THE DISCOVERY

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1927, Page 4

THE DISCOVERY

TWO YEARS IX AXTARCTTC. A STUDY OF AY HALES. LONDON, Sept. 30. One evening this week the Discovery crept into Falmouth Harbour. This three-masted auxiliary barque in which Scott made his first Antarctic Expedition. 1901-1. and in which Shackleton later served as third officer. has returned after cruising lottwo years in the Polar seas. it was in September. 1920. that the Discovery sailed from Dartmouth. There had been grave doubts as to tlie future of the whaling industry in the Antarctic, and the Discovery expedition was organised with the ultimate object of preventing, if possible. the extermination of whales in the south in the way in which they have boon exterminated in the north. The expedition was largely financed by the Government of the Ealkland Islands, hut the plans and equipment were worked out and the staff selected by a committee, with headquarters at the Colonial Office, cimposed of experts in seamanship and in zoology. Skilled advice was obtained from Oovernment Departments and from the Xatural History Museum. Although the expedition has had none of the glamour and excitement ot previous Antarctic voyages, il has been entirely successful from the point of view of scientific research, and a good deal of hard work had been done in extremely rough weather. The Xew Zealander. Commander -L R. Stenhouse, D. 5.0.. and his officers and crew are reported as fit and there have been no casualties. At intervals during the work of research the Discovery called at Capetown and took on hoard South African hoys from the training ship Botha. Three cadets have also formed part of the expedition, and the crew numbered 3!) hands. One of the company is the famous ‘■Boy Scout," Afarr. who was with Shacklefnn on his last voyage—-now Air James AY. S. Afarr, AI.A.. B.S . zoologist to the expedition. * A. FLOATING LABOR \TORY. The vessel is a veritable scientific laboratory. She is loaded with many strange creatures from the depth ot the Antarctic Seas, some of them new

to zoology. Dr Stanley AY. Kemp, the director of research, said that- a large amount of material and data had been ohtined and that there would have to ho much examination and investigation before il would lie possible to state the full results of the expedition. The work had been totally different from that on which the Discovery had been previously engaged. The territorial aspect had changed to the scientific. So far as the South Georgian whaling grounds were concerned enough data had been obtained to enable conditions to he compared in future seasons. It would thus he possible to establish a standard of com-

parison from ono year to another. There was a land station at Oytwirk. Smith Georgia, where other members of his staff were engaged in a statistical study of whales. Another vessel, the AVilliam Heoreshy. had assisted the expedition during the past year and would he leaving England for the south again towards the end el the present year. Xo decision had yet been arrived at as to future voyages of the Discovery.

STRANGE FORMS OF OCEAN LIFE preserved in spirits on board are many curious specimens of crustacea—whale loud- and the lowest Linns ol animal lile. ! nore is the fantastieallyshapeel Antarctic crab of many legs, and something like a horseshoe with many protruding points. He has been alfcctionately named ‘‘Prickly Peter. "Many of these objects,” said Dr Kemp, “we have boon unable to identify, and some of them undoubtedly are new to zoology." This study of the swarms of Crustacea and other ocean lile which attracts whales from one part to another is likely to all'orcl valuable evidence <>n the migratory habits ol the herds. There are many volumes and albums of photographs, drawings, and records dealing with Antarctic phenomena. One vivid sketch shows the phosphorescent- wash of the Discovery under a- star-filled polar sky. Others illustrate the majestic and ever-chang-ing colouring of strange forms of

ocean life. The Discovery visited the Dependencies of the Falklatuls—.South Georgia, (south Orkneys, and South ,Slid lauds. Her farthest point was (>5 degrees south in the neighbourhood of Anvers Island. iIiTMP-’DACKEI) WHALES DJMIXLSILIXG. Experiments had been made in the marking of whales, said Dr Kemp, but it was too early yet to say whether these would he successful. It was probable that alterations in method would need to be made before thatside of the work could be carried much farther. The method of marking adopted had been to shoot darts into the whales, which, when afterwards caught by fishermen, could thus ho at once identified. So far as he knew, no marked whale had yet been caught. Lt was certain that the hump-backed whale was diminishing in southern waters. That species was hunted very extensively some years ago, and it was possible that it might have changed its rentes of migration, and that it

was not in reality so scarce as it seemed to he. The blue whale and the fin whale appeared to he as abundant as ever. The 1825-26 season was extraordinarily good botih in South Georgia and tlio South Kiietlands, but the 1826-27 season, although good in South Georgia, had been almost a complete failure in the South Shetlands. That would appear to be due to physical conditions of which we were at present ignorant. It had been established, however, that whales migrated at times in bnrds of one sex. FOOTBALL IX' SOCTH GKOBGIA. The Discovery shows signs of the rough weather that had been cnconn-

tered. and all in her were glad to catch what glimpses they could of the Cornish coast through the driving rain. During the voyage physical exercises have not been neglected. “We turned out an excellent Soccer football team.” said a member of the stall', “and set- the seal on our efforts by defeating South Georgia, after ourselves suffering a series of defeats. Our crew of thirty-nine included a professional footballer, who could hold his own with almost any English League player." The Discovery will reach the Thames on October Ist, and her collection and data will be sifted in London.. Later she and the William Scoresby leave again for the Antarctic.