I9II] CLEAR WEATHER 151 



and this morning we have sunshine for the first time for many- 

 days. If this weather holds for a day we shall be all right. 

 We are getting towards the end of our luxuries, so that it is 

 quite time we made a move — we are very near the end of the 

 sugar. 



The skuas seem to have gone, the last was seen on Sunday. 

 These birds were very shy towards the end of their stay, also 

 very dark in plumage; they did not seem hungry, and yet it 

 must have been difficult for them to get food. 



The seals are coming up in our Bay — five last night. Luckily 

 the dogs have not yet discovered them or the fact that the sea 

 ice will bear them. 



Had an interesting talk with Taylor on agglomerate and 

 basaltic dykes of Castle Rock. The perfection of the smaill 

 cone craters below Castle Rock seem to support the theory we 

 have come to, that there have been volcanic disturbances since 

 the recession of the greater ice sheet. 



It is a great thing having Wright to fog out the ice prob- 

 lems, and he has had a good opportunity of observing many 

 interesting things here. He is keeping notes of ice changes and 

 a keen eye on ice phenomena; we have many discussions. 



Yesterday Wilson prepared a fry of seal meat with penguin 

 blubber. It had a flavour like cod-liver oil and was not much 

 appreciated — some ate their share, and I think all would have 

 done so if we had had sledging appetites — shades of Discovery 

 days ! I^*^ 



This Emperor weighed anything from 88 to 96 lbs., and 

 therefore approximated to or exceeded the record. 



The dogs are doing pretty well with one or two exceptions. 

 Deek is the worst, but I begin to think all will pull through. 



Thursday, April 6, A.M. — The weather continued fine and 

 clear yesterday — one of the very few fine days we have had 

 since our arrival at the hut. 



The sun shone continuously from early morning till it set 

 behind the northern hills about 5 p.m. The sea froze com- 

 pletely, but with only a thin sheet to the north. A fairly strong 

 northerly wind sprang up, causing this thin ice to override and 

 to leave several open leads near the land. In the forenoon I went 

 to the edge of the new ice with Wright. It looked at the limit 

 of safety and we did not venture far. The over-riding is Inter- 



