88 DISCOVERY REPORTS 



We do not propose, in this report, to discuss in detail this question of the continental shelf 

 surrounding Antarctica. The presence of a well-defined shelf only in certain places may be found to 

 be related closely to the existence, among others, of features such as the Kerguelen-Gaussberg Ridge 



1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 



.1000 

 METRES 



Fig. 17. Approaches to Antarctica. Vertical scale, x 25. Positions of soundings are marked on the horizontal scales. 

 {a) Towards Adelie Land, on a south-easterly course. Continuous record from point marked R. Note wide continental 

 shelf in this area. (6) In the meridian of Greenwich. Continuous record for 35 miles. Very narrow continental shelf, (f) In 

 the longitude of 3° E. Bottom rises abruptly to the land from a depth of 1000 m. (547 fm.). 



and the Scotia Arc. On the other hand, the width of the shelf may depend on the geological structure 

 of the continent and the incidence of large glaciers. In order to arrive at any conclusion, however, 

 about the relationship of the shelf with the various ridges which approach Antarctica from seaward, it 

 will be necessary to examine the many thousands of oceanic soundings taken by the Discovery Investi- 

 gations around the continent; it will, perhaps, be more suitable to revert to the continental shelf of 

 Antarctica when we consider these soundings. It is hoped to begin this work in the near future. 



SOUNDINGS IN OTHER LOCALITIES 



The majority of soundings taken during the work of the Discovery Committee (and all of these 

 outside the Atlantic sector) are from the 'Discovery II'. The principal tracks of this ship between 

 1932 and 1939 are shown in Text-fig. 18 (p. 89), and since soundings were taken at intervals of 8 or 

 9 miles throughout nearly all of these routes, it will easily be understood that they provide a very large 

 number of new oceanic soundings south of 40° S. These soundings, added to the existing data, might 

 justify the construction of a new bathymetric chart of the Southern Ocean. It is hoped to prepare 

 such a chart later on, but in view of recently published charts and the prospects of additional data, 

 it is thought better not to include it with the present report. 



