branch. They were just rocks to Shackleton. Scott, Dr Edward Wilson, the motel builders. Some have been and other members of the expedition saved, however, because they have a knew Kinsey's home well and enjoyed history. his hospitality. The rocks are the remains of ballast After Kinsey died at "Warrimoo" in from the Terra Nova. About 30 tons of 1936 the property changed hands several rocks from Cape Evans were hauled to times, and last year it was sold to make the ship by Scott's ponies before she way for a block of motels. The branch returned to Lyttelton from her first trip had been interested in the cottage, part south. The ballast was unloaded, and of which had been fitted up as a dark some of the rocks found their way to room, for several years, and had been Christchurch. told of its historic associations. In the last 60 years the ballast has The branch was able to obtain the been dispersed far and wide. Some rocks Kinsey cottage, as it is now known, but were built into walls, and there is still then faced the problem of finding a new one in the corner of a city bookshop. June 1972 JARE 12 TEAM RETURNS TO TOKYO BY AIR

After an absence of 17 months, ing programme at Syowa produced including nearly three weeks locked in valuable data on aurora, and the emana the ice aboard the icebreaker Fuji, 30 tion from them of X-rays and ultra members of the 12th Japanese Antarctic violet rays. Data was also collected on Research Expedition, led by Dr Takasi the magnetic field and spontaneous Oguti, returned to Tokyo by air on radio waves. April 29. Ten members of JARE 13, led by Mr Zenbei Seino, who made observations aboard the Fuji, arrived from Cape Town by sea about the middle of last month. Caught in fast ice on March 7 ("Antarctic," March, p. 184) for the MARKING HISTORIC third time in three successive seasons AREAS after relieving Syowa Station, the Fuji finally freed herself at 5.40 a.m. on New Zealand's ten historic areas in March 28, leaving the edge of the ice at the Antarctic will be officially marked 68dcg 25.5min S—38deg 45min E. She by metal plaques bearing the relevant reached Cape Town on April 10 and information in English, French, Spanish, called at Jakarta before returning to and Russian. The Antarctic Division of Tokyo. the Department of Scientific and Indus A week before the Fuji broke out of trial Research hopes to begin the task the pack ice two United States Coast early next season and complete it before Guard icebreakers, the Northwind and the end of the summer. the Southwind, sailed to the assistance The marking of historic sites in the of the Fuji. The Northwind was at Antarctic is in accordance with recom Lyttelton ready to leave for Hobart mendations made at the sixth consulta after service in McMurdo Sound and tive meeting of the Antarctic Treaty the Ross Sea when she was placed on nations in Tokyo. It was decided that stand-by. The Southwind, which had representatives of the 12 nations should spent the summer in the Bellingshausen recommend to their Governments that and Amundsen Seas, and helped to they adopt all adequate measures to resupply Palmer Station, was at Rio de preserve and protect all historic monu Janeiro when the call came. ments in the Antarctic and to mark When advice was received that the them with notices. Fuji had broken clear of the ice, the Each of the Antarctic Treaty nations, Northwind was well south of Campbell with the exception of the United States, Island. She and the Southwind were has submitted lists of particular historic ordered to change course. areas where official notices should be Scientific results of JARE 12 were placed. The American list at present briefly reported when the wintering duplicates the list submitted by New team at Syowa Station returned to Zealand. Toyko. At Mizuho, the small inland Mr R. B. Thomson, superintendent of station about 185 miles south-east of the Antarctic Division, says that New Syowa, which was occupied for four Zealand is responsible for the whole of months, samples of ice several thousand the Ross Dependency which has been years old were obtained. Glaciologists the most visited region in the explora bored into the ice-cap to a depth of tion of the Antarctic. Historic sites and about 240ft. buildings in the region will be marked The upper atmosphere rocket sound to preserve them for future generations. Juno 1972 FIRST INTO THE ROSS SEA By A. G. E. JONES It is generally agreed by Antarctic historians that in December, 1840, Sir James Clark Ross was the first man to sail his two ships into the sea now named after him. Through the researches of the author of this article it now appears possible that Ross was forestalled by about ten years. When Samuel Harvey took command the new Liverpool owners, and there of the Venus in Liverpool in June, 1830. were some small changes of ownership he did not realise that he would be during the voyage. She was reinforced making a place for himself in the early with iron knees, thoroughly repaired and history of Antarctic exploration, as he given new upperworks, and was fitted was starting on an ordinary commercial with two iron cables as well as the voyage. He would seem to have been a hemp cable; her coppering was made Liverpool man—Samuel Harvey, soap good, and all in all she was like hun boiler and tallow chandler, 60 Cheap- dreds of other merchant ships.1' side, may have been his father. He was The change of ownership and the third officer in the Emerald (Captain appointment of Samuel Harvey as William Elliott) when she sailed from master were registered on June 16, 1830. London in 1820; he was in her when Under him she was destined for the she discovered Emerald Island*. The Cape of Good Hope, Hobart Town and Venus appears to have been his first New South Wales. Harvey loaded the command.1 barque with pieces of cotton, baize, It would also have been a surprise to worsted stuffs, hardware, saddlery, wool his owners, a Liverpool merchant, a len cloth for the Rev. Samuel Marsden, ship-broker, two ship-owners, a grocer, staves, iron hoops, muskets, salt, fire two Liverpool surgeons, a gentleman and bricks, puncheons, beer, raisins and two Lcith merchants who had bought wine, with 40 quarter casks of gun shares in the Venus as an investment, powder as a private venture for him leaving the management in the hands of self:' Captain William Prowsc (who had been THE VENUS SAILS a master in the trade between Liverpool The Venus cleared the Customs and and Jamaica, and held 4/64 shares in sailed on Friday, June 23, 1830. Early her.2 in September, when approaching the Furthermore, the Venus was in no way Cape of Good Hope, she spoke the specially equipped for such a voyage. Elphinstcne, bound for Calcutta, and on Captured as a prize in 1803, she was a September 12 anchored in Table Bay barque of 288 tons, with no unusual where she unloaded part of her cargo, features. In April, 1830, she had re put a few letters ashore and parted with turned to Liverpool from South America one of her passengers. She sailed for with a cargo of cotton for a number New South Wales on October l.5 of Liverpool merchants and like most It was on November 13 that the Venus other ships took two months to turn reached Hobart Town and unloaded a round. variety of goods for the merchants of [rj this time she was sold by the three the settlement—hats, raisins, cocoa, merchants at Poole who owned her to coffee, tea, gin. brandy, tobacco, hard ware, cottons, sugar, molasses, plums •Now presumed to be non-existent. and other general cargo. She stayed there June 1972

