MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS 13 



OBSERVATIONS AT TEPUTZ BAY 



Site of Observatory 



The magnetic station occupied by the Italian Expedition at Teplitz Bay was examined with 

 a view to reoccupying it, but at the time it was found impossible to accurately identify the 

 point ; besides it was on the ice-foot, subject to overflow during summer thaws and to possible 

 movement. Under the circumstances it seemed advisable to select another location which 

 could be more conveniently recovered in the future. It was also intended to make observa- 

 tions in a tent at a point as near to the Italian station as could be fixed from data appearing 

 in their publications, but owing to the lateness of the season and the hurried debarkation, 

 which required the help of all, this plan could not be carried out during the period of daylight 

 in 1903 and was, therefore, postponed to the following spring. 



Six or seven points were examined. All of these, which were fairly well distributed over 

 the small area free from ice, gave indications of local magnetic attraction, varying from 40' to 

 2°. The exposed surface is basalt and contains considerable disseminated magnetite in minute 

 grains. The point finally selected was the one which appeared to be the least affected and at 

 the same time reasonably free from the destructive effect of ice. It is on the shore of Teplitz 

 Bay about 6 feet above sea level and 6 meters from the water edge, in latitude 81" 47' 30" N 

 and longitude 3h 52m 37s (58° 09') E. 



Description of Magnetic Observatory 



The observatory is 4.56 meters long, 1.82 meter wide, 1.82 meter to the eaves, and 2.45 

 meters to the ridge. Its length is parallel to the magnetic prime vertical and allows a distance 

 of 2.1 meters between the magnetometer and dip circle piers. 



The structure consists of a framework of wood. The floor, roof,, and east and west sides 

 are boarded. The north and south walls are each made of two layers of canvas, the outer 

 layer extending over the board roof. The joints and fastenings are made by dovetailing, mor- 

 tising, or by large brass screws. The canvas is held by copper tacks and brass nails, or by 

 wooden cleats held in place by brass screws. Snow was banked against the walls up to the 

 eaves and subsequent drifts finally buried the observatory in an even field. A shelf extends 

 north and south across the middle of the room and serves both for a brace and for a table. 

 Two lights were used on this shelf — a brass bull's-eye lantern and a copper kerosene lamp. 

 Their positions are shown in the plan which is drawn to scale. The bull's-eye lantern was 

 used for illuminating the scale and rested on a small, wooden tripod stand with an adjustable 

 wooden footscrew. Two large windows — one in the east wall and one in the west wall — 

 admitted light on the return of day. The iron nails used in the window frames were all 

 removed. 



A copper stove with copper stack was installed with a view to heating the room, if in 

 extreme cold weather it became necessary to put in new fibers or do any other work requiring 

 delicate manipulation. It was used but twice. The lamps and stove were each brought within 

 30 centimeters of the magnetometer, revolved and carried around the magnetometer without 

 producing any noticeable effect. 



The original carrying magnetometer case was placed under the east window after adjusting- 

 pins, screw-drivers, and other magnetic articles and material were removed. Magnet No. 4, 

 used in declination observations, was stored in this case when not in use. 



There were two brass hooks on the east wall for garments and two pn th^ south wall to 

 hold the deflection bar in its case. 



