DISCOVERY II.

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 13, 16 January 1930, Page 11

DISCOVERY 11.

WHALING INDUSTRY

EQUIPMENT FOR RESEARCH

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 12th December. Preparatory to her departure for the i Southern Seas to investigate the whal-! ing industry, with a view to safeguarding its future, the Royal research ship Discovery 11. was inspected by the Duke of Gloucester as sho lay moored in St. Katherine's Dock on Tuesday.

The ship will go for a three-year voyage of research in the Antarctic. The purposo of the expedition is to ■ investigate whales in order to safeguard the future of the industry.

Tne Duke was shown ovor the vessel by Dr. Stanley "W. Kemp, the director of research, who is chief of a staff of six scientists, and Commander W. M. Carey, R.N., master of the ship. The naval and' scientific personnel of the expedition afterwards assembled on the foredeck, where the Duke bid them farewell.

"What I have seen," said His Royal Highness, "has been very interesting, and, judging also by what I have been told of the results of her trials and her behaviour during her stormy passage from Glasgow to London, we may confidently expect Discovery 11. to reflect credit in all concerned in her design, construction, and equipment, and to prove admirably fitted for whalingfi research in Antarctic waters.

"I: wish Dr. Kemp, Commander Carey, and all of you 'God-speed,' a successful voyage, and a safe return; and ask you to. carry my greetings to your colleagues now working m the South in tho William Scoresby and at tho station at South Georgia." ' THE LABOBATOKY. Tho Duke- was shown the elaborately equipped biological laboratory where experiments on a wide scale will be carried out to trace-the migrations of whaVes, to find tho cause of their flue* tuations in abundance, and t> determine the effects of- intensive wha'lcfishing upon the stock. Dr. Kemp explained to the Duke how whales will bo marked by distinctive darts fired into them at xoeorded times and places. The Duke commented with warm approval upon the comfort of tho crew's quarters and the measures that have been,taken lo secure their warmth in frozen seas.

Discovery 11. has been built by Messrs. Ferguson Brothers, of Port Glasgow, for the w.ork of the Discovery Committee. She is of steel, specially constructed to resist ice pressure, and is capable of steaming 10,000 miles at cruising speed. She is the property of the Falkland Islands Government, and the cost of building her and of tho expedition is being met from revenue raised from the whaling industry in ; the Dependeacies ,of the Falkland Islands.

The scientific officers are: Mr. N. A. Mackintosh, chief scientific officer; Mr. D. D; John, senior' zoologist; Mr. E. E. Gunther, senior zoologist; Mr. H. P. Herdman, senior hydrologist; Mr. A. J. Clowes, senior hydrologist; Mr. JP. C. Fraser, zoologist; Mr. G. E. A. Deacon, hydrologist; and Mr. T. J. Hart, zoologist.

The ship's officers are: Commander W. M. Carey, 8.N.. (ret.), master; Lieut.-Commander J. J. ,C.;lrving, B.N. (ret.), chief officer; Sub-Tiieut. A. L. Nelson, 8.N.E., second officer; SubLieut. B, A. B, Ardley, 8.N.E., third officer; Dr. E. H. Marshall, D.5.0., surgeon; Engineer-Lieut.-Commander W. A. Hbrton, B.N. (ret.)',.chief^engineer; Mr. A. N. Porteous, second engineer; Mr. B. Gourlay, third.engineer.