until November 21 when she sailed for On January 23, 1832, Harvey wrote to Sydney with goods and two passengers. James Kelly: It took a week to make the passage, and "An opportunity offering, I thought she arrived at Sydney on November 29, you would have no objection to hear putting ashore woollen clothes, seeds, how I got on in my southern speck. cloths, hardware, scythe handles, blubber After leaving Macquarie Island I pro knives and Captain Harvey's gun ceeded as far south as 72deg S. but had powder." such a succession of fog and thick WHALING TRADE weather it was utterly impossible to see In the ordinary course of events Cap further than a mile from the ship the tain Harvey would have sailed for whole time. "McQuaries is entirely cut up, I England with a few passengers, but landed at both ends of the island, but Sydney was growing rapidly as a port in its own right, and there had been a note could see no signs of Elephant [seal] whatever; here I procured 170 prime worthy development in the sperm and black whale fisheries. Exports of oil had skins. I put ashore at the head of Perse verance Harbour [Campbell Island] risen from £7,278 in 1828 to £12,313 in 1829. There had also been a growth in about 20 tons of salt and burnt it over. the sealing trade. In 1828 there had It would pay a boat's crew to remain been five vessels in the whaling trade, here. "I next proceeded to Cloudy Bay but now there were a dozen. Victualled for 15 months, they went mainly to the (New Zealand) where I got 140 tons of coast of Japan and the Solomon Islands, oil, and had a taste of the Sperm Gentle men on my passage up. I have landed though the New Zealand fishery and here 140 tons whale oil, 6 tons whale Macquarie Island attracted a fair bone, 25 tons sperm oil, 170 Furskins, amount of attention." and am now fitting out for the Sperm One man involved in this trade was Captain James Kelly, harbour master fishery. I hope to be away in a month and pilot at Hobart, a master mariner from this."9 These are the only available facts. who had circumnavigated Van Dicmen's Masters and owners in the South Seas -and, made some interesting observa trade were always unusually reticent tions on the aborigines, had taken part about their movements, and in this case in the early exploitation of Macquarie Island and had been called upon to give Harvey was under a bond of £5,000 not to disclose where he found his seals. evidence before the Government com When Biscoe met Balleny at Campbell mission of 1820. But strangely, at this Island in 1839 they traded information, time he was selling some of his vessels, but when he met Harvey at the Bay of advertising this as an opportunity, "a most noble chance for new hands wish Islands they exchanged no details. Biscoe was under instructions from his owners ing to embark in the whale fishery with to maintain secrecy about his voyage, good capital . . ."8 and his journal merely noted: "The SOUTH FROM SYDNEY Venus, Harvey at the opposite anchor The Venus sailed from Sydney on age."™ January 8, 1831, with whaling stores for HOW FAR SOUTH? the sperm fishery. Nearly a year later, Details of the voyage were recorded on October 31, Harvey met John Biscoe in Harvey's log book but that was (who was then on his way from Hobart handed over to the Customs in London to the South Shetlands, having dis on his return and was destroyed after covered Enderby Land a few months a lapse of seven years; but it is never before) in the Bay of Islands. Harvey theless possible to reconstruct the returned to Sydney on December 31, voyage. 1831, with 140 tons of black oil and 30 Dr. J. S. Cumpston says that it was in tons of sperm oil. February that salt was obtained from June 1972

■■■£*•: <

Ice floes and bergs in the Ross Sea. Antarctic Division, N.Z.D.S.I.R.

