DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS 34i 



frequented by whalers. Signy Island as a whole, although fringed with exposed and sunken 

 rocks on the east, south, and west coasts in particular, possesses several good anchorages 

 for large vessels which are easy of approach and with good holding ground ; in one, if not 

 in another, shelter can be obtained from almost any wind. Ellefsen, at the southern end 

 of Powell Island, is an excellent little harbour. It is small, but the holding ground is 

 good, and it is protected on three sides, by Powell Island in the north, Michelsen Island 

 in the east, and Christoffersen Island in the west. It is exposed to the south, but some- 

 times, as in January 1933, it is protected against swells from that quarter by the large 

 number of icebergs that may be stranded about its southern approach. Heavy weather 

 from the south is, however, comparatively rare, the strongest winds being from the west 

 or south-west. The neighbouring Falkland Harbour is shallow and suitable only for 

 small craft and its entrance is narrow and foul on either side ; it used to be frequented by 

 whale-catchers in the early days of whaling at the South Orkneys. Sandefjord Bay, at 

 the south-western corner of Coronation Island, is a large and roomy harbour with good 

 holding ground. The usual approach is from the south, which is exposed, but there is a 

 second outlet in the north, the Narrows, barely 200 yards across and with a swift tide 

 (see Chart I). There is yet another and narrower outlet to the east of the Narrows, be- 

 tween Spine Island and the mainland, which was not examined by the ' Discovery II ' ; 

 according to Powell (see p. 295) the tide runs strongly through it and there is a sunken 

 rock in the centre. Among other well-known anchorages at the South Orkneys neither 

 Scotia Bay nor Uruguay Cove in Laurie Island are greatly to be recommended, although 

 both have been used for a long time by the Argentine ships that visit the meteorological 

 station. Both are exposed ; of the two Uruguay Cove on the whole provides the better 

 shelter, the adjacent anchorage at the head of Scotia Bay being very small and the hold- 

 ing ground indifferent. The former, however, is uncomfortable during gales from the 

 north-north-east and north-west, when heavy seas drive in and break on the Beach, 

 occasionally rendering it dangerous for vessels discharging stores for the station. ' 



Among other and less attractive anchorages arc Gibbon Bay, Petters Bay and Spence 

 Harbour on the east coast of Coronation Island, the western side of Norway Bight on 

 the south coast, and some others. Although all are too open to afford any great pro- 

 tection and have comparatively deep water, they nevertheless provide useful temporary 

 anchoring places. Similar shelter may be found in almost any of the deep bays running 

 into the north and south coasts of Laurie Island. The north coast of Coronation Island 

 on the other hand is far less deeply indented; it is inclined to be a lee shore, being ex- 

 posed to much of the worst weather that visits the group. 



The uncertain movements of the pack-ice in the northern bays (see p. 348) render 

 them unsuitable as winter anchorages, and vessels intending to spend the winter at the 

 South Orkneys should therefore seek the southern side of the group, where though 

 they may expect to be frozen in for some months, there is less chance of their anchorage 

 becoming insecure or dangerous through a sudden break-up of the ice followed by 

 alternate driving in and out of the floes. 



1 Yalour, J., he. cit., pp. 33-8. 



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