ANTARCTIC ICE PACK

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 20 January 1930, Page 5

ANTARCTIC ICE PACK

UNUSUALLY HEAVY

OBSTACLE TO SUPPLY SHIP

By Bussell Owen, copyrighted, 1929, by the “New York Times” company and “St. Louis Post and Despatch.” All rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to “New York Times.” BAY OE WHALES, Jan. 17.

The steamer City of New York is 300 miles north of Scott Island and should reach the pack ice in a few days. What she will find then and when she will be able to get through the ice is thesubject of frequent conversation in camp. An unusually heavy ice pack this year ’lias made us doubt many times whether the ships can penetrate it, and everything depends on the rapidity with which the pack disintegrates in the next few days. The pack is wider at the 118th meridian than at any time since whalers have been coming south. For the first time whales did not appear in large numbers south of the pack, and those few which were found were badly scarred by ice. Rear-Admiral Byrd is unconcerned about the situation. The only disagreeable aspect is that the ships may arrive so late that loading may be hurried or curtailed in our speed to get out before the freeze-up. The summer ■season is short in the Antarctic. Already the days are a little cooler and the wind nips.