Kangaroo Island. So presumably Harvey 3-8 and the pack ice gave little trouble. must have gone there at the beginning In January, 1908 Shackleton's Nimrod of February, 1831, direct from Sydney; met thick weather but only small floe and his would have given him some 14 bergs with some pack in that latitude. or 15 days to make Macquarie Island. Amundsen described the passage of Then he could have reached Lat. 72deg the Fram through the pack as "a four- S. in 12 or 13 days, that is to say about day pleasure trip", and added that the the middle of March. From this best place to go through the ice is "farthest south" he would have made between 176deg E. and 18()deg and the for Campbell Island and the Bay of best time as about the beginning of Islands, where he must have spent some February. weeks before leaving for Sydney.11 Icebergs are produced by the break His longitude is nowhere stated, but ing up of the Ross Ice Shelf, but that is most likely to have been in the Ross does not occur to any great extent every Sea. In those waters fog and thick year, and Harvey may have been in the weather are not unusual, Balleny having Ross Sea when there were few bergs. experienced such conditions for days on Therefore, it seems likely that Harvey end in 1839. Harvey made no mention reached Lat. 72deg S. in about Long. of pack ice, and even though it does 180deg in an open season.12 vary from year to year it may have dis LATER YEARS appeared completely by the end of February near the 180th meridian. Captain Harvey continued in the In 1842 Captain Sir James Clark Venus in the South Seas trade, sailing Ross, in Lat. 72deg 27min S., Long. from Sydney in May, 1832, and return 178deg 40min W. found himself in fog ing a year later with 60 tons of sperm on the edge of the pack ice, with ice oil. and making another voyage between freezing on the rigging. In 1902 the September. 1833, and January, 1835, Discovery made a passage on January bringing back 210 tons of sperm oil. He sailed from Sydney on May 17, 1835, appearance. Few vessels have found with sperm oil, head matter, general difficulty in finding their way out of cargo, and passengers, reaching the these waters.14 River Thames on September 21. Captain Harvey was master of the REFERENCES barque Rowena from Liverpool to (1) Gore's Liverpool Director for 1829. Lloyds Pernambuco in 1836, and in 1839 Cap Register, 1826. New Register Book. 1829. Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. tain Harvey, master of the barque Liverpool Register of Shipping, Vol 46, Diane, was in the Bay of Islands with 1829-30. No. 123. Hobart Town Gazette. March 17, 1821. 500 barrels of sperm oil. The Venus (2) Liverpool Register. Vcl. 46, No. 123. was sold to other owners and broken Gore's Liverpool Directory, 1829, 1832. Public Record Office. B.T. 98/74, Muster up in 1841. Captain Harvey was most Roll, Liverpool, 1816, Nos. 32, 373. probably alive in the middle of the 19th (3) Customs. London. Bill A. May I. 1830. century when interest in Antarctic ex Liverpool Register. Vol. 46. No. 87. Lloyds Register. 1828-30. New Register Book. ploration was growing, but nobody 1828-30. thought to record his account of what (4) Customs. London. Bill B. June 26. 1831. June 30. 1830. Liverpool Register. Vcl. 46. he had done.13 No. 87. Sydney Gazette. December 7. 1830. DANGEROUS WATERS (5) Bill B. June 26, 1830, June 30. 1830. In 1840 Sir James Clark Ross, with Lloyds List. June 26. 1830. Liverpool Mercury, June 25, 1830. South African the Erebus and Terror, struck boldly Commercial Advertiser, September 15, south from Campbell Island into the 1830. October 6. 1830. (6) The Tasmanian. November 19. 1830. dense pack ice and came out into the November 26. 1830. Sydney Monitor. open water of the Ross Sea. There was December 8. 1830, December 4, 1830. The Australian, December 3, 1830. no reason for him to expect open water (7) P.R.O.. CO. 280/30. Van Dicmen's Land. farther south as the experience of 1831. Vol. 3. Sept.-Oct... Annual Report. George Arthur, ff. 17-18. CO. 284/51. Balleny and Bellingshausen in those Van Diemen's Land, Civil Establishment, longtitudes had been most discouraging. 1828 (Blue Book). CO. 284/52. Blue Book. 1829. Sydney Monitor. June 4. 1831. It is just possible that during his stay June 18. 1831. J. S. Cumpston, Macquarie in Hobart Ross heard of Harvey's Island, Canberra. 1968. p. 71. (8) Alan J. Villiers. Vanished Fleets. London. voyage into a sea free from pack ice. 1931. pp. 36. 44. Tasmanian. February 3, Dr. H. R. Mill mentioned an Ameri 1831. CO. 284/44, Van Diemen's Land, can master who was one of the few Civil Establishment. 1822; he was ap pointed on June 1, 1819. Antarctic navigators to perish in those (9) Australian. January 6. 1832. January 24. seas: 1832. Sydney Gazette. January 11. 1831. Sydney Monitor, January 5, 1831, January "He set out from New Zealand in 12. 1831. January 15. 1831, January 4. 1826 with the intention, according to 1832. January 7. 1832, May 9. 1832. British Museum. Add. Ms. 15750. Briscce's Morell, of seeking new land between Journal. October 31. 1831. R. A. Swan, 60deg and 65deg S. south of that Australia in the Antarctic. 1961, pp. 22, 23. island and was never heard of again. (10) A. J. Villiers. 1931. p. 39. A. G. E. Jones. It might very possibly be that he pene New Light on John Balleny. Geographical Journal, March, 1969, p. 58. Add. Ms., trated the pack into the Ross Sea, and 15750. October 31. 1831. was unable to make his way out." (11) Letter from Dr. J. S. Cumpston. February 21, 1970. Any comment must obviously be (12) Royal Geographical Society. Journal of speculation as there is no further in John Balleny and Log Book of the Eliza Scott. L. B. Quartermain. South to the formation; but when one bears in mind Pole. London. 1969. pp. 20. 140. Sydney the loss of the Sabrina, Ballcny's consort Herald. May 15, 1839. in 1839, the possibility of broaching to (13) Sydney Gazette, May 5. 1832. May 9. 1832. May 2, 1833. September 5. 1833. Sydney in those dangerous waters, the risk of Monitor. May 2, 1832. May 9. 1832. Syd ney Herald. January 8. 12, 19. 1835. striking a growler and the possibility of February 9. 1835. April 13. 1835, April 27. being embayed by a large iceberg (like 1835, May 11. 18, 1835. Lloyds List. Sep tember 22, 1835. Bill B. September 22. many masters rounding Cape Horn) and 1835, October 1. 1835. Liverpool Register, the usual hazards of the sea. it does not Vol. 46. No. 87. Lloyds Register, 1836. seem necessary to invoke the ice of the Sydney Herald. December 9. 1839. (14) Hugh Robert Mill. The Siege of the South Ross Sea to explain the American's dis Pole. London. 1905. p. 111. SOVIET NEWS Polar Medicine Study at Molodezhnaya Station An Institute of Polar Medicine will be established at Molodezhnaya, the main Soviet research centre in Antarctica. It will be housed in a 20-room glass and aluminium building, and stalled by 15 specialists in medicine and biology. Equipment will include three computers. Studies to be undertaken at the insti- Soviet Union has two manned stations tute will include microbiology and on drifting ice floes, and about 20 auto- hygiene, and the physical and psycho- matic monitoring stations, logical effects on human beings of cold. Dr Treshnikov said the ultimate objee- enforced immobility, close proximity to live was to take the data from Antarctic others, and the long polar nights and and Arctic stations and develop mathe- days. Other investigations will involve matical models of global atmospheric the responses of the circulatory, respira- and ocean circulations. This should lead tory, and sensory systems to extreme to considerably improved weather fore- cold, casting. Dr A. F. Treshnikov, director of the DIRECT FIICHTS Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute ^^ in Leningrad, told 1. N. Wllford a 3 ■ of New York limes correspondent, in a / , .. », , , , recent, . interview, ' . ,. : ,, that ' .. the , . medicalAustralia work or Madagascar . . . ., ° ., , to ..,,,. carry __,.tt, out should.,.,..,'. help ... the ,, institute their research define the When rather the than veteran travel supply south ship physical and psycho logical requirements * ^ ^ ^ first ^ or future poar explorers. Some ol the . . . ■» - » _ v v „ . i - „ u . . ' .. ,' . . , , ., early this year, Dr Y. Korotkcvich. most .interesting ,,fc , , c.data, . u- he i leader said, should of the . Soviet .* r ,' Antarctic _ . , . , . Expcdi- —^ ,. comc.. from Jr ., Vostok -, .. „ Station, , , tion. which said that is .. the ., ., establishment , ., . , ,. , , of c a near the South Geomagnetic Pole, at an . ., , . , r . f. , . . - ,, ...r, runway at Molodezhnaya lor aircralt altitude of 11.444ft. , • heavier ,. than ,u the ti Ilyushin w 14s ia now in use Previous studies have shown such wm|]d bc considcrcd. marked change among the men at «Nothing definite has been decided. Vostok as decreased blood pressure bu( we thjnk h ,ikc|y lhat jn a few increased red blood eel counts, and ycars we wi„ havc ,anding facilj. various adjustments of the respiratory ,ies at Molodczhnayai and ,hat aircraft system to compensate for air that is half wU, bc ab]c to brjng scicntists down a s d e n s e a s a t s e a l e v e l . | Vo m , h c T J . S . S . R . , " s a i d D r K o r o t k e - The primary emphasis of Soviet re- vjcb search in the Antarctic, according to Dr Treshnikov, continues to be meteoro- RUSSKAYA STATION logical—the study of atmospheric pro- Russkaya is likely to be the name cesses and their interaction with the chosen for the new Soviet research massive ice sheet and the ocean cur- station which will bc constructed next rents. season at Cape Burks on the Hobbs Soviet scientists gather much of their coast of Marie Byrd Land. A recon- data on upper atmospheric conditions naissance of the coast was made at the from sounding rockets launched from end of last season by scientists in the Molodezhnaya. Similar observations are Ob. The new station will bc the sixth being conducted in the Arctic where the Soviet coastal station in the Antarctic. June 1972

More modern, functional, and com the upper atmosphere over the South fortable dwellings will replace the exist Pole are subject to sudden heating two ing wooden buildings at Soviet research or three days after a chromospheric stations in the Antarctic. Steel, alumin flare in the sun. The temperature ium, and plastic, are being used in their mounts by as much as 40deg C, and construction. over the North Pole also. Two-storey steel and aluminium build The centres of such hot spots move ings, insulated with foam plastic, are over considerable distances, at heights planned at the oldest Soviet station. of 20 to 30 miles, in both Antarctic and Mirny. Similar construction is being Arctic regions. It is suggested that these adopted for the dwelling houses, labora heal "explosions'" are caused by the con tories, offices, and recreation rooms at centration of particles thrown out of the the main base, Molodezhnaya. They sun by the earth's magnetic field. Re are being built of prefabricated metal actions between the streams of particles units, glass, and plastics. Each building and the rarefied air cause the heating. will stand on stilts 5ft to 10ft high so OCEAN STUDIES they are not buried by drifting snow. Fossil trees and imprints of leaves When the Ob sailed for the Antarctic and grasses were found by Soviet scien on April 2 after her brief visit to tists who spent the Antarctic summer in Lyttelton. she had aboard a Soviet scien the area of the Amery' Ice Shelf in the tist who had flown to New Zealand to mountains of MacRobertson Land. In join her. On the voyage south Professor a report on the last Soviet expedition Anatoly Kriss, of the Academy of the polar geologist, Professor Mikhail Sciences, made microbiological studies on a series of stations between New Ravish, said that the discoveries were made beyond the Prince Charles Moun Zealand and the Antarctic. tains which run inland for some 430 Professor Kriss took samples of water from different levels to study microbial miles, and are the only range in that life in the depths of the Pacific sector part of the continent not now buried beneath the ice shield. of the Southern Ocean. He has made similar investigations in the Indian and FLOWERING PLANTS Atlantic sectors. His data will provide Two species of cereals—one hitherto information about the distribuiton of unknown—have been discovered by micro-organisms (especially bacteria) in Soviet scientists at Bellinghausen Station the Southern Ocean. on King George V Island in the South Shetlands. This marks a new southern limit for flowering plants. FIXING THE POLE The discovery was announced in a Five polar-orbiting satellites and a report to the Soviet Geographical signal receiver used by the United States Society by Tgor Simonov, leader at Navy for ship navigation were em Bellinghausen Station. King George V ployed last season in tests to deter Island, known to the Russians as Water mine the exact position of the South loo Island, in latitude 60deg S, is one Pole and other geographical points in of the warmest in the Antarctic, though the Antarctic. The project is expected it is mostly under an ice-cap. and the to establish with an accuracy of better only plants found there previously have than 50ft the position of such points as been mosses and lichens. McMurdo Station, White Island. Hallett. King George V Island is one of the and Byrd Stations, and the direction and research areas designated by the Inter speed of the ice that covers the Pole. national Committee for Antarctic Topographic engineers and technicians Studies, and Soviet scientists have been from the United Stales Geological Sur working there for four years. vey conducted the tests which could, if Scientists in Leningrad, using radio successful, revolutionise mapping and sondes, have discovered that parts of navigation in the Antarctic. June 1972

