RUNNING SURVEYS IN 'SOUTHERN PRIDE' 333 



North and West Coast (Chart i) 



This day, ahhough we reached Elsehul, we had thick fog and could do nothing: but 

 we prepared to leave whenever it should clear. Next morning, although wet at an 

 early hour, cleared up by 7 a.m. and we proceeded. First a line of soundings was run 

 through Bird Sound (Strait of Laroche), then, taking a departure from Pearson Point, 

 the west end of Bird Island, we completed a running sketch survey of the Willis Islands 

 and the rocks to the westward of them. These were found to be 3 miles east of their 

 charted position, as we had reported in 1929. A course was then shaped to pass over the 

 positions of two breakers reported north of Willis Islands, but although a sharp look out 

 was kept from the mast-head and there was sufficient swell to break in at least 3 or 4 

 fathoms, nothing was seen of either. A sounding was taken at each position, yielding in 

 each case about 50 fathoms. 



Thence, running south through Stewart Strait, we fixed the position of a breaker west 

 of Bird Island. Here also some soundings were taken and solar observations were 

 obtained two or three times. 



Our next work was fixing and sketching Annenkov Island and a rock reported to the 

 southward. A departure from Cape Paryadin was taken and a distance run which 

 tallied with the charted position of Annenkov. Unfortunately, as was to be expected, 

 clouds, mist, occasional rain and a freshening westerly wind now commenced to hamper 

 us, so that we could not see any of the mainland, which would have helped us to fix the 

 island firmly. It is considered, however, that the approximation is fairly close. 



The accuracy of position assigned to the rock to the southward, which we called 

 Theodor Rock, after the gunner, Theodor Hansen, who told me of it, depends upon the 

 position of Annenkov. 



Returning northward after our visit to Theodor Rock, I wished if possible to pass 

 east of Annenkov, and accordingly we steered for its south-east point. On getting fairly 

 close we found that there appeared to be an uninterrupted reef with some larger rocks 

 and islets extending nearly as far as Cape Darnley, and we were compelled reluctantly 

 to abandon the idea. A passage is reported between Cape Darnley and the easternmost 

 rocks. 



Pickersgill Island was considered too far for examination, as the weather was becoming 

 rapidly worse, and it was now about 5 p.m. Course was shaped, therefore, for Holme- 

 strand, which I wished to inspect. Neither I nor the crew of the whale-catcher had ever 

 been there and its charting is, to say the least, imaginative. We spent some time in the 

 falling dusk looking for it. Having passed a particular spot, I happened to glance round 

 and saw a large roller break not 150 yards astern. We decided to return to Prince Olaf 

 Harbour and were obliged to heave to during the middle of the night when the squalls 

 were specially thick. We arrived in Prince Olaf Harbour at about 6 a.m. It was, I think, 

 a most successful trip, helped largely by the ready co-operation of the Master of the 

 whale-catcher. Captain Mathisen. 



It had been noticed everywhere about South Georgia that most points, headlands, etc., 

 presented a similar appearance, that is, an almost flat-topped rocky ledge at nearly water- 



