320 



NA TURE 



[February i. 1900 



The geologist's duties will include the study of the 

 samples of deep-sea deoosits brought up by the sounding- 

 rod, and also the chemical investigation of the sea-water, 

 the physical properties of which will be studied by the 

 geographer. The geologist will, of course, be busily 

 employed at every landing. He will take part in sledge 

 journeys from the land station, along the coast, and oc- 

 casionally towards the interior. Special attention will 

 be devoted to fossil plants, if such should be found to 

 exist in the far south, as well as to all other paL'eonto- 

 logical and petrographical questions which are likely to 

 allow comparisons to be made between the South Polar 

 region and the rest of the world. 



The Expedition promises a particularly wide field of 

 work to the zoologist and botanist. His prospective col- 

 lections should include every form which can be preserved 

 or carried on board the ship, and they will apply equally 

 to the fauna and flora of the land, of freshwater lakes, of 

 the littoral zone and of the deep sea. Special attention 

 will be paid to the seasonal differences in the occurrence 

 of the various animal forms, and to their development. 

 Biological investigations will, of course, be carried out in 

 close relation to the physical ; in order, for example, to 

 recognise the dependence of plant and animal life on the 

 conditions of the sea-water and the nature of the cur- 

 rents. For this purpose vertical and closing tow-nets 

 have been planned to be used in the different regions, 

 and from the station at different seasons. By comparing 

 the results and those of surface gatherings at the various 

 seasons, data will be obtained for the study of ocean 

 currents. As the Expedition is not primarily intended 

 for deep-sea investigation, it is not proposed to carry on 

 deep-sea observations to a depth greater than looo metres. 

 The gear required for dredging at greater depths would 

 be too cumbrous an addition to the necessary equipment 

 of the ship. This limitation is the less serious since the 

 deep-sea fauna in warmer regions reaches up to within 

 700 metres of the surface, and in cold regions still 

 higher. 



The surgeon of the Expedition will, in addition to the 

 treatment, of such illness as may arise, endeavour to 

 collect information on Polar hygiene by a careful study of 

 the state of health of the members of the Expedition. 

 These observations should enable him to advise the 

 leader on many questions connected with the arrange- 

 ments and manner of life of the Expedition. Further 

 physiological studies will also be carried out, and the 

 surgeon will assist the biologists in observations on the 

 development of various organisms, and especially with 

 bacteriological research. 



The magnetic and meteorological work of the Ex- 

 pedition, like that of the other departments, will be the 

 sole charge of one member of the staff, but he will be 

 assisted in reading the instruments and in other 

 mechanical work by members of the ship's company, 

 and the officers will co-operate in the various physical 

 observations at the station. 



Regular meteorological observations will be taken 

 during the voyage every four hours, if possible, and at 

 the station three times daily. For wind, cloud, and 

 similar phenomena, it will be desirable to organise a 

 system of continual observation of the sky. Self-record- 

 ing apparatus will be employed for pressure, wind, 

 temperature, humidity and duration of sunshine, and in 

 case these should become ineffective through extreme 

 cold their place will be taken by as many eye-observa- 

 tions as can be managed. Special observations during 

 the cruise will be required for such questions as the 

 time of the daily maxima at sea, the best arrangement 

 for a rain-gauge on board, twilight phenomena in the 

 open sea, waterspouts, &c. At the station it is intended 

 to carry out observations on the upper regions of the 

 atmosphere, but to what extent and in what manner can- 



NO. 1579, VOL. 61] 



not be decided until the balloon equipment is definitely 

 arranged. A captive balloon will certainly be carried 

 for the purpose of geographical reconnaissance ; sufficient 

 gas to fill the balloon about ten times, and a lifting power 

 which will make it possible to raise an observer about 

 500 metres, seem to be all that is necessary. It appears to 

 be better to carry the hydrogen for filling the balloon in 

 compressed form rather than to prepare it on the spot, 

 that is, if compressed gas can be carried safely on board, 

 a point on which further information is necessary. 



The programme for magnetic work is not yet definitely 

 settled. Pending the results of further consideration 

 and advice, the following may be looked upon as likely 

 to form part of it. During the voyage the magnetic 

 elements will be determined at least once a day with the 

 standard compass, the Fox apparatus (dip-circle), and 

 perhaps also with the deviation magnetometer. The 

 magnetic apparatus will be mstalled upon the navigating 

 bridge of the ship, in the neighbourhood of which no 

 iron will be used in the construction. At the station 

 variation observations will be made with photographic 

 registering apparatus, controlled by direct readings. 

 Magnetic observations will also be provided for on the 

 land journeys. 



Particular attention will be paid to the study of the 

 Aurora Atistraiis, especially with regard to its form 

 and height, perhaps also as to its spectrum, and the co- 

 incidence of auroral displays and magnetic disturbances ; 

 but the measurement of earth-currents is considered as 

 beyond the scope of the Expedition. 



In connection with the arrangements for magnetic 

 work at the station there will be provision made for 

 seismological observations. 



Astronomical determinations of latitude and longitude, 

 and geodetic measurements will, of course, be carried out. 

 During the voyage, and on land-journeys, the former will 

 be fixed by means of the prismatic reflecting circle ; but 

 at the station, where a more exact astronomical deter- 

 mination is necessary a large transit theodolite, and a 

 good telescope for occultations, will be employed. At 

 the points on the shore connected with the station a smaller 

 universal instrument, or a prismatic circle, will be utilised. 

 Continued time determinations will naturally be carried 

 out in connection with absolute observations for latitude 

 and time conversions ; pendulum observations will be 

 made as often as possible. Geographical surveys on the 

 scale of about i : 50,000 will be desirable in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the station, and in such other places as may 

 be interesting from a cartographical point of view, or 

 which present important physical phenomena, such as 

 ice-movement or ice-structure, or where the pendulum 

 observations make a special survey desirable. For this 

 purpose the smaller or even the larger universal instru- 

 ment will be employed, as well as a Stampfer's level 

 with staves. Opportunities may also occur for the use 

 of photographic surveying instruments. Attention will 

 be given to the anomalous refraction which, from the 

 observations of previous Polar travellers, appears to be 

 due to some atmospheric conditions different from any 

 that occur m our latitudes. 



This sketch of the German programme naturally does 

 not exhaust the problems with which we have to deal. 

 It was, however, less my intention to give an account of 

 the work which we hope to attempt than to indicate 

 the Jirections and lay down the limits of our proposed 

 operations, as that will be of service in finally settling 

 the methods of international co-operation. From this 

 point of view, the large number of the problems mentioned 

 does not appear dangerous. It might, however, become 

 so if the Expedition were tied down to definite instruc- 

 tions, and not left free to act as time and opportunity 

 demand. It seems the wisest course to provide a com- 

 plete equipment for all branches of scientific work, 



