304 DISCOVERY REPORTS 



the courtesy of the Tonsberg Whaling Company, however, and of her Master, Captain 

 Soren Berntsen, the passages needed were secured in the S.S. 'Orwell' and, together 

 with our boats and stores, we sailed from Barry on September 15, 1928. After an 

 uneventful passage we arrived at Husvik on October 13, and were met by my assistant 

 with his men. 



The active part of our work now commenced. Our main base was to be the Marine 

 Biological Station at Grytviken. By the courtesy of Mr Hjalmar Andersen, Manager at 

 Husvik, our stores were accordingly transferred there in one of his whale-catchers. 



The motor boat, now christened 'Alert' (Plate XL, fig. i), after some trials, 

 proceeded to Grytviken on October 15, and although light, behaved on the first 

 open-sea trip in a reassuring manner. This trip was undertaken partly as a trial and partly 

 to bring the crew to Grytviken, where they were required to stow the stores, unpack the 

 instruments and fit the wireless telegraphy receiving set, sounding machine and other 

 appliances into place. 



When this work was finished we returned to Husvik on October 25, large masses of 

 loose ice in Grytviken Harbour having prevented an earlier passage. While proceeding 

 from place to place in the 'Alert' during the whole of the subsequent operations, 

 covering some 3000 miles, no assistance was ever asked or needed, except on one 

 occasion which will be mentioned in its place. 



Husvik and Biisen Fjord (Chart 2) 



It was decided to survey this area on two different scales, one for Husvik harbour 

 proper and a smaller scale for Busen Fjord. 



The work was carried out on normal lines, that is by erecting beacons (a supply of 

 poles had been brought, together with a quantity of calico flags to make them con- 

 spicuous) at suitable spots for main stations, and smaller beacons with pieces of calico as 

 sounding marks and to mark the coast-line. 



Two theodolites were carried in the ' Alert ', leaving one spare at Grytviken ; generally 

 they were used simultaneously, one by the assistant, the other by myself. 



A difliculty in using theodolites — one which it was impossible to evade — was the 

 attentions of skua gulls, which are very numerous. Unfortunately these birds build 

 their nests on the ground at or near places usually very suitable for main stations. 

 During the whole time the angles were being taken, if a nest were anywhere near, both 

 parent birds would take turns at swooping to within inches of one's head. We killed 

 many with broomsticks (which we carried for sounding marks), so close did they come. 

 As they are large fierce birds, they cannot be disregarded, and we could not spare an 

 extra hand to protect the observer. All we could do was partly to erect the beacon and 

 flag, and use the theodolite from under it. Terns are worse ofll^enders, as they attack in 

 mass formation ; but they generally build on rocky screes and clifl^s where theodolites 

 are not likely to be set up. 



After the plotting had been done coast-lining and sounding could be commenced. 

 Owing to the inexperience of the crew in sounding this was rather awkward at first, and 



