OBJECTS OF THE INVESTIGATIONS 149 



Scoresby' has hitherto undertaken this work during the southern winter when the 

 whaling stations in the Dependencies are closed. 



At South Georgia Elephant Seals are abundant, and each year, when they haul up 

 on the beaches during the breeding season, great numbers are killed for the oil contained 

 in their blubber. The industry is a profitable one and has been carried on for many 

 years under strict Government control. The regulations are well devised and there is 

 happily little fear that the stock is being depleted ; but since there are many points in 

 the natural history of these animals on which little is known, the Committee considered 

 that some attention should be paid to them in the course of the Discovery investigations. 

 It was also thought that the bird life of the island should not be neglected. These two 

 branches of work have been in the hands of one of the staff of the Marine Biological 

 Station. 



Prior to the commencement of the Discovery investigations little hydrographic 

 surveying had been done in the Dependencies of the Falkland Islands, and the Discovery 

 Committee hoped that in the course of their work it would be possible to make con- 

 siderable improvements to existing charts. Of the known harbours few had been 

 surveyed, the positions of many of the islands were doubtful and the whaling community 

 was most anxious for better information. To carry out surveys in conjunction with the 

 programme outlined above was admittedly not easy to arrange, but the Admiralty, 

 through their representative on the Committee, strongly supported the proposal and 

 a trained surveyor was seconded from their Hydrographic Department as one of the 

 executive officers of the ' Discovery'. In spite of limited opportunities this officer was 

 able during the past commission to carry out some important surveys in the Depend- 

 encies, and an account of the work done will be published in due course in these 

 Reports. During the season 1928-9 assistants and a specially built motor launch have 

 been placed at the disposal of this officer, who will be occupied entirely in hydrographic 

 survey. 



In all the investigations which have been made in the south, the co-operation of the 

 whaling community has been a very material advantage, and we owe a debt of gratitude 

 in particular to the managers of the land stations. Facilities for work on the flensing 

 plane and opportunities for cruises on whale-catchers were freely given ; labour, which 

 often could ill be spared, was furnished for the preparation of whale skeletons or for 

 work at the biological station; transport for personnel and material was placed when 

 needed at our disposal, and arrangements made for periodic supplies of fresh provisions. 

 To these benefits the managers added their own most generous hospitality. Our thanks 

 are specially due to Capt. V. Esbensen at Grytviken, to Capt. T. Sorrle at Stromness, 

 to Mr L. H. Hansen at Leith and to Capt. 0re at Deception Island. 



The reconditioning of the R.R.S. 'Discovery' and the construction of the R.S.S. 

 ' William Scoresby ' were carried out by the Crown Agents for the Colonies with the 

 advice of Messrs Flannery, Baggallay and Johnson, Ltd., Consulting Naval Architects. 

 The Crown Agents have been responsible for all contracts for provisions and other 

 supplies for the two vessels, as well as for the erection and equipment of the Marine 



