TYPE OF VESSEL SELECTED 35 



dining the sides of the vessel until her shape was something 

 like that of a saucer, and lateral pressure merely tended to raise 

 her above the surface. Simple as this design was, it fulfilled so 

 well the requirements of the situation that its conception was 

 certainly a stroke of genius. But what is generally overlooked 

 is that this quality was only got by the sacrifice of others, 

 which, though they might not be needed on that expedition, 

 might be very much required on future ones. In short, the 

 safety of the ' Fram ' was achieved at the expense of her sea- 

 worthiness and powers of ice-penetration. 



Hence it will be seen that since the advent of the ' Fram ' 

 there are two distinct types of Polar vessels, the one founded 

 essentially on the idea of passive security in the ice, the other 

 the old English whaler type, designed to sail the high seas and 

 push forcefully through the looser ice-packs. 



A very brief consideration of Southern conditions will 

 show which of these two types is better suited for Antarctic 

 exploration, for it is obvious that the exploring ship must be 

 prepared to navigate the most tempestuous seas in the world, 

 and then to force her way through the ice-floes to the mysteries 

 beyond. As yet the Southern Regions have shown no uses 

 for the type which achieves safety at the expense of progress. 

 It will be seen, therefore, that the Committee had a clear issue 

 in deciding to adopt good and well-tried English lines for 

 its vessel, and certainly in the excellent qualities which the 

 ' Discovery ' showed, the decision was justified. 



It is fair to add, however, that whilst this view commended 

 itself so clearly to the English Committee, it was not adopted 

 in Germany. Speaking at the Geographical Congress at Berlin 

 in 1899, Nansen strongly recommended for South Polar work 

 a vessel of the ' Fram ' type with fuller lines ; this was, in fact, 

 an attempt to produce all qualities by a compromise, and those 

 responsible for the construction of the ' Gauss ' adopted the 

 idea. I am not in possession of any detailed information con- 

 cerning the performance of the ' Gauss ' as a sea-boat or in 

 pushing through the ice ; but with a knowledge of her lines 

 and her small engine-power, and my experience in the Southern 



D2 



