WINTERING IN McMURDO SOUND 
hand my instructions to the ship and pilot a party to the BluS. 
It had been arranged that Richards should do this. Several 
objected on the ground that the whole complement would be 
necessary, and, after the matter had been put to the vote, it 
was agreed that we should delay the decision until the parties 
had some practical work and we had seen how they fared. The 
shortage of clothing was discussed, and Joyce and Wild have 
agreed to do their best in this matter. October sledging (on 
the Barrier) was mentioned as being too early, but is to be given 
a trial. These were the most important points brought up, 
and it was mutually and unanimously agreed that we could 
do no more. ... I know we are doing our best." 
The party was anxious to visit Cape Royds, north of Cape 
Evans, but at the end of June open water remained right across 
the Sound and a crossing was impossible. At Cape Royds is 
the hut used by the Shackleton Expedition of 1907-1909, and 
the stores and supplies it contains might have proved very 
useful. Joyce and Wild make finneskoe (fur boots) from spare 
sleeping-bags. Mackintosh mentions that the necessity of 
economizing clothing and footgear prevented the men taking 
as much exercise as they would otherwise have done. A fair 
supply of canvas and leather had been found in the hut, and 
some men tried their hands at making shoes. Many seals had 
been killed and brought in, and the supply of meat and blubber 
was ample for present needs. 
During July Mackintosh made several trips northwards on 
the sea-ice, but found always that he could not get far. A 
crack stretched roughly from Inaccessible Island to the Barne 
Glacier, and the ice beyond looked weak and loose. The 
improving hght told of the returning sun. Richards and Jack 
were weighing out stores in readiness for the sledging expedi- 
tions. Mackintosh, from the hill behind the hut, saw open 
water stretching westward from Inaccessible Island on August 1, 
and noted that probably McMurdo Sound was never completely 
frozen over. A week later the extent of the open water ap- 
peared to have increased, and the men began to despair of 
getting to Cape Royds. Bhzzards were frequent and persistent. 
A few useful articles were found in the neighbourhood of the 
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