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■larsen Ice Shelf. (successor to 'Antarctic News Bulletin') Vol.8, No. 10 94th Issue June, 1979 Editor: J. M. CAFFIN, 35 Chepstow Avenue, Christchurch, 5. Address all contributions, inquiries etc. to the Editor.

CONTENTS

ARTICLES WINTER DIARY 338-343 BRIGANTINE 346-348

POLAR ACTIVITIES NEW ZEALAND 345, 362-366 UNITED STATES 343, 349, 368 JAPAN 356-358 352-355 WEST 350 EAST GERMANY 355 SOUTH AFRICA 358-359 POLAND 360-361 ARGENTINE 367-368

GENERAL MID-WINTER'S DAY 344-345 WHALING COMMISSIONS 351 THE READER WRITES 366-367

ISSN 0003-5327 © New Zealand Antarctic Society (Inc) 1978. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without the prior permission of the publishers. ■ m*mj mm^Mr*T-T LW^"s^

ANTARCTIC June 1979 WINTER DIARY RECORD COLD MAY AT %••:•• H ^^^ POLE STATION Winter did not delay its coming to the this year. Temper atures began to drop steadily before the sun began to depart in the third week of March. By the time 17 Americans, including a woman doctor, had completed their first six months at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station the temperature had come within four degrees of the magical figure of minus lOOdeg Farenheit (minus 73.3deg Celsius). And at the end of May the thermometer recorded 72.4deg C, and several times after midnight on May 29 the temperature came within two degrees of lOOdeg F. Last month was one of the two coldest at the Pole began preparations for months of May on record at the Pole winter. The problems of daily living — since 1957. The average temperature for heating, lighting, and plumbing — are the month was minus 61.6deg C In part of the winter routine, which includes May, 1964 the record figure was 61.4deg. checking stores and equipment, and the But for stronger breezes on the night of regular scientific observations. May 29-30 the average would have been even lower. FIRST SIGNS On 1327km to the north Early in March came the first signs of of the Pole Station's nearest neighbours, winter. The shadows of the station build 71 Americans, 12 New Zealanders, in ings began to lengthen, and the temper cluding a woman scientist, and a Soviet ature dropped below minus 50deg C In exchange scientist, had the sun with side the geodesic dome which houses the them a little longer; it did not depart living quarters the winter team, under until April 25. But now, like all the the management of Ron Peck, started its winter parties in Antarctica, they have indoor recreation with a pool tourna settled down to a regular pattern of ment. darkness and lower temperatures — a Still lower temperatures marked the pattern which will not be broken until first weeks of March, minus 60.1 deg and the sun returns in August. 65.9deg. Then, as the sun began to drop Winter began more slowly for the towards the horizon 20-knot winds eight Americans at the new Siple Station, brought a brief kind of Indian summer the most remote United States station on to the Pole, and temperatures climbed to the continent, 2250km from McMurdo a relatively warm minus 34.9deg. But the Station, at the base of the Antarctic last week ended with a minimum temper Peninsula in Ellsworth Island, and ature of minus 66.1deg, and a storm 1500km from the Pole. The sun remain prevented observation of the last sunset. ed with them until April 30, and although •' Hlswnrth Land weather pattern gave High winds and blowing snow, ac companied by rising temperatures, arriv .m many days of high winds ed in the first two weeks of April. The snow, there have been clear stormy weather increased the amount of snow drift against the station buildings, the rising moon. and brought the maximum temperature After the departure of the last aircraft to minus 39.2deg. The minimum temper of the season on February 11, the team ature was also higher — minus 57.5deg. ANTARCTIC

In the third week clear skies enabled above the horizon again at the end of the the winter team to look out on a full month. moon and the fleeting colours of auroras. Siple II was opened officially in a There was also a last faint glimmer of fierce snowstorm early in January, but the sun on the horizon. The weather was its first winter occupants had some com colder, and the minimum temperature paratively pleasant weather after the last dropped to minus 64.3deg. aircraft departed from McMurdo Sta tion on February 11, and thc weeks of WINTER'S BITE high winds and blowing snow began. As the last days of the team's first six There was only a few windy days, and months at the Pole passed the temper blue skies on February 28. The minimum ature dropped to minus 66.5dcg. But by temperature was minus 27.4deg on May 3 there was a miniscule improve February 24, and a peak gust of 32 knots ment — the thermometer recorded minus was recorded on February 27. 66.4deg. Preparations for winter occupied Then came the first real bite of winter. most of the last days of February, but members of the team were able to enjoy Early in the seventh month the temper ature went down to minus 71.3deg. The cross-country ski-ing. To keep fit when drop prompted some members of the they are confined to their living quarters am to head for the station's sauna. the men have a choice of yoga or calis thenics. They also take winter courses They hoped to qualify for membership of the exclusive 300 Club by remaining during their long isolation. Brian Berry, in the sauna until the temperature reach the station leader, reports that the most ed 200deg Fahrenheit, and then dash popular three are computer programm out-side to endure briefly a temperature ing, medical technology, and learning to of lOOdeg F. play the guitar. But the decline stopped four degrees short of the Fahrenheit century. Inside FINE SUNSETS the station a bridge addict started winter Colder weather marked the first two bridge classes, and a chess game began weeks of March, and the temperature by radio with Soviet players at Vostok, dropped below minus 40deg. But the the coldest place on earth. skies were only partly cloudy, and there A full moon arrived on schedule out were some fine sunsets. About 4.57cm side early in the third week of May, and of snow fell, and on March 11 and 12 the inside the station the team turned its at minimum temperature was minus 41 deg. tention to the remodelling of the Club Gusty winds and cold temperatures 90° South. Walls were papered, trees were recorded in the third week, and a were "planted" on one wall in the form 24-hour storm with a peak gust of 38 of a mural, and preparations were made knots reduced visibility to zero for most for carpet laying when the thaw began. of the time. The minimum temperature The minimum temperature was minus was minus 40.9deg but the wind chill 68.7deg. factor brought temperatures below minus 68.8deg. May ended with a grand reopening of the Club 90° South, and a record average Because of the bad weather the team low temperature for the month. The concentrated on inside chores, scrub minimum in the last week was 72.4deg. bing, waxing, and polishing the floors. Pictures and furniture were brought TURN OF YEAR from the old station, and a feeling of This month the weather is not likely to added warmth was gained from the get warmer, but the winter team will bc murals on the wall. able to celebrate Mid-winter's Day, Winds and blowing snow were exper making the turn of the Antarctic year. ienced for most of the last week. The Darkness will give way to twilight early minimum temperature was minus in August, and the sun is expected to rise 33. ldeg, and a peak gust of 29 knots was •-j. .•/ a -f m ■"

ANTARCTIC June 1979 recorded. More than 5cm of snow fell had windy weather, low temperatures, during the week. and several storms during the first three In the first week of April the weather months of winter. was fare but colder. The minimum In the last week of February after the temperature was minus 42.2deg on April ships and aircraft departed the skies 5, and the wind from the south was not were cloudy, and there were light snow so strong. There was a return to chilly showers. The maximum temperature but fair days in the second week, and was minus 0.7deg, and McMurdo Sound one storm lasted less than a day. The was clear of all annual ice in front of the minimum temperature was 36.8deg. station. A major storm with a peak gust of 52 But Williams Field out on the Ross Ice knots from the south-east marked the Shelf was hit by a violent storm with third week. There was a 24-hour windy winds of 60 to 70 knots, and gusts up to period, and lots of blowing snow. The 80 knots. Whipped by the storm snow minimum temperature dropped to minus drifted round the airfield buildings to 38.1 deg on April 23. depths of 1.5m to 4.5m. One storm after another, the last Early in March the water off Pram bringing winds up to 50 knots and Point where is situated was 2.54cm of snow maintained the Ells reported clear of annual ice. and worth Land pattern in the first week of miniature bergs were seen moving in the May. But there were a few hours of clear open sea. The minimum temperature weather when the moon rose over a fresh was minus 20deg, and it dropped to coat of newly-fallen snow. The minimum minus 23.5deg in the second week, rising temperature was minus 37.5deg. to minus 9.7deg in the third week. There were dreams of summer when March departed, not like a lamb, but temperatures soared to more than minus with winds rising to 30 knots, and a peak 7.8deg in the second week, but a major gust of 39 knots. As a parting gesture the storm front brought high winds up to 52 temperature dropped to minus 27.9deg knots from the south-west, which kept on March 30. the men indoors and dashed their dreams. The minimum temperature was ICE DISAPPEARS minus 32.9deg, and the maximum temperature was minus 7.9deg. April 1 was Winds Day with a peak gust of 50 knots, and a steady blow of 30 In the third week the south-west winds knots during the day. The warm, moist continued to blow, some gusts reaching wind off the kept the maximum 52 knots. Blowing snow reduced vis temperature at minus 7.9deg. There ibility, and the minimum temperature were brilliant sunsets during the first dropped to minus 42.5deg. The winds week, and much of the newly-formed ice averaged 21.8 knots for the week, and in front of the station disappeared. the peak gust recorded was 53 knots. There was more windy weather in the But the stormy weather gave the next fortnight. A peak gust of 41 knots winter team a temporary respite from on April 9, and 46 knots on April 17 the arduous task of shovelling snow into were recorded. The weather in the third the snow melter for the station's water week was mild although the minimum supply. A check of the level of the melter temperature was minus 28.9deg com revealed that snow as being blown by the pared with minus 23.9deg in the high winds directly down the chute. For about 24 hours the storm slowly raised previous week. the level. To mark the departure of the sun a sunset ceremony was held on April 24, STRONG WINDS and the station flag was lowered and brought inside for the rest of the winter. McMurdo Station is not exposed to High winds and poor visibility followed winds blowing directly across the bare the official sunset on April 25, and ice-cap like Siple Station is, but it has winds up to 39 knots were recorded on

