OCEAN RESEARCH

Hawera Star, Volume L, 25 October 1930, Page 6

OCEAN RESEARCH

INVESTIGATIONS IX ANTARCTICA ROYAL SHIP TO RESUME (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. Oct 23. The. Royal Research ship William Seoresby will sail from London next Tuesday to resume her researches in the Antarctic and neighbouring seas on which she has been employed since ,1926. These investigations are carried out by the Discovery Committee on. behalf of the Falkland Islands Government, to whom the vessel belongs. It was by her assistance that Sir Hubert Wilkins carried out his exploration from the air of Antarctic territories near Graham’s Land ini the last southern summer. The William ScOTesby is only 134 feet long, but has- oil fuel toi carry her 4000 miles. By a large steam winch, she can work a small trawl in over 3000' fathoms. Echo sounding gear enables, her to sound down to about. 130 fathoms, and the Lucas sounding machine has 1 5000 fathoms of wire. She has two small engines for working water bottles, fine silk nets, and other scientific gear, ■and carries a laboratory. The purpose of her investigations is primarily the advancement of knowledge as to- the distribution, migrations, and conditions which affect whales, but she also attends to* the possibilities of fishery development. She has already conducted valuable trawling surveys around' the Falkland Islands, and will make others on reaching the S'ciuth.

Her complement will consist of seven officers an.di 1G pefty-officcirs and men. commanded! by Lieutenant-Commander Irving. Before slbe sails a presentation will be made, by the underwriters to Messrs Roy and Sutherland, her chief engineer and artificer, for their gallant action in diving repeatedly in icy waters off South Georgia :to free the propeller when it became entangled with the trawl.