320 



DISCOVERY REPORTS 



returned to the South Orkneys from the south on March 21 seeking a safe harbour 

 in which to pass the winter, but found the only harbours then known in the group, 

 Spence's and Ellefsen's, to be quite unsuitable. Eventually on March 25 a safe anchorage 

 was found at the head of Scotia Bay (Fig. 8) at the south-western end of Laurie Island. 

 Two days later pack-ice filled the bay and the ' Scotia ' remained there firmly beset 

 until November 23 when the ice began to break up. On November 27 she left the 

 South Orkneys for Buenos Aires in order to refit, returning again on February 14, 1904. 

 On February 22 she finally left the South Orkneys, and cruising into the Weddell Sea 

 eventually penetrated to 74° S and discovered Coats Land. 



Approximate position of CaJrn (The Beachi) 

 LAT. 60<'44- S., LONG.4^°50'W. 



Approximate Scale glnch = I Mile 





«90' 



'Murdoch 



Fig. 8. Bruce's Chart of Laurie Island: from the outline map in The Voyage of the 'Scotia'. 



As far as the South Orkneys are concerned the 'Scotia's' observations were entirely 

 confined to Laurie Island and certain of its off-lying islets, apart from the single landing 

 on Saddle Island already mentioned and a brief landing of about ten minutes' duration 

 on the east coast of Coronation Island in March 1903 during the search for a winter 

 harbour. 



In addition to its pioneer oceanographical work in the Weddell Sea and its compre- 

 hensive observations on the fauna and flora, and on the geology and glaciology of Laurie 

 Island, two notable achievements of this expedition are worthy of special mention. The 

 first was the establishment by Bruce of a meteorological and magnetic station at Laurie 

 Island on the narrow strip of low ground, known as the Beach, which separates Scotia 