■ mM -.•c?i4>.'-ijm ANTARCTIC

April 26 with a peak gust of 52 knots. sight of 350 to 400 Emperors at the front The maximum temperature for the week door brought out a small flock of photo was minus 7.8deg on April 24, and the graphers. minimum on April 21 was minus 30.6 In a relatively quiet environment after deg. the departure of the last of the summer During the last days of April the workers on February 22 the winter team windy weather continued with a peak settled down to prepare for the daily gust of 47 knots on April 27 and winds winter routine, much of which is con up to 35 knots. The minimum temper cerned with preparations for the summer ature was 28.1deg on April 29, and the influx for the 1979-80 programme, be maximum was minus 9.8deg on April 27. ginning early in October. Members of the team spent the early MORE SNOW days of March on the remaining outside Wind gusting to 62 knots and snow in jobs in readiness for the onset of colder troduced more wintry weather early in days. The dog handler, Peter Cleary May, and the temperature dropped (Christchurch) was kept busy getting his sharply to minus 35.2deg on May 7. 17 huskies and field equipment prepared, McMurdo Sound was frozen over from and ensuring that there was enough food the permanent ice edge to Hut Point, for the dogs in the winter and spring. and there was open water to the north. A light fall of snow and high winds ABORTIVE TRIP marked the second week when the Before wind and darkness limited the minimum temperature was minus dog teams' runs, there was an abortive 30.2deg on May 17. Then the weather trip to , some 80km east of was relatively mild except on May 27 the base, between March 12 and 15. A when the wind gusted to 54 knots, and whiteout and soft snow stopped the trip the minimum temperature rose a few by a party of five New Zealanders, and degrees to minus 27.4deg. A minimum one American, at Cape Mackay, some temperature of minus 35.6deg on May 48km on the other side of Windless 22 produced frozen pipes around the Bight. station. With Peter Cleary were the senior When the three hours of twilight in scientific officer, Thelma Rodgers the first two weeks of May were replaced (Christchurch), Alan Burt, science by complete darkness this month, the technician (Invercargill), Brent men of McMurdo Station settled down Trevathan, chef (Blenheim), Bob to await the eventual return of the sun. Geddes, mechanic (Nelson), and Mark They have nearly two months before it Baker, manager of the Berg field centre appears again. at McMurdo Station. For some of the party travel in temperatures below minus WARM APRIL 30deg, and sleeping in a polar tent Although April was one of the during a blizzard, were new experiences. warmest on record at Scott Base, the 12 lived up to its reputa New Zealanders there now have the tion for soft snow, which was belly deep same daily experience — darkness and on the dogs, and windless conditons. cold — as their American neighbours When the wind at Scott Base reached 70 just over 3km away. And their first two knots the party in Windless Bight had months of isolation brought high winds only 35 knots during the whiteout. On with peak gusts of 67 and 70 knots. A the journey home the dogs performed peak gust of 60 knots was also recorded well, covering about 48km in 6Vz hours in February. with a load of between 400 and 450 Late in February the sea ice broke out kilograms. in front of the base, leaving open water Cooking at Scott Base has been for the arrival of Emperor penguines, definitely a new experience for Brent killer whales, and Weddell seals. The Trevathan, except for the preparation of n=^v

ANTARCTIC June 1979 meals. There are few chefs anywhere Spencer Smith. They found two blow who have to dig snow away from the holes and two seals, one of them a yearl front of their deep freeze with a front ing. With a north-west wind the temper end loader. His freezer is a snow cave ature at the island was minus 40deg com 5.4m by 5.4m, and 1.8m high, cut into pared with minus 37deg at Scott Base. the ice 2km from the base. Enough food In April the few hours of twilight for 18 months is stored there, and any around noon turned the team's efforts needed for use has to be brought out to work inside. Much of the last week of three days before. the month was spent stock taking, and preparing tents, sledges, and food boxes LINGERING LIGHT for the summer field parties. Other tasks Ten pin bowling attracted several of included checking the fire alarm the New Zealanders to McMurdo systems, and collecting snow with a Station's alley during March. Those who front end loader for the snow melter. preferred to remain at home began their Some of the studies in the continuing winter hobbies which ranged from scientific programme can be made in model-making to pottery and painting. doors, but the auroral camera project Temperatures in March contrasted demands regular trips every three days to sharply with those recorded during the about 4.8km from the previous month. For February the base to change the film and check the in minimum temperature was minus struments. 19.3deg. In March it was minus 39.6deg, One of the laboratory technicians, and the maximum temperature dropped Ray Vincent (Greymouth) has had some from minus 1.8deg to minus 3.8deg. The exciting moments travelling from the average for February was minus 9.8deg, comfort of the base to Arrival Heights. and for March it was minus 21.1 deg. On some days he has faced low temper April is the month of long, lingering atures and winds up to 40 or 50 knots, twilight in Antarctica, and the gradual and visibility down to a few metres. drift into darkness after the last official SUN DEPARTS sunset on April 24, discouraged outdoor activities. The dog teams' runs were About the middle of April the sun left the base, and then disappeared below shorter, and limited to the early after noon twilight period instead of the even the horizon for three months on April 25. The Scott Base flag was lowered on ing darkness. April 24, the last day of sunrise before But on April 15 a dog team made a the approach of winter darkness, and one-day journey to White Island some the Americans and New Zealanders 27km south of Scott Base. The leader, celebrated the occasion with a party at John Presland, Peter Cleary, and the McMurdo Station. McMurdo Station doctor, Dr D. Four hardy souls had a different kind McMillan, went there to find out of celebration two days before — a whether the isolated Weddell seal quick dip in the chilly waters beneath the imitiiiBiiiiiii sea ice. Peter Cleary, Bob Geddes, surrounding ice at this time of the year. Allister Babington, the Post Office radio technician from Hamilton, and the FAST JOURNEY carpenter, Graeme Abernethy Travel was excellent with the (Papakura), cleaned the blade of a chain temperature above minus 35deg, and on saw by cutting a hole nearly a metre the hard, fast surface the dogs covered square in the sea ice, and then went for the distance in three hours. They made their swim, wearing only their under the return journey in the fast time of two pants. hours 40 minutes. April's temperatures gave a fair in During their overnight stay at White dication of what winter would bring Island the three men investigated several later. The minimum temperature for the miles of tide crack, and walked to Cape month was minus 47.7deg, the max- ^H ANTARCTIC imum dropped to minus 7deg, and the pean countries, and others in the team average was minus 21.5deg. are catching up on their reading. With colder weather, increasing Chess is one of the favourite activities darkness, and fewer outside tasks, of most of the winter teams in Antarc hobbies became the prime interest in the tica, particularly the Russians. Games team's spare time. Thelma Rodgers con are in progress between McMurdo Sta centrated on her pottery, using a potter's tion, Vostok, and the French station, wheel borrowed from McMurdo Station, Dumont d'Urville. Allister Babington is learning the guitar, and making a chess exchanging moves on the board with set from small glass bottles. Casey Station, and also applying his in Banjo playing, making model gliders, experienced fingers to the banjo strings. and talking to amateur radio operators Scott Base is now in complete in the world outside, have occupied darkness, but the team can look forward some of the spare time. Ray Vincent has to Mid-winter's Day, the appearance of been working on a radio-controlled the sun, and then late in August or early model glider, Maurice Challinor, the in September to the arrival of the first postmaster from Auckland, has made visitors bringing mail and fresh food. more than 700 contacts, mainly by Their isolation will end completely with Morse code, with fellow-hams in Ice the arrival of the first of the summer land, Britain, , the Soviet workers, both Americans and New Union, Hawaii, Guam, the United Zealanders, starting in October. States, Terra del Fuego, and most Euro McMurdo Station's new chapel As a winter project the men at chapel. Now, a country parish north of McMurdo Station have built a chapel to Christchurch has offered a pulpit from a replace Antarctica's first church — the city church, St Mary's, Merivale, for the tiny Chapel of the Snows — which was new chapel. destroyed by fire in the early hours of This pulpit comes from the original August 23 last year. Since 1956 the St. Mary's Church, which was built in original chapel had been a place of wor 1866. It has an Antarctic connection for ship for Americans who lived and Dr Edward Wilson attended a service at worked at McMurdo Station, and also St. Mary's before he left New Zealand to for New Zealanders at nearby Scott return home after Scott's first expedition Base. of 1901-04. Construction of the new chapel, In Christchurch Wilson stayed with which is planned to be ready for the Joseph Kinsey at his home "Warrimoo", 1979-80 season, is well advanced. There in Papanui Road, now replaced by is still work to be done on the building, motels. He recorded in his but a lay reader who takes the place of diary: Sunday, June 5, 1904. "Early ser- United States Navy chaplains in the vice with Ory (his wife Oriana) at winter, was able to conduct an Easter Merivale church." Day service on April 15. [ Only the chapel bell and small Klari, one of two Australian huskies religious items damaged by the names, from Mawson, now at Scott Base, has were recovered from the fire. One loss become a New Zealander - at least by was a Bible presented by the American name. She has been given the Maori evangelist Dr Billy Graham. name of Kiritea> which> in English> New Zealand churches have an in- means the fair one. An exchange of terest in the new chapel because for huskies between the two bases was made many years their ministers shared parish last season. Klari and Dick came from duties at McMurdo Station with United Mawson to Melbourne in the relief ship States Navy chaplains each summer, and Thala Dan, and then were flown to Scott conducted services in the original Base. ANTARCTIC 80 years of Mid-winter's Day celebrations Mid-winter's Day is the most important date in the Antarctic calen dar for the men and women of 11 nations who are wintering at the South Pole, and other inland and coastal stations this year. They celebrate the shortest day of the year because it marks for them the beginning of the end of darkness and isolation, and because they wish to carry on a tradition established in the early days of the Heroic Age of exploration. South of New Zealand the tradition with research and exploration there. In dates back 80 years. The 10 members of Christchurch a Scottish scientist, Dr R. the Southern Cross Expedition led by V. Birnie, of the University of Aber C. E. Borchgrevink, who were the first deen, who worked with the British An to winter on the continent at , tarctic Survey on South Georgia, was the celebrated their Mid-winter's Day on guest speaker at the dinner arranged by June 21, 1899. the Canterbury branch of the New On Ross Island even further south 12 Zealand Antarctic Society on June 22. New Zealanders, including one woman, The chairman, Mr R. L. Park, who has at Scott Base, and 71 Americans and one worked at Scott Base in past summers, Soviet exchange scientist at McMurdo presided over an attendance of more Station celebrated the occasion with for than 60. mal dinners and more informal activities. Among the guests were 91-year-old They also exchanged greetings with their Bill Burton, one of the two survivors of nearest neighbours — 16 men and a Scott's last expedition, the superinten woman doctor at the Amundsen-Scott dent of the Antarctic Division, D.S.I.R., South Pole Station. Mr R. B. Thomson, and Miss Margaret Scott Base had five American guests Lanyon, representing the United States for dinner on June 22 and they and the National Science Foundation. winter team enjoyed a superb meal In Wellington the Antarctic Society's prepared by the chef, Brent Trevathan, branch held its Mid-winter's Day func and then sat back to sip their after- tion on June 21. The chairman, dinner port. But the celebrations did not Squadron Leader W. L. Hopper, presid end with port. They were continued with ed over an attendance of 50, and the a sports meeting the next day in the guest speaker was the Minister of McMurdo Station gymnasium. Foreign Affairs (Mr Brian Talboys). Then on June 24 those who had not Among the guests were diplomatic wintered before went through an initia representatives of several of the Antarc tion ceremony modelled on the tradi tic Treaty nations. tional Crossing the Line ceremony held Once again former Antarcticians in aboard ships. Father Neptune came the "Deep South" and the "" ashore from the Ross Sea to preside. attended reunion dinners to mark Mid Behind his beard were the familiar winter's Day and bring together, men features of the Soviet exchange scien who have worked in the Antarctic. The tists, Dr Eduard Lysakov, who has spent third southern region reunion was held three previous winters in Antarctic at his at Queenstown on June 23. Many of own country's bases. those present had travelled hundreds of Mid-winter's Day is also celebrated in miles to attend, some from as far north New Zealand by men who have wintered as Christchurch. in Antarctica or have other associations Convenor of this year's reunion was ANTARCTIC

Mr W. R. Lucy, who went south first in commanded the Royal New Zealand the 1963-64 season, wintered at Scott Navy's two Endeavours, which provided Base in 1964, and was leader at Vanda in logistic support for the New Zealand 1969. His efforts brought together scien research programme between 1956 and tists, Scott Base support staff, and most 1972. of the 21 years of New Zealand Antarc This year the organisers of the reunion tic activity were represented. were, appropriately, a scientist and a There are many Old Antarctic Ex field assistant. They were Michael plorers, as they mockingly describe Chapman-Smith, a geologist who spent themselves, both north and south of three seasons in the Antarctic, the first Auckland where the O.A.E. reunion in 1969-70, and Michael Wing, who dinner was held. This year's mailing list went south first in the 1972-73 season, included scientists, support staff, leaders and was the dog handler at Scott Base in at Scott Base, and men who served in or the winters of 1973 and 1976.

