FORTUNA BAY: STROMNESS BAY 331 



possible but doubtful anchorage. Captain Cook's landing is in this bay, but is not, I 

 believe, known. Here again the result of the survey was satisfactory. The scale by the 

 run was compared with the scale by the triangulation and the difference turned out to 

 be about 5 per cent. 



The next day, March 30, we proceeded on the next stage of the voyage to Fortuna Bay. 

 Antarctic Bay is of little use for navigation. It had been intended to complete a running 

 survey of the bay on the way, but as the weather showed signs of becoming worse, it was 

 deemed inadvisable to risk being detained there. This would have been particularly 

 undesirable, as the bay was entirely unknown to me. It was on leaving Prince Olaf 

 Harbour that we, for the first time, hoisted our colours and paying-off pennant, these 

 and the ensign staff having been manufactured by the men. We called in at Blue Whale 

 Bay to fill in a small lacuna in our soundings and then proceeded to Fortuna Bay, arriving 

 there in time to avoid the weather, which was blowing up from the north-west. 



Fortuna Bay (Chart 3) 



The sounding of Fortuna Bay was immediately proceeded with and a good deal of it 

 finished before nightfall, notwithstanding the strong wind which had by now risen on 

 the east side of the bay. Next daytheworkwasresumed,inthehopeof being able to leave 

 for Stromness Bay on the following day. The sounding was completed ; but departure 

 was delayed, as we could see without going out that there was a big sea running, with a 

 strong wind. 



By the evening of April i , however, the wind had veered sufficiently to give us a lee 

 down to Cape Saunders, and we proceeded with a heavy swell, in which we were 

 mistaken for a small growler by a whale-catcher which passed us on her way to Leith. 

 Although the wind was blowing with considerable strength out of Stromness Bay, we 

 were able to reach Leith Harbour at the cost of a good soaking; but this, as we were 

 not going to camp, did not worry us. 



Stromness Bay (Chart 2) 

 Having now completed the major portion of our passage, it was decided to spend a 

 few days in Stromness Bay, running the measured mile, fixing a few further details (such 

 as a new light at Leith), and finally visiting the Managers of the whaling stations, who 

 had helped so much to make the commission successful. The decision to stay would have 

 been forced on us in any case, as from the next day a spell of foul weather set in, culmi- 

 nating on April 6, 7 and 8 in a terrific gale, commencing as usual in the north-west. In 

 this gale the stout moorings of the S.S. 'Coronda' were carried away, forcing her to 

 fill her ballast tanks and rest on the bottom. The wind also bent a chimney ashore. 

 Next day the gale, having veered to the west, blew down a hut and wireless telegraphy 

 mast, and blew off a roof at Stromness. Still veering, it blew with great violence at 

 Husvik, and prevented the factory ship entering or having any communication with 

 the shore. This was believed to have been the strongest gale of the season : certainly it 

 seemed to last longer than usual. As was usually the case, the gale was hardly felt at the 



Meteorological Station at Grytviken. 



5-2 



