230 THE BELGIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 



In October, 1898, an outlet opened about 600 meters distant, but im- 

 mediately around the ship the floe continued unbroken. As summer 

 was passing very quickly and a second winter seemed imminent, at the 

 beginning of January, 1899, De Gerlache determined to dig a canal 

 to this outlet. The measurements made by the sounding line in- 

 dicated an average thickness of ice of one meter, but around the vessel 

 it exceeded two meters. Something like 2,500 to 3,000 cubic meters of ice 

 were excavated, and this work, in which every one took part, lasted for 

 three weeks. By February there only remained the blocks immediately 

 adjacent to the Belgica, but the pressure increased ; the canal just com- 

 pleted contracted, and at the same time the outlet in which it ended closed 

 up. Eleven days later, however, the pack opened sufficiently for them to 

 advance fifteen or sixteen miles toward the north, when they were again 

 blocked. But the dark sky in the north and the perceptible swelling of 

 the sea were a sure sign that in this direction there was a grand expanse 

 of water, and perhaps the open sea. During the winter the Belgica had 

 only once suffered dangerous pressure; only for a few moments had she 

 ever been in danger, but now continually battered by the great blocks 

 of ice wedged against her by the swelling sea, the little vessel was in a 

 very dangerous situation. Fortunately, the pack opened again March 

 14, and this time they were able to gain the open sea and return to 

 Punta Arenas. 



Captain De Gerlache concludes his rtport as follows : ' ' Upon our escape 

 from the pack, we were about 103° west longitude, so that the general 

 drift was found to be 18° toward the west by about 70° 31' average lati- 

 tude. We had seen no signs of the land given in the charts at 70° south 

 and 100° west. It is furthermore worthy of remark that our drifting, 

 which was almost as rapid toward the south before the north wind as it 

 had been toward the north before the south wind, as well as the sound- 

 ings which we made whenever the weather permitted, carries several 

 degrees toward the south the hypothetical contours of the austral conti- 

 nent in this part of the Antarctic zone. During this winter, the first that 

 has been passed in the midst of austral ice, we were able to conduct satis- 

 factory magnetic operations, to form an important series of meteorological 

 polar observations, and to make a good collection of specimens of pelagic 

 and abyssal fauna, as well as of specimens of submarine deposit." 



CORRECTION 



An error in the obituary sketch of Professor 0. C. Marsh in the May 

 number of the Magazine (page 181), regrettable in itself and unjust to an 

 educational institution whence several distinguished geographers have 

 been sent forth, requires correction. " The Phillips-Exeter Academy at 

 Andover" should read the Phillips Academy at Andover. The error was 

 unthinkingly transcribed from the usually accurate Scientific American, 

 vol. lxxx, page 201. 



W J M. 