Marie Byrd Land plant fossils A New Zealand geologist's discovery State University, for study and fossil of plant fossils in the Ruppert-Hobbs identifications. His preliminary results Coasts sector of late in indicate the age of the formations to be 1977 has been described in the "Antarc Middle Devonian (358 to 370 million tic Journal of the United States" as the years). most exciting event of the 1977-78 field Dr Grindley's collection was studied season. The fossils were found by Dr by D. C. Mildenhall. His preliminary G. W. Grindley, chief project geologist report suggested a relative age of Upper of the New Zealand Geological Survey, Devonian (345 to 358 million years.) who was a guest member of the United States team which made a geological survey of the Ruppert-Hobbs Coasts sector. Snow toads again In a report on the survey Dr F. Alton Wade, an authority on the geology of Snow toads, the Antarctic gremlins, Marie Byrd Land, who died last year, and a printers' strike, can take most of says that although the plant fossils were the blame for two annoying errors in the present only in erratics of carbonaceous March issue of "Antarctic". One trans argillite that rested on the granite surface ferred an island in the sub-Antarctic to of Milan Rock (about 79deg lmin Antarctica. S/140deg 20min W) in considerable numbers, they could not have been A fine photograph of one of the transported more than one or two kilo Bounty Islands on Page 329 was given a metres. From the characteristics and caption which referred to a geological bearings of the glacial striations on the formation in the northern Britannia granite outcrop, it appears that they Range between the Hatherton and Byrd were plucked from a sub-ice outcrop Glaciers. The caption should have ap located to the south-east of Milan Rock. peared beneath the photograph on Page 324. Even worse, the Britannia Range Four American geologists were present when Dr Grindley made his discovery. photograph was printed in reverse. One of them, John R. Wilbanks, of the Our apologies to Dr Donald Horning, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, also who took the island photograph, and Dr made a collection of plant forms. His Michael Selby, of the University of collection was submitted to James M. Waikato, who sent us the Britannia Schopf, of the Institute of Polar Studies Range photograph. We will try to keep and the Department of Geology, Ohio the snow toads in check. Mr-T-K VV. -1'"

ANTARCTIC Brigantine for Antarctic research After two research voyages to the and Torres Strait in the 18m yawl Solo the Australian Ocean Research Foundation wants to replace it with a 22m ice-strengthened auxiliary brigantine, mainly for Antarctic research. Dr David Lewis and his fellow-scientists and explorers, who established the foundation in 1977, have launched an appeal for $200,000 to buy a suitable, partly-completed hull now available in Sydney, and design a ship for oceanic research in the waters of the Pacific and the . Design requirements for the new ship, such as the life cycles of icebergs or pack which will be called ice. On occasion thc ship could winter in after Australia's greatest Antarctic ex a suitable Antarctic location like a plorer, call for a strengthened steel vessel Vestfold Hills fjord or in Wood Bay on with modern rig, of 60 to 100 tonnes dis the coast of . placement, a cargo capacity of 15 to 20 tonnes, and a 150 horsepower diesel ICEBERG ZONES engine. It will be designed to make As the Ocean Research Foundation 2500-mile passages to Antarctica with was founded to study the unique environ out refuelling, and other requirements ments of Antarctica, Oceania, and include accommodation for up to 24 Australian waters, the Douglas Mawson people, the strength to work in will be used for a wide range of projects reasonably free pack ice, laboratory such as investigations of the outer faces space, and electric power for simple of coral reefs on the Australian con laboratory work on location. The draw tinental shelf, rocks and shallows i ing reproduced here shows a staysail Heard and Macquarie Islands in the su schooner-brigantine rig with good fore Antarctic, and the iceberg zones of tl and aft sail area for windward work. Southern Ocean in late summer. Scien An initial programme of research tists would also bc able to study the covers the fields of geology, biology, maritime technologies of indigenous oceanography, anthropology, physi Pacific and South-east Asian peoples, ology, and logistics. Physiological especially methods of fishing and oversea research would include experiments with travel. Eskimos in the application of their When Dr Lewis led the Oceanic travel, fishing, and camping techniques Research Foundation's first Antarctic in Antarctica. expedition to the Balleny Islands in the Research work proposed for the 1977-78 season, landings were made on Douglas Mawson would call for offshore Sturge and Sabrina Islands. Rock and and onshore projects on islands and off soil samples were collected and brought coasts where landings and studies have back to Australia for more detailed ex not been completed because of difficulty amination, and logs were kept of bird or high costs of access by conventional and whale sightings. Results of the ex expeditions. Examples given in the pro amination of soil samples have disclosed gramme are the Balleny Islands, Mac- the presence of two thermophilous fungi donald Islands, Smith Island, and previously unrecorded in Antarctica. Bouvet Island. Dr D. Ellis, of La Trobe University, Other projects would involve remain who examined soil samples taken from ing for long periods in remote waters to the vicinity of an Adelie penguin rockery observe seasonal changes and effects on Sabrina Island, identified the two ANTARCTIC

thermophilous fungi, using a scanning Four Penicillium species (P. electronic microscope. Thermophilous spinulosum, P. verrucosum, var. fungi are virtually ubiquitous, but there cyclopium, P. enchulatum, and P. have been no previous reports of their chrysogenum) and Botrytis cincrea, oc occurrence in Antarctica. curred in the Sabrina Island samples, Dr Elizabeth Kerry, of the Botany and are possibly the first records of these Department, University of Melbourne, species in Antarctica. Penicillium species made microbiological studies of three dominated thc fungal flora of all three Sabrina Island soil samples for the soils, both in frequency of occurrence presence of bacteria and fungi. These and species diversity. were taken both from the surface and subsoil within the rookery, and from the Dr Kerry says that her study has demonstrated that thc soil microflora of surface about 8m from the edge of the thc Sabrina Island soils is similar to rookery. those of many other Antarctic soils. The FUNGI PRESENT dominance of fungal flora by Penicillium species is a feature shared In her report Dr Kerry says that with other Antarctic soils as well as those bacteria and fungi were present in all in warmer environments. three samples. Fourteen species of fila mentous fungi were identified. One Mossy growths (the only green objects sterile and therefore unknown Basidio- seen by the Solo's crew south of Mac mycete was isolated, and represents the quarie Island) were given to the National first record of this group in Greater An Herbarium in Melbourne for identifica tarctica. Basidiomycetes have, however, tion. Samples studied at the Australian been identified on the Antarctic Penin Museum contained many nematodes. sula. ANTARCTIC

Two types of jellyfish were collected when she was at 57deg S/158deg lmin E. close to Sturge Island by Dr P. B. On January 16 five more were passed by Donaldson, of the Research School of the yawl in the pack ice at 66deg S/ Chemistry, Australian National Univer 164deg E. Three minke whales were sity. The first was gathered 10cm below filmed diving in the pack for 10 minutes the surface in sheltered water rich in on the same day at 66deg 4min S/164 zooplankton (sea temperature minus deg E. 1.6deg C) 15m from rocks. On removal Three minke whales were sighted near from light, this 5cm long, compact, the pack ice early in January. One brown jellyfish showed rippling blue sounded near the Solo on January 5 at flashes of luminescence down its eight 64deg 4min S/164deg 7min E, and two ribs. were seen moving through the pack at Specimens of other jellyfish were also 66deg lmin S/116deg 3min E on collected from the surface in this area. January 8. This type has streamlined bodies 4cm to Three sei whales averaging about 6cm long with two long maroon, hair- 15.24m in length were sighted basking covered trailing tentacles 6cm to 10cm on the surface on January 19 when the long. Their clear bodies had eight un Solo was at 66deg 8min S/173deg 8min dulating maroon ribs which gave off E. They were frightened by the boat and rainbow flashes of colour by a diffrac porpoised away about 30km. tion effect. When the Solo was still near the pack On the Solo's voyage, beginning from ice on January 23 one minke was sighted Macquarie Island, to the Balleny Islands at 71 deg 3min S/170deg lmin E. The last and Cape Adare, Dr Donaldson con minke slowly porpoised across the ducted a detailed bird log, assisted by boat's bow in the open sea at 69deg other members of the expedition. 7min S/170 deg 7min E on January 24. Sightings of Chinstrap penguins on Sabrina Island and south of Macquarie Island support the view that this species seems to be expanding its range from the Women and work in other side of Antarctica. winter In addition, in the expedition's region A change in the United States Navy's of study, Antarctica fulmars appeared policy about women serving in Antarc to outnumber snow petrels by about tica may enable them to spend the winter three to one. This result is uncommon there. Women have worked with the for most areas of Antarctica. naval support force during the summer at McMurdo Station in recent years, but Only one Emperor penguin was signed (at least 100 nautical miles north of Cape they have not been allowed to accept Adare). Nesting Adelie penguins were winter assignments. noted on Sabrina Island, Buckle Island, Now the policy has changed to "per and Cape Adare. The chicks on the mit" assignments of "qualified women Balleny Islands were about three weeks volunteers to winter" on the continent in less developed than those in creches and 1980 "so long as appropriate funding is losing down on the further south but made available". Since 1974 four sunnier Cape Adare. American women have wintered at McMurdo Station, and there is a woman WHALE WATCH doctor at the Amundsen-Scott South A continuous watch for whales was Pole Station this winter, but all are kept aboard the Solo, and Dr Donaldson civilians. recorded 22 sightings between December 30, 1977, and January 24, 1978, in latitudes from 57deg 5min to 69deg 7min S. Six killer whales remained with the Solo for 15 minutes on December 30

;'^'^v*v •f-^^^rV)-"u'^-.l ::';:':; ANTARCTIC No attempt to recover Hercules No attempt will be made this season to and returned to service. recover a disabled United States Navy To confirm this opinion a team of ex Hercules aircraft abandoned about perts from the Navy and the aircraft 1060km from McMurdo Station in manufacturers flew in from McMurdo December, 1971. The recovery of the Station to the aircraft in the 1977-78 aircraft was considered by the National season. Expeditions Polaires Francaises Science Foundation and the Navy in the assisted the experts and a support team 1977-78 season after the successful re to reach the Hercules which is at a point, covery of three damaged Hercules air D59, on the traverse route. A skiway craft from in Wilkes Land dur was built near Dumont d'Urville by the ing the 1975-76 and 1976-77 seasons. French winter team. A second French On December 4, 1971, the fourth air support team was flown to the site from craft, No. 148321, was downed because McMurdo Station, and then made a its JATO system malfunctioned at 68deg traverse of D59 where it built a skiway. 20m S/137deg 31m E, about 225km in A temporary camp was established for land from Dumont d'Urville after it had the inspection team. resupplied a French traverse party. A recovery attempt was planned for United States aerial and French surface last season but was cancelled for opera observations over six years, knowledge tional reasons. Preliminary planning for of the actual damage to the aircraft, and next summer's programme does not pro experience gained in the recovery of the vide for the attempt to be made in the aircraft at Dome C, indicated that the 1979-80 season. abandoned Hercules could be repaired

