THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS 



By Stanley Kemp, Sc.D., f.r.s., and A. L. Nelson, r.n.r. 



(Plates XI-XXXI, text-figs. 1-21) 



INTRODUCTION 



AT the end of February 1930 the R.R.S. ' Discovery II ' had occasion to visit the South 

 JTx. Sandwich Islands. We had just completed a survey of the plankton and hydrology 

 of the South Georgia whaling grounds, and, following a prearranged programme, it was 

 our intention to begin a line of deep-water stations extending from the west of the South 

 Sandwich Islands to a point on the Burdwood Bank near Cape Horn. We had already 

 learnt from the vessels of the whaling fleet that the pack-ice, which often surrounds the 

 islands, was far to the south of its normal limits, and on reaching the group we found 

 that except for bergs and growlers the whole sea was open. In view of our very scanty 

 knowledge of this Dependency of the Falkland Islands, we felt with Capt. Carey that the 

 exceptional opportunity which thus presented itself should not be lost, and with the 

 approval of the Discovery Committee twenty days were spent in examining the islands. 



Our primary object was to make as good a survey of the group as time permitted. 

 We therefore steamed at slow speed round each island, fixing its position astronomically, 

 and plotting its coast-line and outlying dangers by running survey : possible anchorages 

 were explored, and whenever the mountain tops became free of mist and cloud, their 

 heights were determined.^ At the same time soundings were continuously taken with 

 the echo-sounding apparatus, giving some idea of the conformation of the sea-bottom 

 in the vicinity of the islands. These soundings were taken by members of the scientific 

 staff, the majority of them by Mr H. F. P. Herdman. Numerous photographs were 

 taken by Dr E. H. Marshall, and sketches from various points of view were made by 

 Lt.-Cmdr. J. Irving: we owe to them a series of illustrations which add largely to the 

 value of this report. Notes were made on the topography of the islands and on the birds 

 and seals, but unfortunately we had no expert geologist with us. The bold cliff faces 

 often showed magnificent exposures of volcanic rock, and we felt that a geologist might 

 have done much, even from the deck of the ship. 



At several selected points between the islands observations were made on the hydro- 

 logy and plankton, and on occasions when it was impossible to continue the survey 

 owing to thick or heavy weather, trawls and dredges were shot, resulting in an interesting 



1 The whole of this work was very efficiently carried out by the Navigating Officer, Lieut. A. L. Nelson, 

 and its rapid completion and accuracy of detail are entirely due to his unremitting efforts: observations of 

 heavenly bodies were seldom possible owing to the thick weather, but he never missed an opportunity of 

 obtaining them and showed tireless energy in prosecuting the survey. — S. Kemp, W. M. Carey. 



