SURVEYS IN R.R.S. 'WILLIAM SCORESBY' 315 



turned out to be the Fridtjof Nansen Bank and another a breaker ver^' seldom seen off 

 Cape George. Unfortunately the latter was not observed again and is therefore still not 

 definitely fixed: the depth over it must be considerable, probably 4 or 5 fathoms. 



The end of the season was approaching as we completed the survey, and having 

 regard to the shortening days and bad weather, it was not considered desirable to 

 commence other work before the winter. The snow was now beginning to lie thickly. 

 Moreover, we had to take over the Marine Biological Station from those then in charge 

 of it. The return to Grytviken, therefore, was decided on, and was eventually carried 

 out on April 10, 1929. We completed some work on the way. 



It was on one of our periodical returns to Grytviken from Godthul for stores that 

 we had our worst passage. Although the outside portion of the passage is only 6 miles, 

 an hour's run, between our departure from Pleasant Cove and our arrival at ' Alert ' Rock, 

 when about half way, the wind from a flat calm became north-west, right in our teeth, 

 and of force 6. Since the glass was falling and the breeze still freshening, I decided that 

 we should have to maintain full speed at all costs to get into comparative shelter as soon 

 as possible. It was not a very pleasant experience, as we took some green seas right 

 over and had to start pumping, but the boat behaved very well. By this time, in the 

 considerable sea running, we could not have turned back without great danger. 



I mention this passage to show how quickly the weather may become impossible for 

 a small boat round these coasts. Of course, also, the danger of the engine developing 

 some trouble had always to be borne in mind. We had the sail to fall back upon, but 

 the 'Alert' was naturally not very weatherly, and the large sea-anchor we had made, 

 though useful to keep her head to the wind in case of temporary stoppage, would not 

 have kept her from going ashore. The 45-lb. anchor would not give great security, as 

 until actuallv on the coast the depth of water is so great that no anchor could be expected 

 to get a grip in time. 



SURVEY WORK IN R.R.S. 'WILLIAM SCORESBY", FEBRUARY 5 TO 



MARCH 18, 1929 



On one of our periodical returns to Grytviken for fuel, we were informed that the 

 ' William Scoresby ' was leaving very shortly for a month's cruise in the South Shetlands. 

 This being an excellent opportunity of extending our knowledge there, I immediately 

 arranged to take passage in her with my assistant and one hand. We proceeded on 

 February 5 round the north-west of South Georgia and outside Willis Islands. Passing 

 a short distance off Willis Islands, O'Connor got some observations and bearings, con- 

 firming the fact that they are charted too far west and are actually some miles nearer 

 Bird Island (Chart 3). A report to this effect was made. 



The ' William Scoresby ' was of course occupied on her ordinary work and could not 

 depart from her programme. This, however, included visits to various localities I 

 wished to revisit, including Elephant Island, Admiralty Bay, the north coast of Trinity 

 Peninsula, Deception Island, and all those islands to the south-west which have been 

 mentioned as being very doubtfully charted. Without going into the voyage in detail, it 