Unexpected visitors to Pole Ten days after 18 Americans at the close to the safety level for air operations Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station had at the Pole. been left to their winter devices they had Cargo was landed aboard the Her unexpected visitors who brought 4kg of cules during its 40-minute stay, and mail, but stayed only 40 minutes. They Commander Morgan kept his engines were the crew of a United States Her running. Then the doors were shut, and cules which made an unplanned flight to the aircraft moved to the taxiway. But pick up a member of the winter team the man to be evacuated was almost left and bring him back to New Zealand. behind. No time had been allotted to After the last Hercules flight of the him to get aboard, and the Hercules had season to Pole Station on February 12 to make a half-circle to pick him up. one man decided he could not face nine Commander Morgan and his crew months' isolation. A request was made completed their mission in 24 hours for his evacuation, and one of two Her almost to the minute, including the six- cules aircraft which made the last hour flight between McMurdo Station scheduled flights of the 1978-79 season and the Pole. They left 16 men and one between Christchurch and McMurdo woman, Dr Michelle Raney, to await the Station continued on to Pole Station. arrival of another Hercules early in Commander W. Morgan, command November. ing officer of the Navy's VXE-6 Squadron, who ended three summers of Antarctic flying last season, made the unplanned flight. When he landed the Hercules on the South Pole skiway the temperature was minus 51deg Celsius, ANTARCTIC West German design for first base West German scientists and technicians who will man their country's first Antarctic research station on the Filchner Ice Shelf next year will live in an M-shaped system of tubes placed in tunnels under the ice. This summer an advance party of six with a mobile base station will be flown south by a Hercules aircraft of the West German Air Force Transport Command. The party's main task will be to choose the final location of the site for the new base, and mark out two 1097m ice runways for the expedition's two Twin-Otter aircraft. Equipment for the new base, which pilots, three engineers, a doctor, a radio will extend over about two-fifths of a operator, an electrician, a cook, and a hectare is expected to cost DM20 mil steward. In winter the base will be main lion. Establishment costs of the pre tained by a team of six to eight. fabricated base and its transport have Vehicles will include four snowmobiles been estimated at DM80 million to and five mobile base camps for teams of DM100 million, and West Germany pro up to six, five motor sledges, two tracked poses to spend about DM30 million a vehicles, freight sledges, and crevasse- year on research. bridging equipment. The base will also Satellite photographs and aerial recon have emergency rations, and a survival naissance have been used to decide on an raft containing clothing, fuel, ham approximate location for the station. mocks and food for 50 people for a fort The exact location has still to be decided, night. but reports suggest that it will be at least An ice-going cargo ship will take all as far south as 75deg and 45deg to the the materials and equipment for the base west. to the Antarctic in the summer of 1980. A Munich firm, Dorsch Consult, Sledges and tracked vehicles will haul which has been associated with the con the prefabricated sections to the foot of struction of the Alaskan oil pipeline, has the ice shelf. There they will be lifted designed the M-shaped tube system for 48m by crane and helicopter on to the the West German Ministry of Research shelf. and Technology. Each tube will be West Germany will also have a polar 6.45m high and 96m long. research ship for its comprehensive An One tube will accommodate the base tarctic research programme. This ship doctor, his sickbay, and sleeping has been designed by the Shipbuilding quarters for the base scientists and Research Institute in Hamburg, and will technicians. The second tube will contain be commissioned later this year. a miniature gymnasium, toilets, showers, To plan and direct the research pro sauna bath, laundry, office and radio grammes the Government has establish room, lounge, library and cinema, dining ed the Alfred Wegener Polar Research room, kitchen, pantry, garage, and Institute. No decision has been made yet workshop. Tube three will house the on its location, but Kiel, Hamburg, laboratories for atmospheric research, Bremen, and Munster universities have geophysics, geodesy, geology and offered it a home. glaciology, a dark-room, computer, electronics workshop, heating, water supply, power generator, and waste in cinerator. In summer the base will be occupied by 18 scientists and technicians, four

-^••*^.f-. %%%%% Calls for moratorium on all whaling When the International Whaling Commission holds its 31st annual meeting in London next month it will discuss another call for a moratorium on all commercial whaling of all species. This time the call comes from the United States, one of the 11 non-whaling nations represented on the commission, which now has 18 members. Similar proposals have been put for Panama, the Seychelles, and the United ward by Australia and the Seychelles. States. Australia has decided to cut out its only More support for some form of mora land-based whaling operation, and the torium is expected at next month's Seychelles seeks a ban on all commercial meeting. At previous meetings some whaling in the Indian Ocean. The United non-whaling countries have supported States wants all commercial whaling the recommendations of the commis suspended until population levels can be sion's scientific committee on quotas to determined with sufficient accuracy and conserve stocks of the unprotected confidence to avoid subjecting whale species. Also there has been concern that stocks to unacceptable risks. insistence on a moratorium might cause Calls for a 10-year moratorium on all major whaling nations such as Japan commercial whaling have been put to the and the Soviet Union to withdraw from commission since 1972 when the pro the commission and fish for whales posal was made first by the United Na unilaterally. tions conference on the human environ New Zealand, which rejoined the ment in Stockholm. The calls have not commission in 1976, has now decided to been accepted by the commission, but is support moves for a moratorium on all has responded to demands for reduced commercial whaling. The Minister of catch quotas to protect existing stocks, Foreign Affairs (Mr Brian Talboys) who and some species have been given com announced the decision last month, says plete protection. there are indications that the Soviet There was no proposal for a mora Union might end commercial whaling in torium to the 1977 meeting in Canberra a few years, and Australia is considering although President Carter sent a per a ban on the taking of whales in its sonal message reaffirming support for a Fisheries waters. 10-year moratorium. At the meeting in Dr Vyacheslav Zemsky, who headed London last year Panama, one of the the Soviet delegation to a meeting of the non-whaling nations, called for a mora scientific committee in California at the torium but dropped the proposal at the end of last year, has said that the Soviet last minute. There were claims by en Union plans to end its whaling industry vironmentalists that Japan, one of the within Five years, first in the North major whaling nations, had brought Pacific, and then in the Antarctic. The trade pressure to bear on Panama. seven whaling fleets have been reduced Acceptance of a moratorium requires to four, two in the North Pacific, and a three-quarters majority of members of two in the Antarctic (which took fish as the commission. At present there are well as whales). One fleet was excluded seven whaling nations — Japan, the from the North Pacific this season. Soviet Union, Australia, Norway, South Africa, , and Brazil. The non- whaling countries are Argentina, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, New Zealand, the , Mexico, ANTARCTIC BAS NEWS Geophysical cruises by Bransfield Geophysical and biological studies were made in Antarctic waters last season by scientists who worked aboard the Royal Research Ship Bransfield in the British Antarctic Survey's research programme. The Bransfield spent most of April on geophysical cruises in the Sea and to the north and north-east of the after she had relieved all the BAS stations. Field parties were supported by the two BAS Twin Otters, which operated from the United States Siple Station for a joint doppler satellite positioning (geoceiver) programme, and for glaciological work near the Ellsworth Mountains. The geoceiver team worked in nine localities, including the Shackleton Range, Pensacola Moun tains, and the Berkner Ice Shelf. This year 72 men are wintering at the Marguerite Bay. Fast ice still blocked five BAS bases. There are 13 at Faraday access to the old (Argentine Islands), 18 at Grytviken, 17 station. at Halley, 12 at Rothera, and 12 at Dr Laws spent three nights at Rothera Signy. Those who wintered last year, and the last of the summer visitors, ar and one at Fossil Bluff (the advance base rived home on the Bransfield, which reached Southampton on May 29. now nearly complete; and visited a By the end of January the Bransfield number of field parties. had relieved all stations except Rothera, Then the Bransfield returned to Fara Adelaide Island. The approaches to day and stood by to give assistance with Rothera were still blocked by ice. In building operations. The Governor of early February, the ship returned to the the Falkland Islands and High Com Falkland Islands and proceeded to Punta missioner of the British Antarctic Ter Arenas to pick up more summer visitors, ritory, Mr J. R. W. Parker, and his wife, including the BAS director, Dr Richard arrived there in H.M.S. Endurance at Laws. At the same time, Captain John the beginning of March. They were Cole handed over command to Captain shown round the station by Dr Laws, Stuart Lawrence, the Bransfield's co- who then transferred to the Endurance master, for the second half of the to return to the Falklands and so fly season. home. The Argentine ice-breaker San When the Bransfield returned to the Martin visited Faraday a few weeks west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula she later. spent three days at Faraday, Argentine Islands, before continuing south to GEOPHYSICAL CRUISES Adelaide Island, arriving at Rothera on After completing the relief operations, February 19. Unloading of cargo (which the Bransfield returned to Grytviken, included 1,000 drums of aviation fuel) South Georgia. She then undertook geo was interrupted by the presence of sea physical cruises in the Scotia Sea and to ice, but the intervals were used to trans the north and north-east of the Weddell port geomorphologists to localities in Sea, visiting Signy en route. This pro-