ANTARCTIC BOOKSHELF

"ANTARCTIC PINNIPEDIA". VOLUME 18. ANTARCTIC RESEARCH SERIES Published by the American Geophysical Union. 1971. 230 pp. Illus. Price: US$25.00.

Papers published in this series are Kucchlc on activity patterns of adult directed not only to specialists actively female Weddell seals. engaged in scientific research work in Carl Hubbs and Kenneth Morris pro Antarctica, but also to scientists in re vide an interesting account of the drama lated fields and to laymen with some tic history of the Juan Fernandez fur scientific background. However, in seal. This seal was once harvested by "Antarctic Pinnipcdia", papers for the hundreds of thousands, was then specialists far outnumber those for the thought to have become extinct only general reader. to be rediscovered in 1965. and now is The twelve papers in this volume treat known to occupy most of its original such topics as systematics of fur seals, range. anatomy, blood chemistry and popula Ian Stirling's study of the population tion dynamics of the Weddell seal dynamics of the Weddell seal in Mc (Leptonychotes weddelli), underwater Murdo Sound from 1966-1968 is the sounds of the Juan Fernandez fur seal first of its kind. He presents data on (Arctocephalus philippi). and the histo population parameters gained from re logy and biochemistry of Weddell seal peated sightings of some of his 3000 mummies. The diversity of topics is individually-tagged animals and from matched by the unevenness of treatment, autopsy of 150 seals shot for dog food. with three pages devoted to fur seal and also discusses possible factors in underwater sounds and 56 pages to Wed the natural regulation of numbers, of dell seal anatomy. The disproportionate which competition for space could bc amount of attention paid to the Wed the most significant. dell seal in research on Antarctic pinni Siniff. Tester and Kuechle used radio peds is reflected in this volume; Weddell telemetry to record activity of female seals feature in eight papers, fur seals in Weddell seals with pups. With radio three, elephant seals in two, the crab- transmitters sewn into the upper backs eater in only one, and the leopard and of the females, the authors were able to Ross seals not at all. determine the approximate haul-out time For the specialist, there are inform and duration of dives for seven indivi ative accounts of the systematics of fur duals. No dives of more than ten seals, osteology and myology of Wed minutes duration were made by the dell and southern elephant seals, aspects females in the 14 days following the of underwater sound production in fur birth of their pups, and it seems that and Weddell seals, blood chemistry of they may not feed during that time but Weddell, crabcater and elephant seals, maintain a careful watch on their pups and histology and biochemistry of ancient instead. mummified Weddell seals. These papers "Antarctic Pinnipedia" is a valuable provide interesting new information and addition to the literature on seals and will be useful works of reference. should provide a useful work of refer Of more general interest are papers ence for future workers in the field. by Hubbs and Norris on the history and Dr M. C. Crawley present status of the Juan Fernandez fur Zoology Department, seal, by Stirling on Weddell seal popu University of Canterbury, lation dynamics, and Siniff, Tester and New Zealand. June 1972

BIOLOGY OF THE ANTARCTIC SEAS IV ANTARCTIC RESEARCH SERIES. VOLUME 17. Published by the American Geophysical Union. 362 pp. Illus. SUS30.

This volume of the Antarctic Research each species is described or an up-to- Series presents marine biological papers date reference given. of very high quality with superb illus Heron and Bowman describe all the trations and micrographs. It is an excel copepodid stages in three species of lent contribution to the understanding pseudocalanid coppepods. One of these of marine biology in the Antarctic, and is new to science. Each stage is well in many ways a gift from the taxonomist described and illustrated. to the ecologists. Louis Kornicker's systematic study of George Llano and Eugene Wallen some Antarctic benthic ostracods is have brought together an outstanding based en new collections from the collection of papers on marine biology Palmer archipelago and the South Shet in the Southern Ocean. More than half land islands, and on specimens on loan the articles are concerned with the taxo from museums housing earlier collec nomy and systematics of such varied tions. Five new species are described marine groups as chordatcs. crustaceans, and 11 previously described species are pyenogonids and mesozoans. Others are discussed, thus bringing the Antarctic concerned with structure, distribution Cypridinacea up to date. and abundance of foraminiferans, dia Hedgpeth and McCain review the toms and zooplankton. pyenogonid genus Pantopipetta. They Stewart Springer's article on skates of discuss the taxonomic history of the the Antarctic continental shelf includes genus and place it in the emended the description of one new species and family Austrodecidae. A new species of suggests that skates may not be as sparse Pantopipetta from off the Oregon coast in Antarctic waters as previously be (USA) is described. lieved. Robert Short's paper on mesozoan Patricia Kott's paper on the taxonomy, parasites deals with three new species systematics and distribution of Antarctic of Dicyema found in the renal organs of ascidians discusses 80 species of ascid- octopodes collected off the Kaikoura ians, collected since 1965, by the U.S.N.S. Peninsula of New Zealand. Eltanin, reports on known species not In a very interesting paper El-Sayed previously recorded from the Antarctic, reports on a 15,500 square kilometre and describes two new species. The phytoplankton bloom, one of the largest New Zealand fauna is discussed in some recorded in the literature. Species com detail because of its relation to the Ant position of the bloom is discussed and arctic fauna. it is found that although a number of ihalodiscids are little known ani- species was represented, one diatom. but John Markham has managed Thalassiosira tumida, was the over to include much of the known inform whelming dominant. Heimdal and Fryxell discuss the mor ation plus much that was not known to update this group. Although his paper phological variability of the biologically is mainly concerned with the redescrip- important diatom Thalassiosira tumida. tion of five previously known Antarctic This paper uses the light and electron species, a diagnostic key is presented for microscope to demonstrate morpholo all presently recognised species. gical characters which cause the authors to re-valuate the taxonomic position of In their review of the Antarctic, sub- certain diatom species. Antarctic caprellid amphipods, McCain Fryxell and Haslc also use the electron and Gray include descriptions of six new microscope to illustrate the interesting species. A key to the known Antarctic, cosmopolitan diatom, Corethron crio- sub-Antarctic species is included and philum. This paper and the preceding June 1972 one both beautifully illustrate the role and the zooplankton groups which con- the electron microscope can play in taxo- tribute to the standing crop are dis- nomic and morphological studies. cussed. The final paper by Thomas Hopkins deals with zooplankton standing crop James K. Lowry. in the upper 2000 m of the Pacific Zoology Department, sector of the Southern Ocean. Seasonal University of Canterbury, estimates of standing crop arc given New Zealand.

