SOUTH 
my charge. Spencer-Smith received independent instructions 
to devote his time exclusively to photography. I was verbally 
instructed that the main duty ol: the party was to obtisin a 
supply of seals for food and fuel. Scientific work was also 
to be carried on. 
" Meteorological instruments were at once installed, and 
experiments were instituted on copper electrical thermometers 
in order to supplement our meagre supply of instruments and 
enable observations of earth, ice, and sea temperatures to be 
made. Other experimental work was carried on, and the whole 
of the time of the scientific members of the party was occu- 
pied. All seals seen were secured. On one or two occasions the 
members of the shore party were summoned to work on board 
ship. 
In general the weather was unsettled, blizzards occurring 
frequently and interrupting communication with the ship across 
the ice. Only small, indispensable supplies of stores and no 
clothes were issued to the party on shore. Only part of the 
scientific equipment was able to be transferred to the shore, and 
the necessity to obtain that prevented some members of the 
party landing all their personal gear. 
" The ship was moored stern on to the shore, at first well 
over one hundred yards from it. There were two anchors out 
ahead and the vessel was made fast to two others sunk in the 
groimd ashore by seven wires. The strain on the wires was 
kept constant by tightening up from time to time such as 
became s^ack, and easing cables forward, and in this way the 
ship was brought much closer inshore. A cable was now run 
out to the south anchor ashore, passed on board through a fair- 
lead under the port end of the bridge, and made fast to bollards 
forward. Subsequent strain due to ice and wind pressure on 
the ship broke three of the wires. Though I believe it was 
considered on board that the ship was secure, there was still 
considerable anxiety felt. The anchors had held badly before, 
and the pov/er of the ice-pressure on the ship was uncomfortably 
obvious. 
" Since the ship had been moored the bay had frequently 
frozen over, and the ice had as frequently gone out on account 
264 
