266 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [May 
3 fathoms of water off the west beach ; both yesterday 
morning and yesterday evening when the trap was raised 
it contained over forty fish, whilst this morning and this 
evening the catches in the same spot have been from 
twenty to twenty-five. We had fish for breakfast this 
morning, but an even more satisfactory result of the 
catches has been revealed by Atkinson's microscope. 
He had discovered quite a number of new parasites and 
found work to last quite a long time. 
Last night it came to my turn to do night watchman 
again, so that I shall be glad to have a good sleep to-night. 
Yesterday we had a game of football ; it is pleasant 
to mess about, but the light is failing. 
Clissold is still producing food novelties ; to-night 
we had galantine of seal — it was excellent. 
Monday, May 8 — Tuesday , May 9. — As one of the 
series of lectures I gave an outline of my plans for next 
season on Monday evening. Everyone was interested, 
naturally. I could not but hint that in my opinion the 
problem of reaching the Pole can best be solved by relying 
on the ponies and man haulage. With this sentiment 
the whole company appeared to be in sympathy. Every- 
one seems to distrust the dogs when it comes to glacier 
and summit. I have asked everyone to give thought to 
the problem, to freely discuss it, and bring suggestions 
to my notice. It's going to be a tough job ; that is better 
realised the more one dives into it. 
To-day (Tuesday) Dcbenham has been showing me his 
photographs taken west. With Wright's and Taylor's 
these will make an extremely interesting series — the ice 