ENTOMOLOGY OF THE AUCKLANDS AND THE ISLANDS SOUTH OF NEW ZEALAND Editor: J. L. Gressitt. Pacific insects, monograph 27: I-IV. 1-340 illust. This collection of papers is the first of Wise, said that "the results suggest that a scries dealing with the taxonomy of Anisotome was at one time more plenti the Auckland and other sub-Antarctic ful on site (referring to the single peat island insects. In his preface Gressitt sample site). This plant has only been reverts to the original usage of the reported in small often very dense clumps term "sub-Antarctic." including within it and this could well bc its normal habit. and the context of this volume the The map of the Antipodes Islands islands of Auckland. Campbell. Snares. is a copy of one published in 1907 and Bounty and Antipodes. the authors' preference for this over the Gressitt and K. J. Wise in their intro far more accurate one published in 1958 ductory paper give a general history of is hard to understand. entomological and other work on these The rest of the volume is taken up by islands but the visits by Hutton and some taxonomic works dealing with mayflies, botanists arc not mentioned. Outlines of neuropterans. moths, weevils and some the topography, geology, soils, climate, other beetles, psychodid flies and a small flora and fauna arc given and a biblio group of hymenoptera. All papers are graphy. of a high standard, giving keys, descrip Although this work stems mainly tions and diagnoses to the species and from the 1963 and 1966 expeditions no the figures reach the same standard in reference is made at all to the work done usefulness and execution. Besides the by the geologist who accompanied Gres systematic and nomenclature problems sitt on occasions in the field and whose solved by the authors using the material photos (Wright, 1966 ct seq.) show the collected by the various expeditions there topography of the Aucklands to better is a great wealth of biological data advantage than many of those so poorly especially in the case of immature stages reproduced in this volume. As well as and their habitats or host plants. Such missing geological references a number precise taxonomy and biological data re of entomological ones are also absent, presents a major advance in the know and are incorrectly cited. ledge of the subantarctic fauna, an ad There is one glaring misinterpreta vance not even matched by many studies tion concerning the plant Anisotomc on the New Zealand mainland fauna. acutifolia on the Snares. Gressitt and References: Wise claim that it is almost extinct on FINERAN, B. 1969. The Flora of the Snares Islands, N.Z. Trans. R. Soc.N.Z. (Bot.) 3(17): an island which is almost unmodified by 237-70. WRIGHT. J. B. 1966, 1967, 1968. man's activities or associated animal 1970. Contributions to the volcanic succession and petrology of the Auckland Islands, N.Z. pests. None of the botanists who have Parts 1, 2. 3, 4. Trans. R. Soc. N.Z. (Geol.) visited this island has claimed this and 3: 215-29, 5: 71-87, 6: 1-11, 8: 109-115. Fineran (1969) when discussing the high P. M. Johns. percentage of Anisotome pollen in the Zoology Department. peat sample referred to by Gressitt and University of Canterbury. New Zealand June 1972

ANTARCTIC SNOW AND ICE STUDIES II ANTARCTIC RESEARCH SERIES. VOLUME 16 Edited by A. P. Crary. Published by the American Geophysical Union. 1971. 412 pp. SUS24.

This book contains in the main the bound, and is liberally illustrated. Its later results of the extensive United papers represent a high standard of field States traverses made between 1957 and work, published for the specialist, scien 1967. Fifteen papers are provided, and tist or graduate student. It could make include results of work in geophysics, tiresome general reading for the layman. seismology, gravity observations, electro T. J. Chinn magnetic wave propagation, and glacio logy. The accent is on pure glacio BOOKS RECEIVED logical work, with six papers on snow and ice studies, and one paper on his- Americans in Antarctica, 1775-1948, 1 ' "~Ty in the dry valleys area. by Kenneth J. Bertrand. American ■ • yuaiuy of writing and great Geographical Society. Spi attention to detail are characteristic of tion No. 39. SUS25. all the papers, and the list of contribut This is Antarctica. By Joseph M. Dukert. New and revised. Coward, Mc- ing authors reads like a list of the lead Cann and Geoghegan, New York. ing Antarctic research scientists. The difficulties of the subject of snow SUS5.90. The Structure and Physical Proper stratigraphy are well illustrated by many ties of the Earth's Crust. American Geo capable workers in this field. The vari ous field methods, both old and new, are physical Union. Geophysical Mono graph 14. SUS19. covered, including the valuable but Birds of the Antarctic and Sub-Ant simple accumulation stake. Without arctic. American Geographical Society. these stakes it is demonstrated that Map folio series No. 14. SUS10. serious errors may have arisen from Coastal and deep-water benthic fishes pit studies alone. Many of the pit of the Antarctic. American Gcoj studies are impressive, both in detail of Society. Map folio series No. 15. $6.00. results and in the extent of the manual We hope to print reviews of these work involved; one pit more than six publications in our next issue. metres deep was excavated to a length of 15 metres! In the geophysical papers the prob lems of measuring the thickness of the ice sheets are well illustrated by the SNOW TOADS BUSY details covered and the diversity of Sr.ow toads, the Antarctic gremlins methods employed. Notable is the suc well known to pilots in the early days cess of radio-sounding techniques in East of American Antarctic operations, were Antarctica. busy in the March issue of "Antarctic." The contrasting but no less difficult They produced three errors which problems in deducing the glaciological escaped notice. history in the dry valley area gives On Page 149 Sir James Clark Ross saw another view of the history of the Ant lava erupting from Mount Erebus on arctic ice sheet. January 27, 1841. not 100 years later. Each monograph is a comprehensive, On Page 156 the number of American specific, and detailed study, and no de scientists taking part in last season's liberate excursions are made into the operations should have been 200. not 25. problems of the regimen, and condi On Page 169 the mishap to the Her tions of the Antarctic Continent as a cules supplying the French scientific whole. traverse occurred when the party had This volume is excellently printed and covered 150 miles, not 1150. June 1972

