Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 63.djvu/97

Rh On February 3, the Discovery entered an inlet in the Barrier in longitude 174°. A balloon was sent up. and a sledge party examined the land as far as latitude 78° 50′. Near Mounts Erebus and Terror, at the southern extremity of an island, excellent winter quarters were found. The expedition next observed the coast of Victoria Land, extending as far as a conspicuous cape in latitude 78° 50'. It was found that mountains do not exist here, and the statement that they were to be found is clearly a matter for explanation. Huts for living and for making magnetic observations were erected, and the expedition prepared for wintering. The weather was boisterous, but a reconnaissance of sledge parties was sent out, during which the seaman Vince lost his life, the remainder of the party narrowly escaping a similar fate. The ship was frozen in on March 24. The expedition passed a comfortable winter in well sheltered quarters. The lowest recorded temperature was 62° below zero. The sledging commenced on September 2, parties being sent out in all directions. Lieutenant Royds, Mr. Skelton, and party successfully established a record in an expedition to Mount Terror, traveling over the Barrier under severe sleighing conditions, with a temperature of 58° below zero.

Commander Scott, Dr. Wilson and Lieutenant Shackleton traveled 94 miles to the south, reaching land in latitude 80° 17′ south, longitude 163° west, and establishing a world's record for the furthest point south. The journey was accomplished in most trying conditions. The dogs all died, and the three men had to drag the sledges back to the ship. Lieutenant Shackleton almost died from exposure, but is now quite recovered. The party found that ranges of high mountains continue through Victoria Land. At the meridian of 160° foothills much resembling the Admiralty Range were discovered.

The ice barrier is presumably afloat. It continues horizontal, and is slowly fed from the land ice. Mountains ten or twelve thousand feet high were seen in latitude 82° south, the coast line continuing at least as far as 83° 20′ nearly due south. A party ascending a glacier on the mainland found a new range of mountains. At a height of 0,000 feet a level plain was reached unbroken to the west as far as the horizon. The scientific work of the expedition includes a rich collection of marine fauna, of which a large proportion are new species. Sea and magnetic observations were taken, as well as seismographic records and pendulum observations. A large collection of skins and skeletons of southern seals and seabirds has been made. A number of excellent photographs have been taken, and careful meteorological observations were secured. Extensive quartz and grit accumulations were found horizontally bedded in volcanic rocks. Lava flows were found in the frequently recurring plutonic rock which forms the basement of the mountains. Before the arrival of the Morning the Discovery had experienced some privation, as part of the supplies had gone bad. This accounted for the death of all the dogs. She has, however, revictualled from the Morning, and the explorers are now in a position to spend a comfortable winter.

eighth annual report of the Forest, Fish and Game Commission of New York state, recently submitted to the legislature, shows that commendable work has been accomplished during the past year. At the beginning of the year the Adirondack reserve contained 1,325,851 acres and the Catskill reserve 82,330 acres, and to these were added 28,505 acres last year. In the Adirondack Park there are also about 700,000 acres of private reserves