Wireless Guides Whale-Chasers

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 454, 8 September 1928, Page 27

Wireless Guides Whale-Chasers

Direction-Finding Dispels Fear of Fog FLEET OFF CAPE HORN Wireless has been so valuable to whaling and sealing fleets operating in the South Shetland Islands that the Southern Whaling and Sealing Company, Ltd., is making important additions to the existing Marconi installations of its fleet for the coming season.

During the last two seasons good use was made by the whale catchers of the wireless telephones with which they are fitted. These sets are operated by the gunners, and enable the individual ships of the fleet to keep in touch with each other and with their headquarters at South Georgia and South Shetlands. Their j efficiency with unskilled attention was demonstrated when the Southern Queen was unfortunately lost at the end of last season through striking a submerged iceberg. A call by telephone brought the fleet of whale catchers hurrying to her assistance, and all hands were taken off the sinking ship. . The Southern Empress is the new floating factory ship for the South Shetlands, and will be accompanied by three whale catchers. They will be equipped with telephone sets and direction finders, by means of which they will find their way back to the factory ship in fog or snow storms, which normally cause considerable delay in whale catching. Finding Mother Ship There is always a fear of losing the “mother” ship in fog when no wireless is carried, and the assurance of being able to find her in any weather by the direction finder reduces considerably the time wasted in waiting and also the anxiety in the strenuous life of these fleets. The Southern King is attached to the South Georgia headquarters, carrying out the materials, stores and men for the season and returning with oil. At the headquarters a telephone set similar in power to that carried by the whale catchers is installed, but with an additional unit, enabling it to he used as a telegraph transmitter on the normal wavelength for ships. Four whale catchers are attached to the headquarters, each of which carries a wireless telephone. The Southern King and Southern Empress carry more equipment than the rest of the fleet because of their different duties. Iu addition to the telephone equipment, short-wave transmitters are installed which it is anticipated will keep these two ships in communication with British Post Office stations from the Antarctic, thus placing them in practically direct communication with the owners. Quenched spark transmitters for working with other ships and with local coastal stations during the voyage are installed, and also the latest type of wireless direction finders. Advantage has been taken of the high amplification factor of the new screened grid valves to incorporate two of them in the direction finder. .The result has been to increase the selectivity and sensitivity of the amplifier in a remarkable manner. The fixed frame aerial system is used with this amplifier. They can be installed at any convenient place in the ship, and not necessarily in close proximity to each other. With such adequate means of keeping in touch with all concerned under all weather conditions, the outlook for the coming whaling season is decidedly prosperous.