TRAPPED IN THE ICE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1956 THE VETERAN SOVIET RESEARCH AND SUPPLY SHIP OB DRIFTED 450 MILES IN 90 DAYS FROM THE KING GEORGE V COAST TO THE DAVIS SEA UNTIL SHE BROKE FREE ON JULY 22 WITH THE AID OF HIGH WINDS, WAVES, AND EXPLOSIVES. BESIDE HER ON THE ICE IS HER MI-8 HELICOPTER, USED TO TRANSFER 67 SCIENTISTS AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE CREW TO THE NAVARIN AND THE PROFESSOR ZUBOV. — Novosti Photo Registered at Post Office Headquarters. Vol. 6. No. 11 Wellington, New Zealand, as a magazine. September 1973 DRAWN BY DEPARTMENT OF LANDS A SURVEY WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND, AUG 1969 3rd EDITION ^iiFr^iilE©!1!!©^ (Successor to "Antarctic News Bulletin") Vol. 6 No. 11 71st Issue September 1973 Editor: H. F. GRIFFITHS. 14 Woodchester Avenue, Christchurch 1. Assistant Editor: J. M. CAFFIN, 35 Chepstow Avenue, Christchurch 5. Address all contributions, enquiries, etc., to the Editor. All Business Communications, Subscriptions, etc., to: Secretary, New Zealand Antarctic Society (Inc.), P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch, N.Z. CONTENTS ARTICLES NEW ZEALANDERS WORK IN ANTARCTIC VOLCANO POLAR ACTIVITIES NEW ZEALAND UNITED KINGDOM SOVIET UNION JAPAN UNITED STATES AUSTRALIA SOUTH AFRICA SUB-ANTARCTIC CAMPBELL ISLAND GENERAL WHALING QUOTAS FIXED THE READER WRITES ANTARCTIC BOOKSHELF This issue of "Antarctic" is the last to be produced under the direction of Mr H. F. Griffiths, who has retired after more than three years as editor. The produc tion of a publication recognised internationally as an authoritative guide to the field activities of all nations engaged in Antarctica is a demanding task; Harold Griffiths has brought to it energy, enthusiasm, and understanding. "Antarctic" is more than a guide to Antarctic field work. For many years it has published articles of scientific and historic interest, book reviews, and reports which have faithfully recorded change and development on the continent since the Heroic Age of exploration. A long association with Antarctic affairs and the expeditions of the past 40 years has enabled Harold Griffiths to maintain the high standards set by the first editor, Leslie Quartermain, and to expand and maintain the bulletin's accurate and authoritative coverage of Antarctic events. All concerned with Antarctica in and beyond New Zealand owe much to Harold Griffiths for his dedicated interest in "Antarctic". The New Zealand Antarctic Society, which publishes the bulletin, is also indebted to him, not only for his editorship but also for his devotion to its interests as founder of two branches—Dunedin and Canterbury—and as a past president. ANTARCTIC September 1973 N.Z. PROGRAMME MAINLY IN DRY VALLEYS New Zealand's Antarctic research programme for 1973-74 will include full responsibility for all drilling operations needed in the Dry Valley Drilling Project—a major three-year programme developed by United States, New Zealand, and Japanese scientists. Last summer New Zealand drillers on Ross Island were part of a team drawn from the participating countries, but responsible to the National Science Foundation. This season the New Zealand team is New Zealand and Japanese scientists attempting to drill the deepest hole in will participate in the first phase of the Antarctic rock—to a depth of 3000ft—at project. Dr S. B. Treves, of the Univer a site near the earth sciences laboratory sity of Nebraska, who is the project at the foot of Observation Hill, scientist, says the main purpose of the McMurdo Station. To test the drill rig three-year programme is to obtain a the bore hole which reached 558ft last season has been re-drilled to 435ft. geological history of the continent, covering the last 100 million years. Thermo-couplings have been installed to About 117 men and three women will take heat layer measurements through the summer. be involved in various aspects of scien Later the drill rig will be transferred tific research this season. Much of the across McMurdo Sound to the Wright scientific work will be done in the dry Valley. There a hole will be drilled in valleys where the New Zealanders will the floor of Lake Vanda. near New Zea co-operate with Italian and Russian land's Vanda Station. Drilling sites will scientists. An unusual experiment will then be established on or near Lake be conducted by the Antarctic Division Vida. Don Juan Pond. Lake Bonney, of the Department of Scientific and Lake Fryxell, and on the shoreline of Industrial Research. It will attempt to New Harbour. Seven holes, each 1980ft harness thermal power from the water deep, will be drilled by the end of next of McMurdo Sound beneath the pressure February. ridges in front of Scott Base. Winter Teams at Bases Fourteen men have been selected to SCOTT BASE winter at Scott Base and Vanda Station Harry Jones (47), Auckland (see "Ant in 1974. Another man from the summer arctic," June, 1973, Page 