SCOTT'S OLD SHIP

Evening Post, Volume 65, Issue 65, 17 March 1924, Page 10

SCOTT'S OLD SHIP

TO GO SOUTH AGAIN

ON WHALE RESEARCH EXPEDITION.

Interesting food for thought was contained in the announcement in March last year by the Colonial Office in London that Captain Scott's'old ship, the Discovery, had been purchased by the Grown Agent for the Colonies, on behalf of the Government of the Falkland Islands, in order to be employed on an investigation into the whaling industry in South Georgia and the South Shetland Islands. It is feared that at the prosent rate of destruction, whales might in time become extinct," and'the object .of the forthcoming expedition is to make investigations regarding their habits and breeding. In addition to the official announcement, a letter written-in London by Captain J. Ti. Stenhouse, D.5.0., R.N.R., who is to command the expedition, has been received by Mr. A. Slingor. of Auckland. This letter states, inter ali;i: "The Discovery will not be ready for sea for some months yet. She is being practically rebuilt, and is to be again barque-rigged with an increased sail area. ' ■ ■ There is a vary large whaling industry in the dependencies around South i Georgia and the South Shetland Islands, but knowledge in regard to the numbers and habits of the whales is insufficient to enable the industry to be controlled in such a way as to guard against lepletion. The Discovery's complement will in:lude men who are capable o£ ascertaining the geographical limits of the whales, to trace their migration', and to .'orm some approximate idea of their ■lumbers and their rate of reproduction. The Colonial Office in London made the 'ollowing statement concerning the Dis-.-overy and the proposed expedition in \pril of last year: "The Secretary of jtato for the Colonies has appointed an jxecutive committee to control the reearches recommended by the inter-De->artmental Committee on Research and Jevelopment of the Falkland Islands,' md, in particular, the investigation of he question of the preservation of the . vhales, and of the whaling industry, vliieh has been the subject of Government regulation since its inception neary twenty years ago." The Discovery is a strong wooden ves;ol of approximately 700 tons register, md was built at Dundee for Captain R. <\ Scott's expedition to the Antarctic, which started in 1901. The vessel was rozen in at the winter quarters and "icott received orders to abandon her and eturn in the relief ship sent, but the ."Kscovory broke out of the ice.in Feb- ( nary, 1904, and Scott brought her home ii perfect order. Since that time, she I as been used as a whaler by an Amerian company. It is possible that the 'essel will call at New Zealand on her ! 'oyage south. • ■ Captain Stenhouse was with the shackleton expedition when the Aurora vasl caught in a severe gale at M'Murdo •Sound, and he afterwards brought her o Port Chalmers' for repairs. Captain 'Henhouse .was with the Navy at Archangel during the war. ■