^H**:%£*: ^y^id^. ANTARCTIC

This dining room is part of the design for Antarctic living at Rothera, the new British Antarctic Survey station at Rothera Point on Adelaide Island. It was completed last summer and replaces the old Adelaide base. b.a.s. photo by d. j. Hill gramme which occupied most of April, spray. Measurements have previously and covered 4,574 nautical miles, was a been made in the Northern Hemisphere, continuation of the University of but little is known about the concen Birmingham's long-term Scotia Arc pro tration of this heavy metal south of the ject which was initiated in 1959-60. Equator. Minor engine trouble, intermittent Towards the end of April, the storms, and the presence of ice at the Bransfield paid final visits to Signy and end of the period limited what could be Grytviken, picked up the summer field done, but most of the programme was party from Bird Island, and then con completed very satisfactorily. While the tinued geophysical profiling north of Bransfield was sheltering briefly in South Georgia to Latitude 48° N. The , Laurie Island, her master four biologists who had been working was able to visit the Argentine station, on Bird Island, had been confined to Orcadas. base by severe weather for much of From January to March, a small March, but their season was very pro biological team led by Professor G. E. fitable. Fogg, of the University College of North Among the men embarked at Gryt Wales, Bangor, carried out a research viken were four who had been there for project from the Bransfield, measuring 28 months, and two Royal Engineers plant micronutrients in the water of the who had spent a few weeks there survey Southern Ocean, and relating them to ing the BAS jetty which is in need of the growth and distribution of phyto- repair. During the summer, BAS men plankton. They hope to compair their repaired the surface of the jetty which is continuous measurements of chlorophyll used frequently by visiting ships to take in the sea with those taken by the on water. This season, these included Nimbus-G satellite. Soviet and Polish marine research Earlier in the season, another ship vessels, and Soviet trawlers and tugs. board programme monitored the level of As usual, the two Twin Otter aircraft mercury in sea-water, as well as the continued to support field parties amount of mercury transmitted into the throughout the summer, though they lower atmosphere by the evaporation of were grounded by severe weather for ANTARCTIC

two weeks in mid-February. Damoy air ice itself and the origin of bottom water facility in Wiencke Island was closed at which forms a major constituent of the end of December, when summer ocean circulation. ferrying operations had been completed. A hot-water ice drill, developed by a Siple Station was the centre for air BAS man to sample sea water through craft operations for the British — United ice shelves, was tried out on the ice cap States doppler satellite positioning (geo near Rothera. It proved to be very suc ceiver) programme, and for glaciological cessful, penetrating 100 metres in 27 work near the Ellsworth Mountains. The minutes and providing a bore-hole 5cm geoceiver work was carried out in in diameter. December and early January in nine Throughout December, January and widely separated localities, including the early February, the Twin Otters also Shackleton Range, Pensacola Moun undertook systematic photo recon tains, and the Berkner Ice Shelf. naissance, while testing a Vinten 70mm In each area, co-ordinates were estab vertical air reconnaissance camera. The lished to an accuracy within 10m., and areas covered were James Ross Island these will provide accurate control and the adjacent mainland (Cape points for future mapping from satellite Longing), Marguerite Bay, and Ablation imagery, and tricamera air photography. Lake and Spartan Glacier in the George Gravity measurements were also taken at VI Sound area. This will provide valu each locality, thus linking existing grav able information for both earth and life ity networks in the Antarctic and closing scientists. On one flight, a relief pilot the network from New Zealand through was taken to the Argentine base, McMurdo Station and the Antarctic Marambio, on where he Peninsula to South America. boarded H.M.S. Endurance to return During the course of this work, the home. geoceiver team was able to visit Belgrano and Druzhnaya Stations, as well as VOLCANIC ROCKS American and Soviet field camps in the Four geologists who landed at Hope Dufek Massif. It returned to Rothera in Bay by the Bransfield in mid-December, mid-January together with two glaci spent more than two months working on ologists who had been ice-drilling and the sedimentary and volcanic rocks of coring for climatic studies near Siple sta the Trinity Peninsula, and a number of tion. off-lying islands (including some of the THICKEST ICE South Shetlands). They were assisted by Other glaciologists continued working the Endurance's helicopters. In mid- on the Rutford Ice Stream hinge-zone February they were flown by BAS air (near the Ellsworth Mountains) until craft to the Chilean base at Cape mid-February, and succeeded in measur Legoupil where three were picked up by ing deformation of the ice by tidal cur the Endurance, the fourth returning to rents. The ice in this area is at least Rothera for the winter. 1220m thick and, as far as it known, is The last field party were flown back to the thickest ice afloat anywhere. Elec Rothera on February 25, and the two air trical measurements, at direct current craft departed on March 2 to return to and radio frequencies, were used to gain Canada for their annual overhaul. further understanding of the electrical BAS men at Grytviken, South properties of ice for interpretation of Georgia, inspected the old whaling sta remote-sensing studies. tions in March and made an inventory of The programme to determine general the whaling records, so they could be movement of ice shelves and glaciers preserved as archive material. (The were continued. Oceanographic equip Government station records which were ment was also installed at the northern retrieved a few years ago by the late Dr ice front of George VI Sound to sample Brian Roberts, are now housed by the the environment at the bottom of an ice Scott Polar Research Institute in Cam shelf, to investigate the dynamics of the bridge.)

V:, ANTARCTIC

Journeys were also made to the Barff The IGY base had moved 8m from its Peninsula, where reindeer-hunting original position, the ice shelf in that parties managed to supplement Gryt- area now being more extensive than it viken's meat supply, and to the Hodges was in 1956. A station has been main Glacier where glaciologists checked their tained in that area, in spite of the pro measurement stakes. Routine pro blems of building on moving ice, as the grammes continued at the base. site is a key one for atmospheric and At Signy, , a geophysical studies. It is in the optimum wide range of biological projects, in position for high geographic and low cluding seal counts, the mapping of geomagnetic latitude, in the region of penguin colonies and diving pro maximum auroral activity. grammes were continued. The number of men working there more than doubled during the summer months. Local field work continued at Rothera East German base after the departure of the aircraft and the Bransfield. planned NEW LABORATORY East Germany plans to establish its Routine programmes also continued own Antarctic research station during at the Faraday and Halley geophysical the 1979-80 season. Groups of scientists observatories. At Faraday, the building from the German Democratic Republic project (construction of a new generator have taken part in Soviet Antarctic shed and large fuel tank) using 250 tons expeditions for a number of years, and of material, was completed. A new the GDR sent an observer to the annual ionospheric laboratory of heavily in meeting of the Scientific Committee on sulated aluminium, which was taken in Antarctic Research last year. to Halley by the Bransfield, is now being installed. The building is fitted with run European reports do not indicate ners and a jacking system so that it can where the base will be established. But it be kept above the snow surface. (The has been suggested that the research present ionospherics laboratory is now station will be at a coastal, rather than 15.25m below the surface.) inland, location on the continent. From Halley, three parties set out across the ice shelf in April to try to East Germany is also interested in reach the hinge-zone, 64km south of the Antarctic marine resources. It has joined base, where they hoped to locate a other fishing nations in the Southern buried fuel dump and erect a radar Ocean, and last season GDR vessels reflector for tuning the base meteoro were reported to be active in the waters logical radar. Unfortunately, pressure near South Georgia. ice precented them from reaching their destination, but all had good weather and enjoyed the trip. Tasmania, which has been associated The original Halley hut built at the with Antarctic exploration and research beginning of 1956 by the Royal Society since 1840, has plans for a feature film for the International Geophysical Year, to be made in Tasmania and Antarctica. recently floated out to sea when a por The Tasmanian Film Corporation has tion of the calved. For commissioned an Australian author, tunately, watch had been kept on the Alan Seymour, to undertake research developing cracks (including from the and development for the film. He is a Polarsirkel's helicopter, when the senior script editor with the Australian Norwegian expedition ship called in Broadcasting Commission, and is well- February), and the VLF hut at the IGY known for his play, "The One Day of base was transferred to the present sta the Year", a controversial look at Anzac tion site. Day. :,"rP n

,;,>^^i' tf:* v^'fSV' ANTARCTIC JARE REPORTS Japanese plans for new Construction of a new icebreaker to support Japanese Antarctic research expeditions has been approved by the Japanese Govern ment. The new ship will replace the Fuji, which has been in Antarctic service since the 1965-66 season, and is expected to be used by the 25th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition in the summer of 1983. The total cost is estimated at 25 to 30 billion yen, and one billion yen have been allocated towards construction in this financial year.

Design and operation of the new ice summer parties south. She had to re breaker, which will be larger and more main 40 nautical miles from Syowa Sta powerful than the Fuji, will be the tion, and all her cargo had to be responsibility of the Maritime Self- transported by her two Sikorsky S-61 Defence Agency under the direction of helicopters. Between January 5 and JARE Headquarters, which is headed by February 22 the helicopters made 278 the Minister of Education, Science, and flights and transported about 500 tonnes Culture. A committee of representatives of cargo. of government agencies and experts has After her departure from Tokyo on been organised to build the new ship. November 25 last year the Fuji's first Basic plans provide for the icebreaker call was at Freemantle from December to have a displacement of about 11,000 10 to 15 to load seven Australian-built tonnes, compared with the Fuji's 7,760 drifting buoys. These buoys were de tonnes. Her diesel-electric engines of ployed in the Southern Ocean between more than 30,000 h.p. will drive three December 17 and 23 as part of the First propellers, and give her a cruising range GARP Global Experiment (FGGE) of of 25,000 nautical miles at 15 knots. The the Global Atmospheric Research Pro Fuji has a range of 15,000 nautical miles, gramme (GARP) to obtain information and is equipped with an 11,900 h.p. on sea surface temperature and at diesel-electric engine. mospheric pressure on a world-wide Like the Fuji, the new icebreaker will scale. Data obtained by the buoys is still carry three helicopters. She will be able being collected through the Japanese to transport more than 1000 tonnes of geo-stationary satellite programme. cargo for JARE, and will have accom When off the Soviet station, modation for about 60 men on expedi Molodezhnaya, the Fuji entered the tions, and will carry a crew of 170. pack ice. The first helicopter flight was Facilities will also be provided for scien made on December 31 when the ship was tific observations, including marine- about 61 nautical miles from Syowa. meteorology, upper air weather studies, Eagerly awaited mail, fresh vegetables, oceanography (physics, chemistry, and other materials were flown to the biology, and geology) and upper atmos winter party of JARE-19. phere physics. Because of the bad ice conditions, the first priority for the helicopters was to BLOCKED BY ICE transport cargo. But one geological As in previous seasons the Fuji was survey party was dispatched to Kasumi- unable to penetrade the ice round East iwa Rock, about 80 nautical miles from Ongul Island last season when she took Syowa, and remained there from the 42 men of the JARE-20 winter and February 2 to 5. Artificial seismic ex- r^3mW^'^t M - ^ ' - i ' ■ ^T^^-W:^ ANTARCTIC ploration was carried out by a geophysics Nobody was hurt, and the damaged party on January 14 on the sea ice in aircraft was lifted by helicopter to the Ongul Strait near Syowa, and also on Fuji with two members of the aviation the continent where the crustal structure staff on February 21. The Fuji left the was studied after an explosion on ice edge, which had retreated during the January 23. cargo transport, on February 23. POLEX-SOUTH After leaving the ice edge the Fuji call One of the major programmes of ed at Port Louis, Mauritius, from JARE-20 is the POLEX-South project, March 8 to 15, and the JARE-19 winter which is a sub-programme of FGGE. A party returned to Tokyo by air. The Fuji three-year POLEX-South project began called at Singapore from April 1 to 8, last season at Mizuho Station, which is and returned to Tokyo on April 20 as about 300km south-east of Syowa on the planned with 12 men of the JARE-20 inland ice sheet. Mizuho has been main summer party led by Professor Yoshio tained continuously, and last winter it Yoshida. was occupied by parties of scientists sent During the summer the men of in rotation from Syowa. Observations JARE-20 participated in the first live were concentrated on the POLEX-South telecasts from Syowa to Japan between programme of air-ice energy interaction. January 28 and February 3. From Relief of the last of the JARE-19 par January 30 to February 3 the telecast ties began on January 8 when Dr Shinji was carried out every night for 40 to 60 Mae, glaciologist at the National In minutes. stitute of Polar Research, led a traverse These telecasts were planned by the from Syowa to deliver supplies and Japan Broadcasting Corporation make the change-over of staff. Dr Mae (NHK). A parabolic antenna with a and two colleagues had spent several diameter of 100m was erected at Syowa, weeks earlier in the season studying air- and TV signals were related to the In ice sheet interaction and other telsat IV over the Indian Ocean to the meteorological and glaciological Yamaguchi station of KDD (Kokusai parameters. When the party reached Denshin Denwa Co.) and from there to Mizuho it erected a meteorological Tokyo for national telecasting. observation mast 30m high on January 19 and began the installation of sensors. METEORITE SEARCH On January 23 the change-over of Three young scientists from the Na staff was completed, and five men of tional Institute of Polar Research took JARE-20 remained in charge of the part in the United States-Japan observations into meteorology, meteorite research programme last glaciology, upper atmosphere physics, season. Fumihiko Nishio, Kazuyuki geomagnetism, and human biology. Shiraishi, and Minoru Funaki, worked Another change of staff was made at the in the dry valley area from October to end of April, and the second traverse January. They collected 266 meteorite party was expected to return to Syowa fragments from the Allan Hills icefield, about May 5. and 44 samples from the Darwin Glacier PLANE DAMAGED area. Only one mishap occurred during the To clarify the mechanism of the con successful summer operation of centration of meteorites several scientists JARE-20. The Cessna-A185 aircraft have put forward the theory of a con brought for use at Syowa was damaged veyor belt effect of ice sheet flow. To during a heavy blizzard which lasted verify the hypothesis Nishio and an from February 8 to 9. The Cessna had American colleague made a triangulation been flown several times from the sea ice survey on the bare ice field near the runway near Syowa, and was tethered Allan Hills, installing stakes over a there when the blizzard apparently distance of 20km, and collecting ice loosened the guy wires, and the wing hit samples for age determination. The the ice. Japanese team also collected rock >K^m>WJvm*!^pTif^f-

