INTRODUCTION 



the Antarctic Circle by the 90th meridian, and was caught 

 in the pack at the end of February 1902, not far from 

 Wilkes' " appearance " of Termination Land, and in 

 sight of a hill called the Gaussberg on a land discovered 

 by the expedition and named Kaiser Wilhelm Land. The 

 ship remained fast for a year, and an immense amount 

 of scientific investigation was carried out with character- 

 istic thoroughness. On her release in February 1903, the 

 Gauss tried to push westward in a high latitude, but could 

 not reach the Antarctic Circle and, failing to get permis- 

 sion for another season's work, she returned laden with 

 rich scientific collections and voluminous observations. 



The Joint-Committee in London built the Discovery 

 at an expense of £52,000, making her immensely strong 

 to resist ice pressure and securing the absence of any 

 magnetic metal in a large area so that magnetic observa- 

 tions of high precision might be carried out. Sir Clements 

 Markham selected as commander Lieutenant Robert F. 

 Scott, R.N., a most fortunate choice, for no one could 

 have been better fitted by disposition and training to 

 ensure success. The second in command was Lieutenant 

 Albert Armytage,R.N.R.,who had had Arctic experience, 

 and the other officers were Lieutenants C. Royds, R.N.; 

 M. Barne, R.N.; E. H. Shackleton, R.N.R.; Engineer- 

 Lieutenant Skelton, R.N. ; Dr. R. Koettlitz, who had 

 been a comrade of Armytage's in the north, and Dr. E. 

 A. Wilson, an artist of great ability. The scientific staff 

 included, in addition to the surgeons, who were also 

 zoologists, Mr. L. C. Bernacchi, who had been on the 

 Southern Cross expedition as physicist; as biologist Mr. 

 T. V. Hodgson, and as geologist Mr. H. T. Ferrar. 

 Meteorological and oceanographical work were under- 

 taken by officers of the ship. The objects of the expedition 

 were primarily magnetic observations, the costly construc- 

 tion of the ship being largely due to the arrangements for 



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