OBITUARY C. R. Ford, last of the Discovery men All the men who sailed south with Scott in the Discovery in 1901 are now dead. The last of the Discovery men, Charles Reginald Ford died at his home in Auckland on May 19 at the age of 92. A young writer in the Royal Navy when he was engaged as ship's steward of the Discovery, Ford lived in New Zealand for more than 65 years after the expedition. He became a distinguished architect, designed several notable New Zealand buildings in partnership with William Henry Gummer, and was an authority on old English china. A Londoner, Ford was serving in I could rely implicitly on his state H.M.S. Vernon when he read in news ments." papers of plans for an Antarctic expedi Ford's duties kept him tied rather tion. He was summoned for an inter closely to the Discovery while she was view some months after his application. locked in the ice of Winter Quarters Scott spoke with him for less than a Bay. But he became a keen skier, and minute and then said, "You'll be com gained the doubtful distinction of be ing with us." He was only 20 and was, coming the first patient to occupy the with C. H. Hare, assistant steward for ship's small sick berth when he broke the first year, the youngest member of his leg while "running" the eastern slope the expedition. of the Gap in a rather bad light. He Officially Ford was the ship's steward was ofl duty for nearly six weeks. but his role in the Discovery would Despite the onerous demands of his today be regarded as that of stores official duties Ford became a valued officer and secretary. He was a warrant contributor to the "South Polar Times." officer, and in many respects was Scott's He is represented by several paintings right-hand man, doing all the secretarial (one of the Discovery leaving Lyttel and accountancy work required. ton) and a finely written article on the In "The Voyage of the Discovery" ships which have borne the name Dis Scott described a ship's steward as a covery. specially important individual in an Ford did manage to make at least one exploring vessel. He had to keep the sledging journey. In January, 1903. most exact account of the stores ex when Scott was far to the south with pended, and of those that remained; he Wilson and Shackleton. and Armitage had to sec that provisions were pro was opening up the route to the west, perly examined and properly served out, Ford. Dailey and Whitfield sledged a and that everything was stowed below load of provisions as far south as Minna in such a manner that it was forthcom Bluff to form a cache in case Armitage's ing when required. party should return to the ship that way. Scott paid warm tribute to the quality They were in the field for nearly three and value of Ford's work: "Although a weeks. very young man without experience, Like all the Royal Navy men aboard (he) showed himself to be well fitted for the Discovery Ford was versatile and it (the post) in other respects. He soon resourceful. He earned high praise from mastered every detail of our stores, and Scott for his ability as a cook when kept his books with such accuracy that most of the ship's company were away June 1972

Hi if 1 ' ;" * rj.i J. if ' A n ' i £'■ 5 ■ j ' %' ja >. 1. a £ £ i ' T \ i ■ § ?J i-- 1 £ i ' . » P i 1 !

8 IIS •

C. R. Ford in the library of his home in Auckland several years ago. The lamp on the left was a treasured memento; it came from the Discovery.

—N.Z. Herald Photo. at the "sawing camp" making a des Discovery. He toured England with perate attempt to free the ship from the Scott as his private secretary, and then ice. "As a result of studying Mrs went to Canada to study, occasionally Becton's cookery book, he was achiev giving lectures. He then made a suc ing dishes of a more savoury nature cessful lecturing tour of Australia. than we had thought possible with the In 1906 Ford settled in New Zealand, resources at our command." and was briefly a farmer before study When the expedition returned to Eng ing architecture in Christchurch. He land Ford wound up its financial affairs, moved to Wanganui when qualified, including negotiating the sale of the and then in 1923 went to Auckland and formed a partnership with William little of his Antarctic experiences, per Henry Glimmer which lasted 38 years, haps because he seems to have been and produced many nationally known essentially a modest man. All he wrote buildings. Among them were the was a little booklet of less than 30 Dominion Museum and Art Gallery, pages (much prized by collectors of the National War Memorial, the Wel early Antarctic writings) called "An lington Public Library, and the Auck tarctica," and simply sub-titled "Leaves land railway station. from a Diary Kept on Board an Ex Ford was one of the first of his pro ploring Vessel." His impressions of fession to recognise the relation between what he called "these wonderful earthquakes and building construction regions" are as clear today as they were in New Zealand. In 1928 he wrote 70 years ago. "Earthquakes and Building Construc Although he wrote nothing else about tion," which emphasised the danger of the Antarctic. Ford was most generous adhering to traditional methods of con with his memories of Discovery days struction in a country subject to earth when writers and historians sought his quakes. He and his partner were on help. New Zealand's Antarctic his the first relief train to Napier after the torian, L. B. Quartermain. whose disastrous earthquake of 1931. article in the June, 1966. issue of A collector of antiques, Ford also "Antarctic" has provided the basis of became an authority on English cera this notice, can testify to this, and the mics, and wrote a handbook on the writer also remembers Ford's kindness subject. Much of his collection is in only a few years ago when he wanted the Auckland War Memorial Museum to check some minor incidents in the of which he was an untiring supporter expedition. for many years. Charles Reginald Ford was always When Leonard Huxley wrote the willing to help both young and old. introduction to Griffith Taylor's story When he died a notice in an Auckland of Scott's last expedition, he referred o newspaper said: "By his enthusiasm, the book that Scott might have written energy and insight he did much to help if he had lived, and said: "We have not the young whenever he could. He will the half of what he could have told us." indeed bc greatly missed by all young Huxley's comment could be applied people alike." in a greater degree to Ford. We know David Stratton, Deputy to Sir Vivian Fuchs wmmX. David George Stratton, who served after service in the Royal Naval Volun with great distinction as second-in- teer Reserve, at Clare College. He was command to Sir Vivian Fuchs with the an enthusiastic geographer, took part in British Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic a number of expeditions, and spent two Expedition in 1955-58, died in England years in the field as a surveyor in Gra last month at the age of 45. He was ham Land with the Falkland Islands one of the 12 men who made the first Dependencies Survey. Stratton's active crossing of the Antarctic Continent by life as an explorer culminated with the way of the South Pole, and was a Trans-Antarctic Expedition. He was 28 godson of Lord Mountevans (Teddy when he was appointed second-in- Evans, of Scott's last expedition). command, and had the immense task of Like so many polar explorers and preparing the stores lists, discussing the geographers, Stratton was a Cambridge expedition's special needs with manu man. He was educated at Harrow, and, facturers, and co-ordinating the whole complex of material for packing and Times" obituary notice, he fought this shipping. terrible affliction with the same courage In 1955 Stratton sailed in the Thcron and amazing cheerfulness that had stood to help set up the advance base. him in such good stead in his earlier Shackleton, returning in 1956 before the days as an explorer. main party set off in the Magga Dan. "The Crossing of Antarctic" docs not He was awarded the Polar Medal in reveal much about "Bunny's Boys," as 1954 for his work as an assistant sur they were called by the Americans. veyor at Hope Bay, and a clasp in 1958. But in his book "Because it is There," He also received the Royal Geo- George Lowe, who sometimes walked Graphical Society's Back grant for polar with Stratton when they were probing exploration, and served on the council for crevasses ahead of the vehicles, of the society and the Scott Polar provides a thumbnail portrait: "... Research Institute. David, who was a hard worker, seemed Stratton joined B.P. in 1959, and in to have been born to lead. His god the next ten years held appointment as father was Lord Mountevans. and he regional marketing manager, Scan dinavia, general manager, Belgium, and grew up with Antarctica in his veins. marketing manager, South Europe and 'Ever since I was five years old.' said North Africa. In 1970 he contracted David with his slightly tired accent, poliomyelitis, which left him completely 'I have been patted on the head and paralysed. But, according to "The told, 'You will go to the Antarctic'." COMMANDER JEFFREY WAS QUEST'S NAVIGATOR Another veteran of Shackleton's last When Shackleton appointed him navi expedition in the Quest. Commander gating officer of the Quest, Jeffrey was Douglas George Jeffrey, died in March a lieutenant-commander R.N.R. On the this year at Hythe, Kent. He was 86. expedition he shared a cabin with Jeffrey would have gone south as chief Commander Frank Worslcy, and in his officer of the Endurance but for the out watch aboard the Quest were A.B. break of the First World War. As a Thomas McLeod, who had served in the Royal Naval Reserve officer he was Terra Nova and the Endurance, Boy called up for active service in August, Scout James Marr, and James Dell, the 1914, and was replaced in the Endur boatswain, and a Discovery veteran. ance by Lionel Greenstreet, then serving On the expedition Jeffrey and Wors- with the New Zealand Shipping Com ley made a more accurate chart of the pany. Clcrke Rocks, South Georgia, and veri Jeffrey served with distinction in both fied the position of Tristan da Cunha. world wars, holding sea-going com Jeffrey also helped G. V. Douglas, the mands. He was born in Stonehouse, geologist, with magnetic and other Lanarkshire, the son of a parish minis scientific observations. Dr A. H. Mack- ter in Ulster, and spent his early adult lin, who was in charge of stores and life in Canada. In the First World War equipment, mentions Jeffrey's ability as he served in the Canadian Navy and a navigator in ice. commanded a Q ship. He concealed his After the Second World War Jeffrey age to serve again in the Second World had a shadowy period of political War. His decorations included the Dis activity in Central America. He then tinguished Service Order, the Order of became the political agent for Sir Alec the British Empire, the Croix de Guerre, Douglas Home, later Prime Minister, the White Eagle of Serbia, and the and now Foreign Secretary, in Lanark. Order of St George of Russia. He played a major part in the return June 1972 A N ' of Sir Alec Douglas-Home to active R. E. ROUND SAILED politics after his defeat in 1945. and when he retired at the age of 81. he was IN BYRD'S SHIP regarded as the outstanding party One of the 52 New Zealanders who political agent in Scotland. were in the crews of the ships of the Throughout Lanarkshire and the Con two Byrd expeditions between 1928 and servative Party in Scotland Jeffrey was 1935 has died in Christchurch. He was known as "the Skipper". The nickname R. E. Round, who served in the Jacob was supported by the saltiness of his Ruppert on her second trip from language and his strict naval bearing. Dunedin to the Bay of Whales in 1935. m

