RESEARCH SHIP.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18709, 27 October 1930, Page 6

RESEARCH SHIP.

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION RESUMED. British Official Wireless RUGBY. October 23. The Royal research ship. William Scoresby, sails from London next Tuesday to resume her researches in the Antarctic and neighbouring seas, on which she has been employed sine® 1926. These investigations are being 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 the Antarctic territories near Graham’s Lard last southern summer. The William Scoresby is only 134 ft. long, but has oil fuel to cany her 4000 miles. By a large steam winch, she can work a small trawl in over 3000 fathoms. Echo sounding geai enables her to sound down to about 130 fathoms. and the Luca# soundiny, machine has 5000 fathoms of wire. She has two small engines for working water bottles, fine silk nets, and other scientific gear, and carries a laocratory. The purpose of her lnvestige+toi. 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 south. Her complement will consist of seven officers and sixteen petty officers and men. commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Irving. Before she sails, a presentation will be made by the Underwriters' Association to Messrs Roy and Sutherland, her chief engineer and artificer for their gallant action in diving repeatedly in icy waters of South Georgia, to free the propeller when it became entangled in a trawl. ;