ROSS SEA WHALERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19265, 2 March 1926, Page 10

ROSS SEA WHALERS.

FIRST SHIP COMES BACK. RECORD SEASON EXPECTED. ADVENTURES IN THE IGE PACK. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN* COBJRESrONDENT.] INVERCARGILL. Monday The third expedition of the Ross Sea whaling fleet to the frozen waters of the Antarctic has been a record season for Captain Nilson and the 200 officers and men under his charge. At the same time their four months' sojourn in the South has been fraught with a good deal of anxiety and peril since the fleet left the base in Stewart ' Island in October, in anticipation of commencing operations much earlier than was the case in the two preceding seasons.

The fleet has undergone some startling experiences. The most serious of these was a five weeks' hold-up in the pack ice prior to entering the Ross Sea. Altogether the mother ship and the five "chasers" were compelled to fight their way through 420 miles of pack ice. On that perilous journey it was necessary for the officers to exercise the greatest vigilance and caution in order to prevent their charges from being crushed to pieces in the ico pack. Each of the vessels on the journey through the ice received a severe straining, and even now some of the dents which the ice made in the steel plates of the vessels, more particularly in the "chasers," are said to be still apparent and will require attention- from the shipwrights at Port Chalmers. Instead of the customary nine days to reach the whaling grounds, it took about six weeks before the boats were able to set about killing operations, - and is waa not until December 14 that the first whale was captured. After that, jiideci by fine weather conditions, the work was continued in earnest, and a plentiful supply of whales was always made available for the mother ship to deal-with by the four "chasers," which were able to secure their captures' in close proximity to the factory ship. Total of 535 Fish Captured.

After the grounds adjacent to Victoria Land, where the fleet first, operated when it had successfully accomplished the difficult part of effecting a passage through the ice pack, a change was made to the 1 waters surrounding Discovery Inlet. The fishing there, however, was not so good us it had been previously, owing to the colder weather conditions. Apparently these caused the whalers to look elsewhere for their food. But all the same, the hardy Norsemen were able to increase their catch by several thousand barrels of oil.

In the season just closed the whalers wore successful in capturing 100 more, iish than was the case last year, when 435 was the total c&tch. The latter number gave a return of 31,600 casks of oil, but this year the total will reach about 38,000 barrels, which it is anticipated will show a handsome return.

Th'e first vessel to return to civilisation from tho South was the sturdy little vessel Star 1., which arrived at.the Bluff at 4 p.m. to-day, after a smart passage from the Campbell Islands. Her arrival created a 'great' deal' of interest in the seaport town, and -the members of the crow were besieged with questions as to' what kind of time they had experienced.; Contrary to' expectations it fras learned that the weather' Conditions : were _ much better than had b?en experienced in the two previous years. The weather for the .major portion of the time .was with frequent winds and a little snow. While the. boats were' in the pack-ice, however, "some high winds and snowstorms' were encountered, but once on the ' inside"; the ships were able to carry ou their arduous work in comparatively calm water, and with~"& minimum of delay. No Accidents on the Voyago.

The whole of the work throughout, the voyage, which ait the Best _of times is highly dangerous, was carried through without a hitch of any description. The health of the men, too, was very good and no accidents were reported, while the only damage sustained by the ships was that which occurred while they were ati the mercy of tho.jce-pack. The mother ship and the four remain', ing "chasers" are expected to reach Btewart Island to-morrow morning and after they have been inspected by the port health officer and the Customs officials, a busy time-will be spent by the crews .in preparing for the , homeward journey of the big .ship. t<f Norway, and in carrying out necessary repairs! to the smaller boats. The Sir v 'James Clark Ross, the mothership, will® take in a cargo of coal and water supplies at Stewart Island, instead of proceeding to Northern porta, and will be ready lo take her departure in about a week.