340). support staff will join the Scott Base team at the end of the season. Vanda William Johnson (45), Lancashire, Station will have a winter team of four England. Base engineer. He is work for the first time since 1970. shop manager at Burnham Military The leader at Scott Base is Mr H. W. Camp, Christchurch. E. Jones, a former New Zealand Army Robert Grant (25), Invercargill. Fitter officer. Vanda Station's leader is an mechanic. He is an automotive diesel Englishman, Mr T. Curphey, who has mechanic at Twizel. worked with the British Antarctic Chris Wilkins (23), Tauranga. Elec Survey. trician. Formerly an electrician with an Members of the winter parties arc: Auckland firm. September 1973 ANTARCTIC Raymond Colliver (40), Auckland. Cook. An Englishman, he has had much Italians to work cooking and catering experience, and had his own cake shop in Auckland for in dry valleys many years. Garth Cowan (22), Palmerston North. Technician. Does the same job in the Five Italians will spend six weeks in the dry valleys this summer in an attempt Royal New Zealand Air Force. to relate certain conditions found there Anthony Smith (26), Wellington. Tech nician. A technical trainee in the chem to those in tropical deserts. Led by ical engineering section of the Depart Professor A. G. Segre, the team of three ment of Scientific and Industrial Re scientists and two technicians, will study search. the glacial morphology, petrography, Stuart Clarke (23), Te Kuiti. Tech geochemistry, and micro-meteorology of nician. Formerly with the Institute of the valleys. Nuclear Sciences, Lower Hutt. Four of the five, including Professor Robert Gibson (25), Chatham Islands. Segre, have been in the Antarctic before. Postmaster. He has served two terms as They were with the New Zealanders a radio operator at the Chatham Islands. during the 1968-69 summer. The party, John Warriner (23), Te Kuiti. Post which represents the Italian National Office technician. Does the same job in Committee of Scientific Research, will the Post Office. be self-supporting except for transport by New Zealand. VANDA STATION Ian Curphey (31), Greymouth. Leader. ^X^*3> He is a draughtsman, an experienced mountaineer, and has had extensive experience at British Antartic Survey bases. Antony Atkinson (26), Christchurch. Senior technical officer. He is an elec tronics technician. Peter Thompson (24). Dunedin. Tech nician. He has had considerable elec tronic engineering experience overseas. Tony Bromley (28). Wellington. Meteorological observer. Works for the research section of the Meteorological OPOSSUM FUR FOR Service in Wellington. PARKAS New Zealand opossum fur will replace Canadian wolverine fur on parkas worn by members of the New Zealand Ant ON TOP OF THE arctic research team this season. Although not as good as wolverine fur POLE the opossum fur was tested on two parkas last summer and found to be a In about five years the main building suitable substitute. of the new Amundsen-Scott South Pole Previously the Antarctic Division, Station is likely to be directly on the D.S.I.R., has imported wolverine fur geographic South Pole. The station is from Canada at a cost of $15 a foot. being built about 400vds from the actual It has now received its first consignment Pole, but the constant drifting of the ice of 100 opossum pelts. They cost $2.85 cap beneath it is expected to put it each, and it is estimated that 4ft of fur exactly at the bottom of the world. strips can bc obtained from one pelt. ANTARCTIC September 1973 Field Projects for Summer Scientists from five universities, the Graham Boddy, leader and hydrologist, Ministry of Works, Geological Survey, John Fenwick and Peter Anderton, and the Oceanographic Institute, will hydrologists, G. Horrell, assistant take part in the summer activities of the hydrologist, John Rothery, surveyor. 1973-74 research programme. They will Geological Survey. Geochemistry in work at or from Scott Base, Vanda Koettlitz Glacier region. Peter Blattner, Station, and Cape Bird, in South Vic leader, Michael Chapman-Smith and toria Land, and the Shapeless Mountain David Fcary, geologists, Max Tunni area of the Boomerang Range, about 150 cliffe. field assistant. Dry Valley dykes: miles from Scott Base. Jim Lowery, leader, Howard Dengatc, There will be 57 men and three field assistant. women in the summer support staff. Mrs Janet Crump will be the scientific leader Oceanographic Institute. Current of the Victoria University of Wellington studies and hydrological measurements in McMurdo Sound. Ron Heath, oceano- expedition, and another member, Mrs Rosemary Kyle, will also be going south grapher. for the second time. Miss Joy Woods Victoria University of Wellington. Dry will work as a technical assistant with valleys geology. Mrs Janet Crump, scien the University of Canterbury party at tific leader, Ken Blackwood, field leader, Cape Bird. Mrs Rosemary Kyle, J. McPherson, John This season five Italian scientists will Keys.