APPENDIX I 
I have tried to make this very brief account of the rQeteorological 
side of the Expedition rather more " popular than scientific, since 
the pubhcation and scientific discussion of the observations will be 
carried out elsewhere ; but if, while showing the difficulties under 
which we had to work, it emphasizes the value of Antarctic Ex- 
peditions from a purely utilitarian point of view, and the need for 
further continuous research into the conditions obtaining in the 
immediate neighbourhood of the Pole, it will have achieved its 
object. 
PHYSICS 
By R. W. James, M.A. (Cantab.), B.Sc. (Lond.), Capt. R.E. 
Owing to the continued drift of tlie ship with the ice, the programme 
of physical observations originally made out had to be considerably 
modified. It had been intended to set up recording magnetic in- 
struments at the base, and to take a continuous series of records 
throughout the whole period of residence there, absolute measure- 
ments of the earth's horizontal magnetic force, of the dip and 
declination being taken at frequent intervals for purposes of cali- 
bration. With the ice continually drifting, and the possibihty of the 
floe cracking at any time, it proved impracticable to set up the re- 
cording instruments, and the magnetic observations were confined 
to a series of absolute measurements taken whenever opportunity 
occurred. These measurements, owing to the drift of the ship, ex- 
tend over a considerable distance, and give a chain of values along a 
line stretching roughly from 77° S. lat. to 69*^ S. lat. This is not the 
place to give the actual results ; it is quite enough to state that, as 
might have been expected from the position of the magnetic pole, 
the values obtained correspond to a comparatively low magnetic 
latitude, the value of the dip ranging from GS"" to 68°. 
So far as possible, continuous records of the electric potential 
gradient in the atmosphere were taken, a form of quadrant electro- 
meter with a boom and ink recorder, made by the Cambridge Scienti- 
fic Instrument Company, being employed. Here again, the some- 
what pecuhar conditions made work difficult, as the instrument was 
very susceptible to small changes of level, such as occurred from 
time to time owing to the pressure of the ice on the ship. An ionium 
collector, for which the radioactive material w^as kindly supplied by 
Mr. F. H, Glew, was used. The chief difficulty to contend with was 
the constant formation of thick deposits of rime, which either grew 
over the insulation and spoiled it, or covered up the collector so that 
35 J 
