232 DEPOT JOURNEYS 



the Arctic regions. What caused sore feet on this 

 journey was the stretches of snow-crust we had to cross; 

 it was not strong enough to bear the dogs, and they 

 broke through and cut their paws. Sore feet were also 

 caused by the snow caking and sticking between the 

 toes. But the dog that has to travel on sea-ice in spring 

 and summer is exposed to worse things the sharp ice 

 cuts the paws and the salt gets in. To prevent this kind 

 of sore feet one is almost obliged to put socks on the 

 dogs. With the kind of foot-trouble our dogs experi- 

 enced it is not necessary to take any such precautions. 

 As a result of the long sea voyage their feet had become 

 unusually tender and could not stand much. On our 

 spring journey we noticed no sore-footedness, in spite of 

 the conditions being worse rather than better; prob- 

 ably their feet had got into condition in the course of 

 the winter. 



On March 3 we reached 81 S. The temperature 

 was then - 45*4 F., and it did not feel pleasant. The 

 change had come too rapidly; this could be seen both 

 in men and in dogs. We pitched our camp at three in 

 the afternoon, and went straight into the tents. The 

 following day was employed in building and marking 

 the depot. That night was the coldest we observed on 

 the trip, as the temperature was - 49 F. when we 

 turned out in the morning. If one compares the con- 

 ditions of temperature in the Arctic and Antarctic 

 regions, it will be seen that this temperature is an 



