VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20793, 9 February 1931, Page 16

VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY.

AN ELUSIVE ISLAND.

WHALING SHIP REPORTED.

BY SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON, Sent by "Wireless. (All rights reserved.) g Wo departed from Macquarie Island in thick weather, but were ablo to creep up near enough to Bishop and (.Jerk Islets for close observation and soundings. Ihese islets, located some miles south of the main island, are a serious menace to ships. They rise from the Macquarie submarine shelf to a height of 140 ft. abovo the sea. Several kinds of birds nest there, including a rookery of royal penguins. Soundings demonstrate the existence of a submarine rise extending to the south.

In "tlio latitude of the charted position of Emerald Island we found a depth of only 800 fathoms, with a deep abyss on either sido of the ridge. In thick, misty weather, and with a gale of wind blowing, conditions were unfavourable for prosecuting a search for the elusive Emerald Island, reported over 100 years ago, but the existence of which was never confirmed. Tho galo increased, and for days the Discovery laboured in heavy seas, with flooded decks, and she rolled frantically. During this period wireless communication was partially suspended. Everybody was constantly wet through and storm weary. Icebergs, first met with north of Macqnarie Island, were in constant attendance thereafter, later supplemented by scattered pack ice, fust met with in latitude 62 south. The period of storm and gloom has passed. Now the sun shines, and wo arc traversing a crystal sea of bobbing ice, that sparkles and glitters in the flounder of the swell. The ice, which is in an advanced stage of dissolution, is very picturesque, and has been broken by wave action into countless fanciful forms. There are fleets of crystal gondolas, menageries of glacial birds and beasts, dazzling spires, arches and ruins, with hero and there a mammoth berg looming like a spacious castle. At last, after days of vain effort, we are in touch with tho Sir James Clark Ross, which has on board for us 100 tons of coal. To our great mortification she is not in tho vicinity of the Ballcny Islands, where we had expected to meet her, but is four days' steam further cast, which is quite exasperating, when our objective lies to the west. Our position on December 11 was approximately latitude 63 south, longitude 168 east.