260 



WHAT SCIENCE AND COMMEECE MAT GAIN 



PROM AN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



By A. Morton, P.L.S. 



What is to be gained from an Antarctic Expedition is a 

 question so frequently asked that some notice should be 

 taken of it, and an answer framed that, if possible, shall be 

 satisfactory. 



Perhaps a reference to what has been done by Arctic 

 Exploration may encourage belief that some benefit would 

 accrue from a properly equipped expedition to the Antarctic 

 region. Observations in the far north have been of incal- 

 culable value for the confirmation or correction of scientific 

 theories relating to ocean currents, magnetic deviations, 

 climatology, geographical distribution of plants and animals, 

 and a host of similar subjects ; while, as to commerce, it is 

 only necessary to mention the discovery of the White Sea 

 route to Russia, with its consequent trade, the establishment 

 of the Spitzbergen fisheries, and the opening up of new and 

 lucrative whaling grounds in Baffin's Bay and Prince 

 Regent's Inlet, as convincing proofs of the usefulness of 

 many expeditions that promised less in the way of discovery 

 than one to the Antarctic regions. Magnetic researches of 

 the higest value were made during the voyage of Captain 

 Ross to the South Polar regions, and he was able to fix the 

 position of the line of non-deflection of the compass. 



Until we know all that can be discovered as to the limit of 

 pack ice, the extent of the Antarctic Continent, the influence 

 of Mount Erebus, the distribution of flora and fauna, and the 

 probabilities of successful whale fishing, there will still be 

 enough to gain, either from a commercial or scientific point 

 of view, to make it worth while to send an expedition to the 

 Antarctic regions. If the Times (England), has been 

 correctly reported, it advocates, in preference to an Antarctic 

 Expedition, a fresh attempt to discover traces of Leichhardt 

 in Central Australia. One can scarcely conceive what com- 

 parison is possible between the two, though each might 

 be said to be desirable from different points of view, but if 

 they are to be compared, I should be inclined to think that 

 by far the greater advantage, whether for scientific 

 commercial purposes, lies with the expedition we 

 considering. 



Dr. Neumayer, who for many years has kept the subject of 

 Antarctic Exploration before Germany and the world, com- 



or 



are 



