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XXX. — Shackleton Antarctic Expedition, 1914-1917 : Depths and Deposits of 
the Weddell Sea. By J. M. Wordie, M.A., F.G.S. Communicated by 
Professor J. W. Gregory, F.R.S. 
(MS. received December 6, 1920. Read February 7, 1921. Issued separately May 27, 1921.) 
Introductory. 
Previous to the voyage of the Endurance in 1914-1915, the depth and extent of 
the Weddell Sea were either based on or surmised from the deep-sea soundings made 
on the Scotia by Dr Bruce in 1903 and 1904; on Dr Otto Nordenskjold’s ship 
Antarctic in 1901-1902 ; and on the German Expedition ship Deutschland under 
the leadership of Lieut. FiLCHNER.in 1912-1913. The first set are confined to the 
eastern and north-eastern portion, and may be said to run diagonally across the 
mouth of the sea ; the second set were made in the extreme north-western area ; 
whilst those of the Deutschland are disposed right down the centre of the sea, and 
consist mainly of a south-to-north series approximately along the meridian of 43° W. 
In the early part of her voyage the Endurance was on ground partly covered 
by the Scotia , and she was thus able to supplement very considerably Dr Bruce’s 
work off Coats Land; in January and February 1915 her track crossed that of 
the Deutschland at about a right angle ; thereafter it lay on entirely new ground 
to the west of all previous routes. She drifted right across that unknown tract 
which some map-makers have called New South Greenland, and the majority of 
people Morrell Land.* Apart, therefore, from the importance which attaches to the 
soundings by reason of their being on ground previously unexplored, they are also 
of value inasmuch as they definitely prove that “Morrell’s land” is no part of the 
Antarctic continent, and probably does not exist even as an island. 
Equipment. 
The instruments used for sounding were three in number : a Lucas machine 
graduated up to 5000 fathoms ; a smaller machine of the same type for depths 
of 1000 fathoms ; and a Kelvin machine registering up to 300 fathoms. By splicing 
on additional wire, however, it later on became possible to use the Kelvin for depths 
of 450 fathoms. This, of course, meant that the dial, which was arranged for a 300- 
fathom drum, did not register quite accurately for 450 fathoms of wire. It must 
have slightly under-registered, but there was no opportunity of actually checking 
the error; in any case, it can hardly have been as much as.l per cent., and can 
well be neglected. 
* Morrell himself called it “ New South Greenland,” and stated that it had been discovered by Captain Johnson. 
To refer to it as “ Morrell’s land,” rather than “ Morrell Land,” would be more correct. 
TRANS. ROY. 'SOC. EDIN., VOL. LII, PART IV (NO. 30). 
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