RESEARCH SHIP

Grey River Argus, 12 February 1938, Page 12

RESEARCH SHIP

ANTARCTIC WATERS. DISCOVERY. Il’S MOVEMENTS. DUNEDIN, February 2. The oceanographical research, mainly concerned with whales, carried out in Antarctic waters for some years, is being continued by the Discovery 11, now on her fifth commission, scheduled to extend over 20 months. The work of the research ship is controlled by the “Discovery” committee acting under the Secretary of State for the Colonies on behalf of the Falkland Islands Government. The Discovery II left London on October 7 and after taking fuel and supplies at Cape Town steamed south-south-east until pack ice was reached in 58deg. on November 23. She then turned eastwards on a zig-zag course making full observations on whales and their food and everything which affects their distribution. After some weeks’, work along the fringes of the pack ice the ship turned north for further supplies of fuel and stores at Fremantle and sailed ->for the south again on December 29. A full series of routine oceanographical observations was made during these north and south passages between the ice edge and ports of call. Such observations are for the investigation of general hydrology and the circulation of currents in the southern ocean and form an essential part of the ship’s programme. She steamed due south from Fremantle and on reaching the ice edge again turned eastwards on a zig-zag course. The pack ice tends to break up at this time of the year and its edge lies considerably further south. On January 16 the ship was able to approach close to Adelie Land. This has the reputation of being the windiest place in the world. The Australian expedition of 1912 under Sir Douglas Mawson found that the average wind speed ashore throughout the year was 50 m.p.h. The Discovery II continued her work off this coast in difficult conditions. An easterly gale was blowing, with driving snow, and the whole region was infested with icebergs and “growlers.” Further east a visit was made to the little-known Balleny Islands. This group has rarely been seen and has never been properly charted. It is of five islands to tha-,north of Victoria Land and was found 99 years ago by the whaler John Balleny. The Discovery II was able to take advantage of two days of fine weather, which were spent in steaming round the islands fixing their positions and totighly charting the outline of their coasts and taking many soundings with the echo sounding mar chines. From the Balleny Islands the ship turned north to Dunedin, calling at Campbell Island on the way. Sheep are still grazing on this bleak island where a few years ago a party of men was located for two seasons caring for the sheep.'