26 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
[December 
Wilson shot a number of Antarctic petrel and snowy 
petrel. Nelson got some crustaceans and other beasts 
with a vertical tow net, and got a water sample and tem- 
peratures at 400 metres. The water was warmer at that 
depth. About 1.30 we proceeded at first through fairly 
easy pack, then in amongst very heavy old floes grouped 
about a big berg ; we shot out of this and made a detour, 
getting easier going ; but though the floes were less formid- 
able as we proceeded south, the pack grew thicker. I 
noticed large floes of comparatively thin ice very sodden 
and easily split ; these arc similar to some we went through 
in the Discovery, but tougher by a month. 
At three we stopped and shot four crab-eater seals ; 
to-night we had the livers for dinner — they were 
excellent. 
To-night we are in very close pack — it is doubtful if 
it is worth pushing on, but an arch of clear sky which has 
shown to the southward all day makes me think that 
there must be clearer water in that direction ; perhaps 
only some 20 miles away — but 20 miles is much under 
present conditions. As I came below to bed at 11 p.m. 
Bruce was slogging away, making fair progress, but now 
and again brought up altogether. I noticed the ice was 
becoming much smoother and thinner, with occasional 
signs of pressure, between which the ice was very thin. 
'We had been very carefully into all the evidence of 
former voyages to pick the best meridian to go south on, 
and I thought and still think that the evidence points 
to the 178 W. as the best. We entered the pack more 
or less on this meridian, and have been rewarded by 
