440 PEESONALIA : 1898-1906 



The Captain and head of the Scientific Staff [Dr. E. A. 

 Wilson] both came here and looked over my Antarctic 

 sketches.* I liked much what I saw of both. 



In a discussion at the Koyal Society on an Antarctic 

 Expedition (February 24, 1898), speaking of the unknown 

 origin of the Great Barrier, where no landing seemed possible 

 on its precipitous ice cliffs, he said : 



It probably abuts upon land, possibly upon an Antarctic 

 Continent ; but to prove this was impossible on the occasion 

 of Ross's visit, for the height of the crow's nest above the 

 surface of the sea was not sufficient to enable him to over- 

 look the upper surface of the ice, nor do I see any other way 

 of settling this important point except by the use of a captive 

 balloon — an implement with which I hope any future expedi- 

 tion to the Antarctic regions will be supplied. 



Add to this its possible use in recovering a lost party, and 

 finding open water. There were several occasions when Ross 

 could have used it when coasting along the Barrier, and more 

 when it would have helped navigation in the Pack. Hence 

 in sending a subscription for the purpose to Captain Scott, 

 Hooker put it neatly : 



May 19, 1901. 



Dear Captain Scott, — As I was the first to suggest the 

 use of a captive Balloon in Antarctic discovery, so I ought 

 to be one of the first to respond to your appeal, which will, 

 I do hope, prove successful. 



Very sincerely yours, 



J. D. Hooker. 

 Enclosed cheque £10 10s. 



The fact that the German Expedition under Dr. Drygalski 

 in the Gauss had at once taken up the idea no doubt aided its 

 adoption here ; but when he had finally seen the ' cumbrous 

 gasometer ' on the Discovery, he was fain to confess that if 

 he had known the space the apparatus would occupy on board 

 he might not have been so insistent. For after his first visit 

 to look at the Discovery in July 1901, he strongly urged the 

 utility of a balloon upon Sir C. Markham, and advised him to 



