WE LEAVE THE BARRIER 295 



A. Kutschin and O. K. Sundbeck. The first four 

 formed one watch, from eight to two, and the last five 

 the other, from two to eight. Last, but not least, comes 

 K. Olsen, cook. 



Having made ready for sea, we let go our moorings 

 on the Ice Barrier at 9 a.m. on February 15, 1911. 

 Hassel, Wisting, Bjaaland, and Stubberud came down 

 to see us off. As in the course of the last few days the 

 ice had broken up right to the end of the bay, we went 

 as far south as possible to take a sounding; the shallowest 

 we got was 155f fathoms (285 metres) . The bay ended 

 in a ridge of ice on the east, which was continued in a 

 northerly direction, so that at the spot where we were 

 stopped by the Barrier, we reached the most southerly 

 point that a vessel can attain, so long as the Barrier 

 remains as it is now. Highest latitude 78° 41' S. When 

 the Terra Nova was here, her latitude and ours was 

 78° 38' S. 



The last two days before our departure had been calm, 

 and a thick, dense sludge lay over the whole bay; so 

 dense was it that the Fram lost her way altogether, and 

 we had to keep going ahead and astern until we came 

 out into a channel. Seals by the hundred were lying 

 on the floes, but as we had a quantity of seal's flesh, we 

 left them in peace for a change. 



Before the Chief began the laying out of depots, I 

 received from him the following orders: 