ANTARCTIC

specimens for paleomagnetic studies, visited the Polish and Soviet stations — and made a geological survey. Arctowski and Bellingshausen — on the A specialist in the taxonomy of island. bryophytes, Dr Hiroshi Kanda, of the Organisation of JARE-21 is expected National Institute of Polar Research, to be completed this month. The leader joined the Chilean research programme is Professor Koshiro Kizaki, of Ryukyu as an exchange scientist under the An University, and the deputy leader is tarctic Treary last season. In January Associate Professor Sadao Kawaguchi, and February this year he collected of the National Institute of Polar samples of moss and lichen near Research. The former will be aboard the Presidente Frei Station on King George Fuji, and the latter will winter at Syowa Island in the South Shetlands. He also next year. SANAE NEWS New five-year research programme A comprehensive review of South African scientific activities in Antarctica and on the sub-Antarctic islands in the five-year period 1978-82 has been made by the South African Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research. The review, published at the end of last year, classifies the scientific programme under the five headings of solar terrestrial physics, earth sciences, biology, meterology, and environ mental monitoring. South Africa's new programme has multi-disciplinarymulti-disciplinary multi-instutionalmulti-instutional basis been planned in relation to its new to maketo make better better use use of of experienced experienced geo-geo research and supply ship. The Agulhas, logical manpower. Participation in the which went into service last year, has programmeprogramme will will be be soughtsought fromfrom univer-univer more passenger space, and is equipped sities sities as as well well as as from the Geological with two helicopters. For the first time it Survey,Survey. gives South African oceanographers regular access to the waters of the Whl,eWhile the the geol°gy geology programme programme will Southern Ocean. It has also made pos- formform a a maJor major component of the earth sible a completely new approach to field sciencessciences effort, effort, closely closely relatedrelated program-program work in the earth sciences in Antarctica.mes mes in in glaciology, glaciology, geophysics, geophysics, and In the past the earth sciences pro survey and mapping, will be undertaken lamine has been undertaken by a small simultaneously. Glaciologists will con number of scientists who have had to tinue studies of the Finbul Ice Shelf on which Sanae has been built, and of the spend about 14 months away from South Africa to do a maximum of 60 days of inland ice. Geophysical surveys will be active field work in the spring and early made on selected areas, and surveyors summer. Now with the logistic support will produce 1:50,000 base maps of the of the Agulhas the field work can be area between 6deg W and 2deg E, and done during summer seasons, and an in 71 deg and 74deg S. creased number of experienced scientists Changes have been made in the bio will be able to work in Antarctica and be logical section of the proposed fourth away from South Africa for only three five-year Antarctic programme because or four months. of increased awareness of the importance As a result SASCAR has decided that of the living resources of the Southern the new programme will be run on a Ocean. More emphasis has been given to ANTARCTIC the study of the ocean components of plankton, shellfish, pelagic fish, sea the Marion and Prince Edward Island weed, and birds' eggs. system. The terrestrial component of the Five South African research groups programme has been limited to the contribute to international studies in the Prince Edward Islands group, and bio field of solar terrestrial physics. The An logical work on Gough Island has been tarctic programme is a major part of the limited to seal research. national programme, and extends to the In addition to this, research has been Antarctic and to Marion Island the planned on the island animals during the ground-based observations made in large part of the year which they spend South Africa, and supplements these at sea, on other pinnipeds, and on the with the occasional series of observations general productivity of the Southern from ships and aircraft in the Southern Ocean between South Africa and Ocean. Antarctica. The programme has been Programmes planned for research at designed in such a way that together Sanae and on Marion Island cover a with the Southern Ocean programme, wide range. They include ionosphere now being developed, it will form a con and airglow observations, measurement tribution to international research in the of the intensity variations of cosmic rays area, especially BIOMASS (Biological at Sanae, in South Africa, and on the Investigations of Marine Antarctic Agulhas during her regular relief Systems and Stocks). voyages, studies of cosmic radio noise South Africa's environmental absorption, and the investigation of monitoring programme, which consists possible mechanisms whereby solar ac mainly of thc monitoring of pollution in tivity may influence the weather. Scien the atmosphere and marine environ tists will also study auroral emissions, at ment, will be extended to the sub- mospheric electricity, whistlers, and the Antarctic. Marion Island is generally ac propagation of VLF emissions. cepted as sufficiently isolated and un- Sanae is one of the chain of stations contaminated to bc the most suitable site having the same geomagnetic latitude, available to South Africa for providing the others being Halley, Siple, and baseline reference data in environmental General Belgrano. These stations have a pollution concentration levels in the pre-arranged schedule for ground-based Southern Hemisphere. recording of whistlers. Active collabora A limited initial programme of atmos tion on this and other projects is under pheric monitoring on Marion Island has way with groups in Britain, the United been planned as the first stage of a long- States, France and Canada, on ground- term programme. The pollutants to be based and satellite observations. measured are the trace metals, hydro Meteorological activities in the South carbons, carbon monoxide, and halo- African Antarctic research programme genated hydrocarbons (freon). have been concentrated on the provision of the most complete surface and upper MARINE POLLUTION air data sets possible from the three Marine pollution monitoring will be meteorological stations at Sanae, carried out as a co-operative effort be Marion Island, and Gough Island. These tween the mammal research, marine routine surface and upper air observa biology, ornithology, and environ tions will be continued, and research will mental monitoring programmes. The be carried out on the variation of the in Mammal Research Institute, University tensity of the Southern Hemisphere cir- of Pretoria, is interested in the deter cumpolar vortex, and its effect on the mination of organo-chlorine and heavy weather over southern Africa. Another metal pollution levels in Antarctic and objective will be to promote the acquisi sub-Antarctic seals as part of the An tion of meterological observations from tarctic mammal research programme. the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans by Also the marine pollution section of the means other than fixed land stations, National Programme for Environmental such as ships, drifting or anchored Sciences is interested in such levels in buoys, and satellites. ANTARCTIC Polish research in South Shetlands Since Poland decided to establish its first permanent scientific sta tion in the Antarctic — — in the South Shetlands, the Polish Academy of Sciences has sent three expeditions south. The first was responsible for the construction of the station, which was opened on February 26, 1977. Since then Polish scientists have carried out of a wide range of research projects in such fields as meterology, oceanography, marine biology, geology, and geophysics. In the 1976-77 season the first expedi integrated study of Ezcurra Inlet in the tion arrived from Gydnia in the Dalmor Admiralty Bay area. The work also and Zabrze to build the station on the covered the study of bottom sediments, west coast of Admiralty Bay, south of bathymetric sounding, and bottom map Point Thomas, King George Island. Con ping. Marine biologists studied the struction of the station began on marine ecosystem, and made population February 1, 1977, and was completed by studies of plankton, including krill March 26. A winter party of 19 men re (Euphausia superba) and benthos. mained to carry out work in the fields of A preliminary study and helicopter meteorology, marine biology, human reconnaissance of glaciers around Ad physiology, and geomorphology. miralty Bay were made as a background Dr S. M. Zalewski led the 1977-78 ex for planning further glaciological re pedition, which included a scientific search. As part of the geomorphological party of 36, and a technical party of the work a map (scale 1:25,000) was compil same number. The scientific party was ed for the station and its surroundings, divided into an oceanography and and detailed topographic maps were biology group under Professor J. Dera, made (1:25,000 and 1:1000) of selected and an earth science group under Pro areas round the station. fessor K. Birkemajer. The technical Geological research concerned the party included a construction group study of sedimentary and volcanic suc under Engineer L. Rosciszewski (deputy cession, mainly of Tertiary age, and its leader of the expedition) and marine structure in the area between Ezcurra transport group under Commodore R. Inlet and Bransfield Strait. A geological Firlej. map was prepared (scale 1:50,000) which This expedition, which went south in covered about 100 square metres. Five the Antoni Garnuszewski, worked in the marine sediment horizons with fossil Admiralty Bay area from December 20, plant remains were recognised and 1977, to March 15, 1978. Scientists in the sampled for further palaeobotanical winter party of 19 led by Dr Zalewski work. continued the research programme. A geophysical observatory was built Summer biological research on land by the geophysical group for continuous included studies of the breeding cycle at recording of the earth's seismic and the Point Thomas and "Llano Point" magnetic field changes. It came into use (unofficial name) rookeries of Adelie, on March 8 last year. Chinstrap, and Gentoo penguins. Pop In the 1978-79 season the Antoni ulation estimates were made of elephant Garnuszewski took 141 members of the seals, fur seals, and Weddell, crabeater, third expedition to King George Island. and leopard seals. This work was con Twenty-nine members of the expedi tinued in the winter. Other activities in tion are spending the winter at the cluded scuba diving in Admiralty Bay. station. There are 10 scientists and 19 Oceanographic research included an support staff.

