IN THE FAR SOUTH.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18637, 5 August 1930, Page 13

IN THE FAR SOUTH.

SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON’S STORY Results of the Expedition (By Sir Douglas Mawson, 0.8. E., D.Sc., F.R.S.) No. 3 (All Rights Reserved) Returning along the pack edge to the east on January 16, we passed the “Norvegia,” some ten miles distant, heading to the west. By evening, the “Discovery” had arrived at an embayment in the pack, were the ocean swell was sufficiently subdued to offer an opportunity of a take-off for the aeroplane, with the prospect of further investigating the Scott Mountains. Unfortunately the wind rose before the plane could be got away. Gradually a strong gale developed which continued for some days. For two days, Captain Davis was able to maintain the ship in the coastal waters on the Continental shelf which thereabouts maintains a uniform depth of about 160 fathoms, over a considerable area. Eventually the force of the wind and the drift of the ice, was so great that the “Discovery” could hold on to her position no longer and was driven 150 miles to the west-south-west. There the ship was hove-to in a big sea. On the morning of January 22, the sky cleared sufficiently to allow sights to be taken to accurately fix the ship’s position. The wind subsided and progress to the east was again possible. Chief-Officer Mackenzie, in his early morning watch, sighted new ice-cover-ed land, evidently a south-westerly prolongation of Enderby Land. Following the pack east, it was found to have been considerably changed in position as a result of the gale. Most noticeable was a general recession of a few miles to the south. Thus from the pack edge, an imposing shelf-ice tongue bounded by cliffs upwards of 200 feet high came within range of sight over the pack-ice. When off the Scott Mountains, the swell was again too great to allow the aeroplane to take off. The remaining stock of coal was now so limited that return to our coaling base at Kerguelen was imperative within a few days. Thus we could not tarry in the hope of calmer conditions. Short Flight Over Sea. The vicinity of Proclamation Island was reached on January 24th. Several short flights were made during which ranges of high peaks were observed rising from the ice plateau in the interior of Enderby Land. Other short flights were made on January 26th, at a point a little further east, a fine view of the interior of Kemp Land being thus obtained. On the many high peaks observed in the interior were some judged to attain an elevation of quite 7000 feet. Reluctantly forced to turn north towards Kerguelen Island, we nevertheless were still able to spend some time running a line of marine stations, north from Enderby Land to the deep basin investigated by the “Valdivia” Expedition some thirty years ago. One heavy gale was encountered in the neighbourhood of 63 degrees S latitude, otherwise the run north was under favourable conditions. Royal Sound, Kerguelen Island, was reached on February Bth. The island abounds in teal duck and rabbits, which were shot in great numbers, providing a much appreciated change in our diet. Coaling operations were executed by the crew, alio’ t the scientific staff further opportunity for investigating that extremely interesting locality. Corrections were made and further details were added to the existing chart. The aviators Campbell and Douglas made several flights. In association with Hurley a series of aerial photographs were taken, which illustrate in the best possible fashion the remarkable topography of the island. Coaling was not completed until February 20th, when the weather brok'.. Thereafter a succession of high winds with falling snow continued until March 2nd, when an improvement took place. Hardly had we got out to sea, before a gale of wind descended once more. It was evident that summer was over. A course was set for the south-west corner of the Australian continent. A number of marine stations distributed at regular intervals along that route were successfully occupied. Thus our programme came to an end on arrival off Albany on March 21st. Objectives Achieved This, briefly, is an outline of the cruise. Summarising the principal objectives achieved, the following deserve special mention:— The Expedition has removed a blank area of approximately 150,000 sauare miles from the charts of the world. The Antarctic coastline has been either charted or its location approximately indicate?! through 28 degrees of longitude between 45 degrees E and 73 degrees E of Greenwich. Evidence deduced suggests that this land is portion of the Antarctic regions. The land seen and charted includes the new area designated Macßobertson Land, together with lands further to the west known as Kemp Land and Enderby Land, portions of which though vaguely reported 100 years ago, were never since confirmed. The whole of this land and off-lying islands have been claimed for the Crown.

So far as possible, specimens of the rocks and minerals composing these lands have been collected for examination and report. These, together with collections made from the Sub-Ant-arctic Islands visited, amount to several tons in weight. About 750 deep-sea soundings have been recorded, including an extended series made in waters off the Antarctic coast through 35 degrees of longitude, throughout which length no previous determinations had ever been made. Also, additions were made to knowledge of the sea-floor around the Crozet Island, Kerguelen Island, Heard Island, and in the Great Australian Bight, as tyell as along the entire ocean track followed by the “Discovery.” Reports upon anchorages and dangers to shipping are in course of preparation.

Exhaustive hydrological data has been secured. This deals with the ocean currents, and the chemical nature of the 3ea water in the various areas visited from the surface to the greatest depths. In this work special regard lias been had to such conditioning factors as determine the existence of valuable fisheries. The data has been so collected that with further observations to be made on the next cruise, there will be available matter for a full exposition of the marine conditions over the wide ocean to the south of Australia and the adjacent Indian Ocean. The distribution of the southern pack-ice and its movements have been fully recorded as a guide to navigators prosecuting commercial operations in that area. The northward movement of the cold surface water has been a subject of note in regard to probable influence upon Australian climate. In this latter connection also, meteorological observations have been as thorough as possible, including upper-air records obtained by the use of exploring balloons which operated to an extreme of 50,000 feet. Biological studies were continued

throughout the whole of the cruise on an extensive and intensive scale. Thus regular observations relating to the whale, seal and bird life were made, 1 and the ship was frequently stopped j for station work where both qualita r tive and quantitative investigations were made concerning the Plankton, Nekton and Benthos. From this data it will be possible to indicate quantitatively the fisheries possibilities of the region visited and its relative richness in economically valuable products. Without any further investigation it can now de definitely asserted that off the coast of Enderby Land there exists a very valuable whale fishery. It would appear that the Norwegian exploring ; vessel “Norvegia” located this whaling ground simultaneously with ourselves. From that fishery no doubt millions of pounds worth of products will be recovered during the next few years. That discovery alone is worth far more . than all the cost of our exploring Expedition. In amplification of this general statement further particulars relating to several of the more important branches of investigation have been supplied by officers responsible therefor, and appear under their Several signatures. (Sgd.) Douglas Mawson. (Reproduction in whole or in part outside Australia forbidden.)