154 DISCOVERY REPORTS 



verted her for commercial trading purposes, her great strength rendering her very 

 suitable for work in the Arctic fur trade. For her special service with this Company 

 the windlass was removed from below the forecastle deck and fitted on the forecastle 

 head, the space below the forecastle deck being used as accommodation for the crew. 

 The magnetic observatory and the dredging laboratories on the sides of the vessel 

 were extended to accommodate the ship's officers. The whole of the accommodation 

 in the 'tween decks was removed, and the vessel was left with clear hold space from the 

 collision bulkhead to the boiler-room bulkhead, so as to give as large a carrying capacity 

 as practicable. The arrangements for unshipping the propeller at sea were dispensed 

 with, and a permanent propeller shaft of the ordinary type was fitted. A number of 

 fittings, including the engineers' workshop, were also removed, since they were con- 

 sidered unnecessary for ordinary trading purposes. 



PURCHASE FOR WHALING RESEARCH AND RECONDITIONING 



When the question of undertaking scientific research in Antarctic waters was con- 

 sidered by the Interdepartmental Committee for Research and Development in the 

 Dependencies of the Falkland Islands, a special subcommittee under the chairmanship 

 of Captain C. V. Smith, R.N., was appointed to advise on the type of vessel and equip- 

 ment which would be necessary. The report of the subcommittee was published in 1920 

 with that of the Committee itself (Cmd. 657, p. 145), and recommended the provision 

 of two wooden vessels with auxiliary steam power. 



A second interdepartmental Committee was then appointed to consider the acqui- 

 sition of two research vessels such as had been proposed. This Ship Committee 

 included the Director and Assistant Director of Naval Construction, representatives 

 of the Department of the Engineer-in-Chief of the Admiralty, the Consulting Naval 

 Architects to the Crown Agents for the Colonies, the Royal Geographical Society 

 and other Departments concerned in marine biological research. It was found im- 

 practicable owing to financial considerations to build the two ships required. The 

 structural details and qualities of vessels which had already been used in polar research, 

 and such whaling and sealing vessels as were on the market, were therefore examined, 

 and after a number had been considered it was decided that the 'Discovery' most 

 nearly met all requirements. In making this decision the Ship Committee was influenced 

 largely by the great strength of the vessel and by the fact that she had been primarily 

 constructed for work in the Antarctic. Navigating in ice-laden waters she would be 

 safer than any other vessel afloat, and though it was realized that to winter in the south 

 did not come within the scope of the work contemplated, the risk that she might on 

 some occasion be hemmed in by ice could not be overlooked. 



In consequence of this decision, and before purchase was completed, as detailed an 

 examination as possible was made of the ship and her machinery; with the consent 

 of her owners she was dry-docked for this purpose in January, 1923. 