•-T- /i->**.~"£i>*7i; ANTARCTIC POLAND'S FIRST STATION

'^7 I

• ■;--^jr-

A view of Arctowski Station on King George Island, South Shetlands which is Poland's first permanent Antarctic research station. It was established in the 1976-77 season at Port Thomas on the south side of the entrance to Ezcurra Inlet in Admiralty Bay. The photograph was taken by Roger Waite, an English-born New Zealand marine biologist who worked at the station last summer. J-J/ >i- ANTARCTIC June 1979 Addition to French yacht crew South Georgia's first baby was born Georgia, and it was duly recorded by the on April 15 this year at Leith Harbour, BAS station commander at Grytviken in one of the deserted whaling stations on his capacity as magistrate. Although a the island. The parents are Jerome and number of families with young children Sally Poncet, the husband and wife crew lived at King Edward Point, Grytviken, of the French yacht Damien II, which when the Falkland Islands Government wintered in Marguerite Bay last year. station there was in operation, no Jerome and Sally Poncet, who put children were born on the island. their yacht in dry dock on , Damien II is now in the Falklands, spent part of their time in Marguerite and the Poncets intend to sail her to Bay at the old British Antarctic Survey Tasmania. She is one of four French station on Adelaide Island. They left the yachts which sailed along the west coast area in February and called at Faraday of the Antarctic Peninsula last season. (Argentine Islands) at the beginning of The Kotick and Champi also put in to March before proceeding to South South Georgia. Georgia. After visiting BAS friends at Grytviken A fourth yacht, Isatis, which made a voyage from Lyttelton, New Zealand, to they went on to Leith Harbour where Palmer Station in December and Janu °-lly gave birth to a boy, Dion Michael ary, also sailed along the coast, and call vi.amed after the in ed at Faraday. The crew, Jean and Marguerite Bay). All went well and the services of the BAS doctor were not re Claudine Lescure, and Claudine's quired. brother, Jean-Marie Pare, spent several days climbing on the mainland near the This was the first birth on South Argentine Islands. Fines for Antarctic parking

Parking bodies, not vehicles, has been This winter's team was one of the first made illegal at Scott Base this winter, New Zealand groups to begin raising and offenders have been fined, but in a money for the telethon appeal. They in good cause — the national telethon ap vited their American neighbours to a peal for the International Year of the fund-raising party towards the end of Child conducted by South Pacific February. Then a casino night and bar- Television. Twelve New Zealanders at beque produced $250 in "fines", and Scott Base, and 71 Americans and one brought the Antarctic fund to $605, Soviet exchange scientist, at McMurdo which represents $7.20 a head of Ross Station have provided more than $600 in Island's winter population. fines for the New Zealand Antarctic Research Programme contribution to the appeal. A television documentary film on the Several hundred New Zealanders who construction of the new base for the have worked at Scott Base or visited it, South African National Antarctic Ex even as far back as 1959, were reminded pedition (SANAE) in this month that the parking regulations was made last season by the South had been applied to them restrospec- African Broadcasting Corporation. The tively. They received an elaborately- television team of Nigel Brown (pro drawn summons calling on them to pay ducer), Chris Visserand Nick Oosthuizen a fine of not less than $1 by June 30 for (cameramen) and Max von Bellow "illegally parking their bodies" at Scott (sound recorder) spent 14 weeks at the Base. present Sanae Station.

;JW H ">y\«.?: ^^^H ■<&' I ^H • ANTARCTIC Problem of visitors to historic huts Although the condition of the three historic huts on Ross Island is generally sound, the deterioration of supplies in them because of handling by visitors remains a problem. Two caretakers from the New Zealand Antarctic Society, who worked for three weeks at , , and Hut Point last season, found that the pro blem related to the more than the others because of its location and the number of visitors. In their report they suggest that greater control and supervision of visits to the hut might be needed in the future. Each summer since 1969 two caretakerscaretakers raised raised the the ceilingceiling several caretakers from the society have worked inches,inches, andand secured it with wire in the on the huts for the Antarctic Division, north-westnorth-west corner. corner. But But they they suggest suggest fur-fur Department of Scientific and Industrial therther bracing bracing above above the the ceiling ceiling so so itit couldcould Research, which is responsible for their bebe secured secured from from above,above. maintenance and preservation. Last season was the eighth in which members MEMORIAL CROSS of the society have worked on the huts MEMORIAL CROSS prosject. No caretakers went south in AfterAfter they they had had completed completed work work onon the the 1975-76 season because of lack of air DiscoveryDiscovery huthut thethe caretakers inspected transport. the memorial crossthe memorial to George cross to George Vince, Vince, the the Messrs Clive Patterson and John seaman who died at the beginning of Oliver, of the Canterbury branch of the Scott's first expedition. They also work society, who flew south on December 14, ed on the jarrah timber cross erected in began their work at Hut Point on 1913 on Observation Hill in memory of December 15. One of their first tasks Scott and his companions on the South was to remove a small amount of snow Pole journey. from the hut's false ceiling, and from Vince's cross, now 77 years old, is still tools, sledge parts, and stores in the in good condition. Because it has been south-east corner. To protect the reset in the ground the caretakers sug "weak" floor structure they placed the gest that a check should be made to see visitors' book on a large upturned box that the base is secure.Last season's mild about 1.8m away at the base of a main conditions softened the surrounding rafter support. Usually visitors con ground. gregate around the book, subjecting the On Observation Hill the caretakers floor to additional weight. replaced four of the bronze bolts which Necessary repairs and maintenance hold the vertical components of the were required in the hut, but generally cross together. A chisel was used to its conditions, especially the exterior, obliterate as well as possible the word was better than expected. The biggest "Paul" carved with a sharp instrument problem is the condition of the false ceil into the wood of the cross next to the ing inside the hut. It was pulled down to last word ("yield") of the inscription. a lower level by parties using the hut in [Only a few weeks after the graffito had the days of Scott and Shackleton so they been removed two sets of initials were would have less space to heat. found scratched on the cross.1 In more recent times the ceiling has Visually the locality of the cross has dropped further in several places, largely been improved considerably as a result because of its own weight, and par of the work done by the caretakers and ticularly in the north-west corner. The Garth Varcoe, buildings officer, Antarc- ANTARCTIC tic Division, who worked at Scott Base ned. There are no wallboards along this last season. Loose wire and steel plate in part of the north wall, and the ice is an front of the cross, and nearby rubbish, integral part of the structure. If it was were removed, and a number of rocks removed the stacked fodder bales would was placed round the base. tend to deteriorate faster, and their com A bronze plaque with inscriptions in plete collapse would be hastened. four languages — English, French, Rus Because a sufficient area has been sian, and Spanish, has been wired to the cleared to give a good impression of the base of the cross for several years. The stables and their construction, the caretakers in the 1977-78 season sug caretakers suggest that the three stalls at gested it could be better sited on a sound the west end should be left full of ice. flat rock nearby. Mr Varcoe removed They say that this remaining ice-filled the plaque and its stand, and relocated it area creates a lasting'aura by preserving about 4.5m to 6m north-east of the the effect time has had on the past. cross. A close examination of the south wall SNOW AND ICE of the main hut was not possible because Before the caretakers travelled to of the presence of considerable snow Cape Evans by dog team with the Scott and ice. The wall did not appear to re Base dog handler on December 22, they quire urgent attention, and the care spent three days at the base doing a sur takers feel that excavation could lead to vival course and "house mouse" duties. the deterioration of supplies, and They worked on Scott's hut until perhaps the wall itself through freeze- December 30 when a United States Navy thaw conditions. helicopter took them to Cape Royds. SLOPE EROSION Like their predecessors and previous Suggestions have been made by caretakers Messrs Patterson and Oliver previous caretakers that a retaining wall spent some time removing snow and ice be constructed to stop erosion of the from the stables, and improving their weather proofing. They also painted the slope in front of the hut latrines caused roof (main hut, stables, annex, and cold by visitors walking in the loose scoria. Undermining of the latrines is not an im porch, using 24 litres of paint, which was mediate problem; it will become a reality sufficient for all but about 18m of the with an increasing number of visitors. west end of the stable roof. Both caretakers agree with earlier sug When the caretakers had removed all the snow which had gathered since the gestions that a wall made of synthetic 1977-78 caretakers' clearance — not as bags filled with scoria and set into the slope could be constructed without too much as might be expected — they much difficulty although the task would removed ice from the stable once oc be time-consuming. The wall should not cupied by the mule Khan Sahib, and to a be a major barrier but designed to lesser extent from Gulab's stall. reduce the rate of erosion. STABLE PROBLEM When the caretakers arrived at Cape Generally the state of the main hut at Royds on December 30 they found the Cape Evans was very good, but the interior and exterior of Shackleton's hut stables are still the biggest problem. The to be in good condition. They tidied up caretakers hope that their work on the the interior and cleaned the windows. south-east wall will be reasonably suc Rubbish such as smoke canisters, beer cessful in keeping snow from that cor cans, etc. was collected from the sur ner. But there are big gaps between rounding area, and non-combustible many boards forming the north wall, material was brought back to Scott Base and some seem to be missing. on January 5. The false ceiling of A careful examination of the north Mawson's laboratory was checked, and east corner of the stables suggests that found to be free of scoria. no more ice should be removed from this One of the jobs set down for the visit end unless major reconstruction is plan to Cape Royds was the painting of the

S^»I^K«^^% '.:M 'WPP* ANTARCTIC hut roof. All available paint had been iron top plate that was already leaning used on the roof at Cape Evans, how against the wall behind the stove. ever, and no more paint was available or Apart from a Western Record No. 12 a helicopter to transport it. But the roof shotgun cartridge found about 274m tarpaulin is in reasonably good condi from the hut no new relics were located tions, and not in urgent need of painting at Cape Royds. This cartridge was plac and repair. ed with several others on a shelf inside Two coats of neatsfoot oil were ap the hut. plied to a leather pony harness hanging MANY VISITORS on the inside of the west wall of the hut. This was very dry, and much of it was There were supply visits to Cape cracked and brittled. The caretakers sug Evans by a motor toboggan and an gest a regular treatment of the harness American helicopter, but the caretakers each season to reduce the effects of the had no other visitors at either Cape dry atmosphere. Evans or Cape Royds during their stay. LAKE LEVEL But the visitors' book show that from Monitoring of the level of December, 1977 to December, 1978, was another task for the caretakers at more than 700 people visited the three Cape Royds. As a result of one or two huts. mild days before they left for Scott Base While the caretakers were at Hut on January 5 the level had dropped Point most of their visitors were several inches although about 50 to 60 Americans from McMurdo Station, who per cent of the surface was still covered came to look through the Discovery hut, by snow and ice. and photograph and sketch it. Between A marker placed in December, 1976, January 11 and December 14 last year by that season's caretakers, was located 345 people had signed the visitors' book. and found to be 9m from the present From December, 1977 until the care shore level at the north-east end, and the takers arrived on December 22, 1978, water depth was about 27.9cm. The 208 people had signed the visitors' book marker was painted with one band of in the Cape Evans hut. Between green paint. Its top was about 29.8cm December, 1977 and December 30, 1978, above the water level. the book at Cape Royds had been signed Last season's marker pipe (distin by 176 visitors. guished by two green bands) was placed A postscript to the caretakers' report at the water's edge (January 1, 1979). Its was added a month after their return to top was 36.7cm above the water level. New Zealand by Baden Norris, who was Few new relics were located during the appointed by the Antarctic Division as a caretakers' work on the huts, and their guide to the historic huts for the cruise recovery was given second priority to the ship Lindblad Explorer's visit to work programme. But on the floor of McMurdo Sound. Khan Sahib's stall near the blubber stove In 1963-64 Mr Norris was one of the the caretakers recovered a type of ice axe four members of the Antarctic Society or pick. led by Eric Gibbs, who cleaned up and No similar type of axe was seen among restored the Discovery hut, which was other relics at Cape Evans or Cape almost filled with snow and ice. This Royds. The axe was photographed, year he flew south on February 2 and on measured, and its location recorded. It is the morning of the next day he spent five now behind the inner door to the main hours at Hut Point. It was his first visit hut. to the Discovery hut since February, A hot plate, ring plate, and poker, 1964, when the restoration was almost were found lying near the original hearth completed. around the blubber stove. The hot plate Mr Norris found that the hut was as and ring did not seem to belong to the sound as it was when his party cleaned it existing stove, but fitted into the large out. The interior was tidy and well-kept. ANTARCTIC

