SOUTH 
anytliing with our small apparatus at a distance of 1630 miles 
from the dispa,tching station. We heard nothing, as a matter 
of fact, and later efforts were similarly unsuccessful. The 
conditions would have been difficult even for a station of 
high power. 
We w^ere accumulatmg gradually a stock of seal meat during 
these days of waiting. Fresh meat for the dogs was needed, 
and seal-steaks and liver made a very welcome change from the 
ship's rations aboard the Eyidumnce. Four crab-eaters and three 
Weddells, over a ton of meat for dog and man, fell to our guns 
on February 2, and all hands were occupied most of the day 
getting the carcasses back to the ship over the rough ice. We 
rigged three sledges for man-haulage and brought the seals 
about two miles, the sledgmg parties being guided among the 
ridges and pools by semaphore from the crow's-nest. Two 
more seals were sighted ou the far side of a big pool, but I 
did not allow them to be pursued. Some of the ice was in a 
treacherous condition, with thin films hiding cracks and pools, 
and I did not wish to risk an accident. 
A crack about four miles long opened in the floe to the 
stern of the ship on the 3rd. The narrow lane in front was still 
open, but the prevaihng Hght breezes did not seem Hkely to 
produce any useful movement in the ice. Early on the mornmg 
of the 5th a north-easterly gale sprang up, bringing overcast 
skies and thick snow. Soon the pack was opening and closing 
without much loosening effect. At noon the ship gave a sudden 
start and heeled over three degrees. Immediately afterwards a 
crack ran from the bows to the lead ahead and another to the 
lead astern. I thought it might be possible to reeve the ship 
through one of these leads towards open water, but we could 
see no water through the thick snow, and before steam was 
raised, and while the view was still obscured, the pack closed 
again. The northerly gale had given place to light Avesterly 
breezes on the 6th. The pack seemed to be more solid than 
ever. It stretched almost unbroken to the horizon in every 
direction, and the situation was made worse by very low 
temperatiu*es in succeeding days. The temperature was down 
to zero on the night of the 7th and was two degrees below zero 
82 
