July 19, 1901.] 



SCIENCE. 



97 



The pack is supposed to be closer in De- 

 cember than it has been found to be later 

 in the season. But this is believed to de- 

 pend rather on its position than on the 

 time ; and the great difference between a 

 steamer and a sailing vessel perhaps makes 

 up for any difference in the condition of the 

 pack. 



16. On reaching the south water you are 

 at liberty to devote to exploration the 

 earlier portion of the navigable season ; but 

 such exploration should, if possible, include 

 an examination of the coast from Cape 

 Johnson to Cape Crozier, with a view to 

 finding a safe and suitable place for the 

 operations of landing in the event of your 

 deciding that the ship shall not winter in 

 the ice. 



The chief points of geographical interest 

 are as follows : — To explore the Ice Barrier 

 of Sir James Eoss to its eastern extremity ; 

 to discover the land which was believed by 

 Boss to flank the barrier to the eastward, or 

 to ascertain that it does not exist; and gener- 

 ally to endeavor to solve the very important 

 physical and geographical questions con- 

 nected with this remarkable ice formation. 



17. Owing to our very imperfect knowl- 

 edge of the conditions which prevail in 

 the Antarctic seas, we cannot pronounce 

 definitely whether it will be necessary for 

 the ship to make her way out of the ice 

 before the winter sets in, or whether she 

 should winter in the Antarctic regions. It 

 is for you to decide on this important ques- 

 tion after a careful examination of the local 

 conditions. 



18. If you should decide that the ship 

 shall winter in the ice, the following in- 

 structions are to be observed : 



a. Your efforts, as regards geographical 

 exploration, should be directed, with the 

 help of depots, to three objects — namely, 

 an advance into the western mountains, an 

 advance to the south, and the exploration 

 of the volcanic region. 



b. The director and his staff shall be 

 allowed all facilities for the prosecution of 

 their researches. 



c. In carrying out a and b due regard 

 is to be had to the safety and requirements 

 of the expedition as a whole. 



d. You have been provided by Sir Leo- 

 pold McClintock and by Dr. Nansen with 

 complete details respecting sledge work 

 both by men and dogs, and you have your- 

 self superintended every item of the prepara- 

 tions connected with food, clothing and 

 equipment. You will be guided by the 

 information and knowledge thus acquired. 



e. Lieut. Armitage, B.IST.E,, who has 

 been appointed second in command and 

 navigator to the expedition, has had experi- 

 ence in the work of taking astronomical, 

 magnetic and meteorological observations 

 during three Polar winters. He has also 

 acquired experience in sledge traveling and 

 in the driving and management of dogs. 

 You will, no doubt, find his knowledge and 

 experience of great use. 



/. Early in 1903 your ship should be 

 free from the ice of the winter quarters, and 

 you will devote to further exploration by 

 sea so much of the navigable season as will 

 certainly leave time for the ship to return 

 to the north of the pack ice. Having re- 

 cruited at your base station, you will then 

 proceed with your magnetic survey across 

 the Pacific and return to this countr3^ 



19. If, on the other hand, you should 

 decide not to winter, you will bear in mind 

 that it is most important to maintain scien- 

 tific observations on land throughout the 

 winter, and therefore if you are able, in 

 consultation with the director, to find a 

 suitable place for a landing party between 

 Cape Johnson and Cape Crozier, and decide 

 that such a party can be landed and left 

 without undue risk, the following instruc- 

 tions will apply : 



a. You will land a partj'^ under the 

 command of such person as you may ap- 