MUSEUM ARCHIVES CONTAIN INTERESTING LETTERS Original letters by Shackleton and Ice Barrier, was sighted from the Thomas Whitfield, one of the crew of Nimrod, was to thank Canterbury the Discovery, have been added to the farmers for the 32 live sheep they had archives of the Canterbury Museum. given to the expedition. The recipient, Shackleton's letter was written aboard Mr Alexander Boyle, who had to wail the Nimrod on January 21, 1908, and for a month for the letter, was a Christ Whitfield's letter was written from South church partner in a stock and station Victoria Land on February 24, 1903. firm, who had organised the shipment of Whitfield, whose letter has been lent the sheep. to the museum for exhibition, was a All the sheep reached the Antarctic ship's stoker, and twice was a member Circle, but only ten provided fresh of the parties which visited the Emperor mutton for Shackleton's party at Cape penguin rookery at Cape Crozier. In his Royds. They were on board the Union letter, written from winter quarters, pre Steam Ship Company's vessel Koonya, sumably Winter Quarters Bay, where the which towed the Nimrod 1,510 miles Discovery was locked in the ice, he south. When the two ships were inside expressed his doubts whether the ship the Antarctic Circle on January 15, 1908. would be able to clear the ice barrier. Shackleton asked Captain F. P. Evans, The letter, written for the mail taken of the Koonya, to have the sheep killed back to New Zealand by the Morning and skinned. on her first relief voyage, voiced the Originally it was intended that the opinion of the lower deck on the situa sheep, fresh water, and eight tons of tion of the Discovery. The next day coal, should be ferried to the Nimrod. Scott wrote in his diary that things were This could not be done because of a looking serious; the Morning had to go rising sea. Ten carcases were lashed to in less than a week, and it now seemed a line and reached the Nimrod safely. A impossible that the Discovery would be line carried away when the second batch free by that time. The Morning sailed was being transferred. Then a heaving on March 2, leaving the Discovery iced line was thrown aboard the Nimrod but in for another winter. it broke, and the fresh mutton floated Shackleton's letter, written two days away to provide a meal for the alba before the Ross Ice Shelf, then the Great trosses. June 1972 SOVIET MEDAL Five new aircraft PRESENTED ordered The United States Navy will not have The co-operation between Soviet and its full complement of six ski-equipped New Zealand scientists in the Antarctic Hercules in its Antarctic support role was recognised when the supply ship Ob next season, according to Rear-Admiral called at Lyttelton in March this year L. B. McCuddin, commander of the by the presentation of a polar medal to support force. He said in Christchurch Mr R. B. Thomson, superintendent of that although five new Hercules aircraft the Antarctic Division, Department of had been ordered the first was not likely Scientific and Industrial Research. to take its part in the programme until Usually, the medal, specially struck to the summer of 1973-74. mark the 150th anniversary of Soviet In the last two seasons the Navy's activities in the Antarctic, is not given VXE-6 Squadron has lost two of its Her to foreigners. cules aircraft. One was destroyed by fire Dr Y. Korotkevich, leader of the at Williams Field, McMurdo Sound, on Soviet Antarctic Expedition, presented February 15, 1971. The other was the medal to Mr Thomson aboard the written oil after it had been badly Ob at Lyttelton. The medal bears on damaged during a jet-assisted take-off one side a map of Antarctica and the after a supply mission to a French track of Bellingshausen's voyages. On traverse party in Wilkes Land on Dec the other are the heads of Bellings ember 4 last year. hausen and Lazarev, his second-in- For the remainder of this season the command, and the Mirny and the squadron had to make do with only Vostok. three aircraft. The ski-equipped aircraft have been used in the Antarctic since 1960. They are generally regarded as the hardest worked Hercules aircraft in the United States Navy.

VOICE 1700 MILES Five flights by AWAY AT DAVIS R.N.Z.A.F. A radio conversation between Scott Base and two New Zealand scientists at A Royal New Zealand Air Force Arrival Heights, three miles away, was Hercules transport aircraft made five interrupted last month by an Australian flights to the Antarctic between Decem voice 1700 miles away. The speaker was ber 18 and January 6 in support of the the radio operator at Davis on the coast New Zealand and United States Antarc of East Antarctica. tic research programmes. For the first Scott Base was operating on a normal time since the R.N.Z.A.F. began its field frequency and speaking to the annual summer airlift five flights were scientists, who were checking the all-sky made instead of three. camera used to photograph auroral Four crews took each flight from displays. The Australian radio operator Christchurch to Williams Field in rota picked up the transmission and joined tion. New Zealand and American in the conversation. Since then several material was carried on the flights, conversations have taken place between which gave crews valuable training in the New Zealanders and the Australians flying in high latitudes and in extreme at Davis, and Casey, which is 1300 miles cold. from Scott Base. June 1972 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. GEORGE DOVERS on the Churchill (formerly Hamilton) River in Labrador which goes into pro Acrcfield, Deganwy Rd.. duction this year. The latter seems Llandudno, worthy of note in "Antarctic," because Caernarvonshire, Wales. the assignment utilised the whole of Sir,—In the December issue of my previous varied experience of which "Antarctic" I am glad to note the the Antarctic was by no means the least admirable article concerning my old important. Incidentally, I celebrated my shipmate and friend, George Dovers. 22nd birthday in Hobart on the eve of However, there are some inaccuracies departure in Aurora for the south.— and omissions which should be adjusted. Yours, etc., Aged 84 at his death in 1971, George ERIC N. WEBB. was born in 1887 and, therefore, was (Mr Webb was chief magnetician of 24 at the time of his departure in the Australian Antarctic Expedition, November, 1911, in the Aurora (or more accurately in the Toroa as far as 1911-14, and one of several New Zealanders who went south with Maw son. Our obituary of George Dovers had to be compiled from inadequate I believe he was nearly 23. Australian newspaper reports and the The penultimate paragraph listing literature of the period. We are glad survivors of the Australian Antarctic to learn from Mr Webb that Kennedy Expedition of 1911-14 omits the is still among the survivors. Perhaps important name of A. L. Kennedy who an Australian reader may be able to tell did such an excellent (and lonely) job Mr Webb what has happened to Murphy of the magnetic observations and is still and Correll.—Ed. living in Subiaco, Western Australia. I exchanged cards with H. Dyce Murphy in Mornington. Victoria, up to 1969, ICE THICKNESS but, in line with my fellow members, Sir,—In the March, 1972, issue of have had no news since; we trust your "Antarctic," a short article entitled information is correct. "Ice Thickness Survey" provides a Neither I, nor my Australian friends, summary of recent work completed by have gleaned any information of P. E. scientists from the Scott Polar Research CorrelFs welfare or whereabouts for Institute. The article suggests that this many years past. Perhaps the author group found "East Antarctica's ice cap of your article can help us. to be considerably thicker than previous I am, and have been for the past six information suggested," also reference years, living in Wales; prior to that, is made to the discovery of a record ice some five years in Canada directing the thickness of 12,150 feet. These state investigation and preliminary design of ments or assumptions are not correct. the 8,000,000 h.p. underground hydro Published results from the ANARE electric power station at Churchill Falls Wilkes-Vostok traverse of 1962-1963 which I led, gave ice thickness figures which began to exceed 10.000ft 250 RESEARCH TEAM miles south of Wilkes and from there between 8,000 and nearly 16,000ft thick LEADER the remaining 650 miles south to Vostok. From these measurements we calculated average ice thickness of this long section of the East Antarctica ice cap to be 12.060ft. We found the thickest ice to be 15,870ft measured 480 miles south of Wilkes and this I believe to be a record.—Yours, etc., R. B. THOMSON.

