Traill. — Antarctic Exploration. 475 



in considerable quantities, lor tlife purpose, I am toiil, of makiug 

 pipe-stems, but for such a questionable benefit to humanity it 

 seems a shame to kill numbers of unoffending birds. 



I do not understand why Ross did not always try to avoid 

 the pack, seeing that going through it involved such loss of 

 time, and so much danger even to his vessels. Their situation 

 at times amongst the rock-like masses of ice, dashing with 

 fearful violence against each other and against the straining 

 ships, was enough to fill the boldest heart with dismay. To 

 ordinary unfortified ships it would have been destruction swift 

 and sudden. For mere exploration or whaling it would surely 

 be always wiser and better to endeavour to skirt the pack, as 

 Ross did on his return journeys. On his second season he went 

 through 1,000 miles of pack, which occupied 56 days, so that 

 when he got through the season was almost over, and after 

 making about 7° more of southing, he deemed it imprudent to 

 remain longer. By then selecting a different route for his 

 return, he got out without having to go through any of the pack, 

 the time occupied in regaining the Antarctic circle from the 

 point of greatest southing being only ten days. One obvious 

 advantage in avoiding the pack when going south would be that, 

 having found the clearest road out, the time required for return- 

 ing by the same route could be calculated, and so also the time 

 during which it would be safe to remain. 



It seems a great pity that when it becomes necessary to go 

 through the pack steam-power could not then be used, in order 

 to shorten, as far as possible, a time of tedious delay and 

 extra risk. It seems so important a matter that I would throw 

 out a crude suggestion, without, however, feeling much con- 

 fidence in its value. It is that an arrangement might be made 

 so that, on entering the pack and hoisting up the screw-pro- 

 peller, the steam might still have a certain propelling value, if 

 used on the rocket principle. Two jets of steam, one on each 

 side of the vessel, ought to be well under command, so that 

 either jet could be stopped or reversed at a moment's notice, 

 and in this way they could also be used for steering, in the event 

 of the rudder being carried away — a most serious accident, not 

 uncommon in the pack. 



Doubtless, Ross had good reasons for going through the 

 pack, perhaps in connection with the magnetic observations. 

 It is impossible to read the narrative of his voyage without 

 feeling that he must have been eminently fitted for such a com- 

 mand. With his large experience of ice in the Arctic seas — 

 acquired while serving under such experienced commanders as 

 his uncle. Admiral Sir John Ross, and Sir Edward Parry — and 

 his high scientific attainments, he seems to have been also a 

 thorough gentleman, an intrepid sailor, and a conscientious 

 God-fearing man. It is easy to see that he could have accom- 



