BACK FROM ROSS SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18965, 12 March 1925, Page 10

BACK FROM ROSS SEA.

NORWEGIAN EXPEDITION. BAG TOTALS 427 WHALES. STRENUOUS WORK IN ANTARCTIC [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] INVERCARGILL. Wednesday. The happy countenances of the two hundred men which comprise the complement of tho Ross Sea whaling fleet as thoy lined the sides of the mother ship and her five consorts awaiting the arrival of tho port medical officer on Wednesday morning, afforded sufficient proof that the second venture in the frozen south in quest of wales had proved a successful one. Aided largely by the valuable experience gained by the initial expedition of tho previous season, it was only to be expected that this year's results would far exceed those of tho previous season, when but 221 whales were captured. This year tho total " bag " was 427 whales. The roturn will be slightly over £200,000. The rigors of Antarctica and the nature of the operations wit.li the blubber have left the Sir James Clark Ross in anything but a spotless state, but nevertheless ~ood progress has been made by the crew with the work of cleaning the whale oil off the fittings and generally preparing the ship for the long voyage to Norway next week where she is to land her valuable cargo of oil and lie recommissioned for next year's operations. Those officers and men who accompanied the late Captain O. A. Larsen on his first, cruise to the Boss Sea. and who arc on board again this year, are agreed that from a climatic point of view the summer of 1924-25 in southern latitudes was much more agreeable than last year. Abnormal ocean swells on occasion had caused a temporary cessation of work on the factory ship, with tho result that at times congestion took place and the men were unable to keep up with the work of dealing with the wlftiles brought in from day to day by the chasers. Some idea of the formidable task which confronts the men almost daily may be gained from the fact that it was no uncommon sight to see anything from 15 to 20 big whales fastened securely to the sides of the vessel waiting to be dismembered. It was therefore necessary to take advantage of the fine weather when it prevailed to work unduly long hours, and j even when tho weather conditions were j not of the best and the thermometer registered a temperature of anything up to 36 degrees below zero, the men were at their posts on the flouring deck and in the punts alongside, busily enaged in cutting small pieces of blubber, 18 inches in length and a few inches wide, from a monster measuring anything from 90 to 100 feet in length. The honour of securing the most whales this season fell to Star V., which, under the command of Captain Alfred Andersen, was responsible for bringing in 107 out of tho total of 427 captured.