——sWXftfUVim

CONSERVATION TROPHY AWARD A maintenance officer at Scott Base Major P. G. Frazer last summer, Mr J. N. Foster, is the The leader of New Zealand's Antarctic first recipient of the Antarctic conserva research team for 1972-73 will again be tion trophy presented by the Canterbury an Army oflicer. He is Major P. G. branch of the New Zealand Antarctic Frazer, formerly of the headquarters Society. The award of the trophy—a staff of the Field Force Command. miniature Emperor penguin carved from Auckland. African walnut, was announced at the Major Frazer, who is 29, has been annual meeting of the branch. seconded to the Antarctic Division, Last year a member of the branch, Mr Department of Scientific and Industrial P. I. Voyce, gave the trophy to make Research, and will replace Major J. R. people aware of the unspoiled nature of M. Barker. He joined the Army in 1958 Antarctica, and to encourage them to at the age of 15, and went from the preserve it for future generations. The Regular Force Cadet School at Waiouru trophy is awarded to any person or to the Oflicer Cadet School at Portsea. organisation contributing to the con Victoria. servation of all buildings of historic After being commissioned Major significance, flora and fauna on the Ant Frazer served with a signals company at arctic Continent, and all sub-Antarctic Linton, and later was an instructor at islands. the School of Signals, Waiouru. He was Officers elected at the annual meeting posted to the 1st Battalion. Royal New were: President, Mr A. Anderson; vice- Zealand Infantry Regiment, at Burnham presidents, Messrs S. W. M. Smith, J. Military Camp, and served with the M. Caffin; secretary, Mrs E. F. Cross; battalion in Malaysia from November, treasurer. Mr J. Cross; committee, Mes- 1967, until February, 1969, when he went dames E. Smith, M. Williams, Messrs G. to Vietnam for eight months. Hurrell, A. Burton, B. N. Norris, B. On his return to New Zealand he George, R. G. McElrea, J. Morrison, V. served at Papakura with the 1st Infantry Wilson. P. I. Vovce. and B. Duffell. Brigade Group's Signals Squadron. June 1972 GROUNDED TOURIST SHIP NOT SERIOUSLY DAMAGED When the Antarctic tourist ship Lindblad Explorer ran aground in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetlands, on February 11, there were conflicting newspaper reports from South America about the extent of the damage to the ship, and the passengers' privations. The Lindblad Explorer was said to have been holed in several places and her engine-room Hooded; the passengers were supposed to have spent eight hours in freezing temperatures at an old British base on King George Island. Reports from the owners of the ship number" winners were given trips in a and the West German tug which towed Chilean helicopter over Admiralty Bay her to Buenos Aires tell a diflerent and their grounded ship, and two heli story. And an account from a woman copters from the Royal Navy's ice passenger describes the episode as a patrol ship Endurance landed on the most unusual and most unexpected Piloto Pardo. adventure. Although the passengers had to live When the Lindblad Explorer ran into for seven days and seven nights in their a blizzard she entered Admiralty Bay "rescue wardrobes," they enjoyed their to await daylight. The water was too stay aboard the Piloto Pardo. While deep to anchor so she circled all night, the West German tug Arctic was on its according to the passenger's account. way from Cape Town to assist the One generator failed, and the ship was Lindblad Explorer the Piloto Pardo blown by the gale on to some un resumed its task of delivering supplies charted rocks. and picking up men at Chilean At three o'clock in the morning the Antarctic bases. The weather was fine and clear, the scenery was superb, and passengers were told to dress warmly and come to the lounge. They learned a biass band greeted the passengers that the ship was aground and they when they reached Punta Arenas. Hot were to be taken ashore in boats to baths and clean clothes awaited them huts on the island. But instead pas when they were flown to Buenos Aires. sengers and crew bobbed around in the The Arctic reached the Lindblad lifeboats in bitter cold and driving Explorer on February 23. Only the snow for about four hours. When it bottom of the outer hull had been was decided that the Lindblad Explorer damaged. Pumps were placed on board would not capsize the passengers were and cement was used for patching, but taken back on board. the ship failed to come off the rocks. Early in the afternoon the Chilean Then the tug's crew pressurised the Navy transport Piloto Pardo arrived, double bottoms which were found full and lifeboats transferred the passengers. for almost the length of the ship, and The crew of the Lindblad Explorer succeeded in pumping down the level spent the daylight hours transferring in the engine-room. The ship came off bedding, steak, whisky and wine, all at the second attempt on February 25. perishable food, and the passengers' Temporary repairs were made to luggage to the Piloto Pardo. facilitate a safe passage through the ice, While attempts to refloat the Lind and on the voyage to Buenos Aires the blad Explorer continued other ships Arctic was able to maintain a speed of arrived. Some of the crew were trans more than nine knots with the Lindblad ferred to give the passengers more room Explorer in tow. She reached port early in the crowded transport. A few "lucky in March. June 1972

"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. Subscription for non-members of the Antarctic Society, NZ$3. Over seas NZ$3.50, includes postage (air mail postage extra). Details of back issues available may be obtained from the Secretary, New Zealand Antarctic Society, P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch, New Zealand.

The New Zealand Antarctic Society 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 membership fee is NZ$2.00 (or equivalent local currency). Subscription to "Antarctic" is a further $2.50.

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

Branch Secretaries Canterbury: Mrs E. F. Cross, P.O. Box 404, Christchurch. Wellington: Mr F. O'Leary, P.O. Box 2110, Wellington. Printed at the Raven Press, 241 Cashel Street, Christchurch