332 DISCOVERY REPORTS 



During this time we took occasion to revisit all three harbours and our friends at 

 each, according as the wind permitted. Finally, on April 9, in beautiful weather, we 

 rehoisted our colours and pennant and left Stromness Bay for good. 



The final stage of our voyage was uneventful, with little wind but colossal following 

 swell. We arrived at Grytviken about lunch time, having stopped outside for awhile to 

 clean ship. At my request, a photograph of the 'Alert' was taken by Mr Saunders of 

 the staff of the Marine Biological Station (Plate XL, fig. i). 



During every passage from harbour to harbour, whenever it was humanly possible, 

 a rough sketch survey of the coast-line was always made. Of almost all the coast from 

 Larsen Point to Farewell Point (Bird Island) two such sketches at least were made, one 

 while travelling in one direction, and one on the return passage. The terminal points 

 we connected in each case with the harbours between which they are situated. These 

 connecting pieces of coast seem to contain nothing of any navigational value which 

 cannot be shown in the sketches. The latter are considered sufficient for practical pur- 

 poses, especially as they were done in the 'Alert' at a very short distance off shore — 

 very much nearer, in fact, than any larger craft could approach with safety. In the 

 passage up the south-west coast in the 'William Scoresby' (which was made later) the 

 coast as charted from Undine South Harbour to Cape Demidov was found to be grossly 

 in error, and an adjustment was attempted. This, although at best only a very rough 

 approximation, is considered to be much better than the existing charts. As this coast 

 is practically unvisited, however, this is of the less consequence. 



As arranged I went out in the 'William Scoresby', although only for a week, starting 

 on Monday morning, April 14, and leaving my assistant behind to superintend slipping the 

 boats, and listing and packing the gear. The slipping of the ' Alert ' was a delicate piece of 

 work ; it entailed hauling her up on the Marine Biological Station slip, moving her 10 ft. 

 to one side, and finally hauling her up on a bed between two boatsheds. All this was 

 accomplished by O'Connor with no outside assistance, and with no power of any sort 

 except a small hand winch. The boat weighs 2| tons or more. Not a yarn was broken. 

 This piece of work reflects great credit on him and his three men Alsford, Briggs and 

 Purvis. The engine also had to be greased and everything made snug for the winter, 

 and this also was excellently carried out by the same hands. 



SURVEY WORK IN WHALE-CATCHER 'SOUTHERN PRIDE', FEBRUARY 17-19, 1930 



This work in the ' Southern Pride' occupied two days. 



On Monday, February 17, the weather looked promising, and having put all necessary 

 instruments and the sounding machine on board the whale-catcher on the previous day, 

 we made a start from Prince Olaf Harbour at 6 a.m. In conversation with the gunners 

 of some of the whale-catchers who had been coming here for many years, information 

 had been obtained as to several rocks and shoals, of which previously we had not even 

 heard. These, with their approximate positions, had been transmitted to the Committee 

 for the information of the Hydrographic Office, but they had not hitherto been properly 

 fixed. It was our intention, therefore, to commence by fixing as many of them as possible. 



