256 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



DETAILS OF OBSERVATIONAL WORK. 

 OCEAN WORK. 



After a stay at San Francisco of five weeks, during which shore 

 observations and instrumental comparisons were made and the vessel 

 was overhauled and outfitted, the Carnegie left this port on November 

 1, 1916, bound for Easter Island. Light and variable winds were 

 encountered until the vessel reached the northeast trade-wind region. 

 In the calm belt near the equator, between the northeast and the south- 

 east trades, continuous light airs from the south to southwest caused 

 a delay of over two weeks and forced the vessel far to eastward of her 

 intended route. The remainder of the voyage was made under good 

 conditions and Easter Island was reached on December 24, 1916. 



The stop at Easter Island was made in order to obtain magnetic 

 data regarding secular changes, to secure a supply of fresh water, and 

 to break the monotony of the long voyage from San Francisco to 

 Buenos Aires. A magnetic station was established and a 24-hour 

 series of declination readings was obtained. The party visited various 

 points of interest on the island and obtained some valuable photo- 

 graphs of the large statues for which the island is particularly noted. 



After taking on board a small supply of fresh water and pro\isions, 

 the vessel sailed on January 2, 1917, for Buenos Aires. After leaving 

 Easter Island adverse winds prevented the vessel from entering the 

 unsurveyed area to the northeast, as had been planned. On January 

 19, 1917, Gambler Islands were passed. As no stop was contemplated, 

 a small barrel, containing an abstract of all scientific results to date, 

 was set adrift about one-half mile off the southeast entrance to Manga 

 Reva Harbor. 



Between January 22 and January 27 long and severe gales from the 

 east to southeast were encountered. They were followed by two weeks 

 of variable winds and weather, head- winds alternating with calms. 

 When the vessel finally entered the region of the strong westerly winds, 

 rapid progress was made toward Cape Horn. On February 16 the 

 Diego Ramirez Islands were sighted as expected, and Cape Horn was 

 passed the next morning. In the vicinity of Cape Horn the weather 

 varied rapidly from one extreme to the other. The afternoon of 

 February 16 was rainy and stormy, with a heavy gale from the north- 

 west, but the evening was beautifully clear and almost calm. Feb- 

 ruary 17 saw a repetition of the same change, the storm}" weather 

 ending early in the forenoon, the remainder of the day being clear and 

 affording a fine view of Cape Horn and Tierra del Fuego. Owing to 

 variable and adverse winds, some difficulty was experienced in weather- 

 ing Staten Island and also the Falkland Islands later. The vessel 

 passed to the westward of the latter group in order to avoid the icebergs 

 and rough seas to the eastward. 