Because the Lindblad Explorer was passengers to be escorted to the hut by delayed by bad weather on her way to Mr Norris. They entered the building McMurdo Sound Mr Norris was unable alone. to join the ship when she was at Cape Royds on February 10, and passengers Later Mr Norris showed between 110 were able to see only the surroundings of and 120 passengers and crew members the hut when they went ashore. He was around the hut in groups of about 15 at landed by helicopter at Cape Evans in a time. A West German television unit the early hours of February 11, and was headed by Franz Lazi filmed Sir Peter picked up by a Zodiac rubber boat from Scott in the hut, and during his interview the Lindblad Explorer after she had an he complimented the New Zealand An chored off the cape. tarctic Society and the Antarctic Divi sion for the work they had put into the Sir Peter Scott, son of Captain restoration of the hut. Scott, and his wife, were the first THE READER WRITES Sir,—Most of the books in the Canter the Weddell Sea, Wilkins wrote to Whit- bury Museum's polar library are about combe and Tombs, the Christchurch exploration and research in Antarctica, booksellers and publishers, for a selec and the navigators, explorers, and scien tion of books for the ship's library. tists who have been south since the days of Cook, Bellingshausen, Ross, Wilkes, Wilkins was not concerned with titles, Dumont d'Urville. One book, r, says nothing about Antarctica cmiiuugh it made three voyages south, Wyatt Earp. The late Mr A. H. and its readers included two noted ex Johnstone, a noted New Zealand book plorers, and Sir collector, who knew Wilkins, chose the . books himself, and included "Blood Royal" as one of the popular novels at This book is a novel, "Blood Royal", that time. by an English writer, Dornford Yates, who was well-known in the 1920s and Ellsworth's first attempt to fly from 1930s. It bears the name of the author, the Bay of Whales to the Weddell Sea and a brief inscription: "This book was failed. His aircraft, Polar Star, was made by Dornford Yates but sailed with landed on the bay ice in January, 1934, his betters." and made a successful trial flight. But a gale broke up the ice and crushed the How "Blood Royal" went to Antarc Polar Star so extensively that the at tica from New Zealand and back again, and later to England and South Africa, tempt was abandoned. is a story which begins and ends in In September, 1934, the Wyatt Earp Christchurch. The novel was one of the sailed again from Dunedin, but this time books in the small library aboard the to off the Antarctic Wyatt Earp, the 400-tonne Norwegian Peninsula. Persistent bad weather herring boat used by Lincoln Ellsworth prevented the attempt to fly from the on each of his three attempts to cross Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea, but Antarctica by air. Dundee Island, on the eastern side of the Sir Hubert Wilkins, who made the first peninsula, was selected for a third at aircraft flight in Antarctica more than 50 tempt. years ago, was Ellsworth's technical Success came in 1935 when Ellsworth assistant and virtual second-in- and his pilot, H. Hollick-Kenyon, flew command. While the Wyatt Earp was at from Dundee Island on November 23. Dunedin in November, 1933, preparing They made four landings on the flight, for the voyage to the Bay of Whales and on December 5 reached the northern from where Ellsworth planned to fly to end of Roosevelt Island, only 25km ANTARCTIC south of the Bay of Whales. The Polar signatures of 16 members of the expedi Star's 466 gallons of petrol were com tions, among them , who pletely exhausted. flew Byrd to the South Pole 50 years ago, Chris Braathen, Sverre Strom, and On December 9 Ellsworth and Hollick- a New Zealander, Alfred Robinson, who Kenyon left their fifth camp and set off had all served with Byrd's expeditions. for Little America, Byrd's base for his 1928-30 and 1933-35 expeditions. They Later Mr Johnstone decided that reached the base on December 15, and English publishers might be interested in settled down in the radio shack to await the travels of the novel. So he sent it to the Wyatt Earp as arranged. Mr Percy Hodder-Williams, head of Hodder and Stoughton in London. He But the failure of the Polar Star's in turn sent it to Major William Mercer radio transmitter early in the flight (Dornford Yates) who was then living in prompted the Australian Government, South Africa. supported by the British and New Forty years ago "Blood Royal" came Zealand Governments, to send a relief back to New Zealand for the last time. It expedition. On January 15, 1936, the remained in Mr Johnstone's collection Royal Research Ship Discovery II reach which came eventually to the Canter ed the Bay of Whales and picked up the bury Museum. When the polar library two men. Three days later the Wyatt was opened in 1977 as part of the Na Earp arrived. tional Antarctic Centre it assumed its After the last expedition Wilkins sent rightful place with Antarctic literature. "Blood Royal" back to Mr Johnstone Yours etc., as a token of appreciation. It carried the "JAMES PIGG" Argentine proposals for polar air route Argentine interest in the development of a commercial air route between Europe, Australia, and New Zealand over the South Pole has revived again. A feasibility study of the route was made in 1973 for Argentina's national airline, Aerolineas Argentinas, by an Argen tine Air Force Hercules which flew from Buenos Aires to Canberra and back, crossing Antarctica, and refuelling at Christchurch and the Air Force base, Vicecomodoro Marambio, on Seymour Island off the Antarctic Peninsula. In 1977 the question of an Argentine ed the proposed passenger and freight air link with New Zealand was raised by service, according to Dr Zapata. He said the Argentine Ambassador (Dr Rodolfo it was hoped that eventually Air New Zapata). Before he returned home early Zealand would fly to Buenos Aires. The this year after his two-year term in New proposed Argentine service would be Zealand Dr Zapata announced that the operated with DC-10 aircraft, and in New Zealand Government had agreed in itially there would be one flight a week. principle to a service by Aerolineas Aerolineas Argentinas proposed to fly Argentinas between Buenos Aires and from Buenos Aires by way of Vice Christchurch. comodoro Marambio in the summer. Representatives of Aerolineas Argen There are two air strips at this Air Force tinas and Air New Zealand have discuss base, both with a graded earth surface. amu

ANTARCTIC June 1979 One, 2399m long, has aluminium mat Air Force Hercules made the first flight ting. It is used by Hercules aircraft in over the South Pole from Argentina to Antarctic operations, but would be un Australia. It left Buenos Aires for Vice suitable for DC-lOs. In winter the comodoro Marambio on December 4, DC-lOs would fly direct to Christchurch and arrived at Canberra on December 6. from the international airport at Rio On December 8 it flew from Canberra to Gallegos in the south of Argentine Christchurch, and took off to Vice Patagonia. comodoro Marambio on December 9. There is no bilateral aviation agree From Seymour Island it flew to Rio ment between New Zealand and Argen Gallegos and on to Buenos Aires. tina at present. Such an agreement Two Hercules aircraft flew over the would be necessary before the service same route early in December, 1974. On planned by Aerolineas Argentineas the flight from Christchurch to Vice could be inaugurated. comodoro Marambio the aircraft stop As the new route might be uneconomic ped at McMurdo Station for three at present the service would probably be hours. One flew first to Christchurch operated in the early stages by the over the South Pole from Vicecomodoro Argentine Air Force after discussions Marambio. It was joined at Christ with Air New Zealand. To pioneer new church by the second Hercules which routes the Air Force runs a special air had flown from Sydney after a 22-day line, Lade, which is staffed partly by instructional flight to countries round civilians, and has military air crews. the Pacific with officer cadets from the Argentine Air Force Academy. Early in December 1973, a long-range Search for Strategic minerals Research for strategic minerals on the of the trough between and Antarctic Peninsula was carried out by Duse Bay, and forms the southern por- Argentine scientists last season, accord- tion of the north-east extremity of the ing to a report in the Buenos Aires news- Antarctic Peninsula. It is at 63deg 30min paper, "La Nacion". A map printed in S/57deg W, and was discovered by the the newspaper showed the area of Swedish Antarctic expedition, 1901-04, research as the Tabarin Peninsula at under Nordenskjold. It was charted in 63deg S/56deg W 1946 by the Falkland Islands Dependies An elaborate programme of mineral Survey, and named after Operation research and exploration had been plan- Tabarin, the naval code name for FIDS ned by Fabricaciones Militares, the fr°m 1943 to 1945. Argentine national military equipment manufacturing organisation in col- \J S research COStS laboration with the Argentine Antarctic Anta«rir Pnvimnm,n,ai r^r.h ™c hZ mThlPn, ,J3, Sf KBrr Antarctic environmental research cost JK^«fAlJ^#W^tIVV,S8 the United States National Sei. StSi^liffiSf a b r i c a c i o n e s "^^ M i l i tFoundation a r e s fi n a n c i a l $4'145.000 y e a r - O c t o b e in r 1 the , 1 9 7 1978 7 , t o Logistic support for the project was September 30, 1978, and $1,830,000 was provided from the Argentine Army spent on mineral and marine resources base, fcsperanza, and also from naval research research™E ^ ^team F°rC<\ was reported f>CTul\ to R*be led Total'expenditure by jects amounted t0 on $48,233,000. Antarctic Direct pro- Lieutenant-Commander Arnaldo E. t of scienlists in the fieId took Rolando assisted by three geologists $7,100,000, and base level support Vicente Mendez, Norberto Pancetti, and (stations> aircraft> ships etc) cost Victor Viera, and a topographer, $26,583,000. Major construction or pur- usvaldo Otero. chases of supplies and equjpment cost Tabarin Peninsula, which is about $8,075,000, and $500,000 was spent on 22.5km long and 16km wide, lies south information and advisory services.

■ ->*!,. WNiTHRCiTim 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 worldwide circulation. Yearly subscription NZ$6.00, Overseas NZ$7.00, includes postage (air mail postage extra), single copies $2.00. Details of back issues available, may be obtained from the Secretary, New Zealand Antarctic Society (Inc.), P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch, New Zealand. Back issues more than five years old are available on request. Overseas subscribers are asked to ensure that their remittances are converted to New Zealand currency.

NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC SOCIETY (INC.) The New Zealand Antarctic Society was formed in 1933. It comprises New Zealanders and overseas friends, many of whom have seen Antarctica for themselves, and all of whom are vitally interested in some phase of Antarctic exploration, development, or research. The society has taken an active part in restoring and maintaining the historic huts in the and has been involved in the establishment of a national Antarctic centre at the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch. There are two branches of the society and functions are arranged throughout the year. You are invited to become a member, South Island residents should write to the Canterbury secretary, North Islanders should write to the Wellington secretary, and overseas residents to the secretary of the New Zealand Society. For addresses, see below. The yearly membership fee is NZ$4.00 (or equivalent local currency). Membership fee, overseas and local, including "Antarctic", NZ$10.00.

New Zealand Secretary P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch

Branch Secretaries Canterbury: P.O. Box 404, Christchurch. Wellington: P.O. Box 2110, Wellington. I .- -L A' r—-^— - i

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