Zoological observations, Royal Bay, South Georgia 1882–1883. Part 1

Abstract

As part of its commitment to the programme of the First International Polar Year (1882–83) the Deutsche Polarkomission dispatched an expedition to South Georgia (Schrader 1891; Baker 1982). The team consisted of seven scientists and observers, led by Dr K. Schrader and accompanied by a support group of four men. As with the other 13 expeditions of the International Polar Year, the major emphases were on studies of meteorology, magnetism and aurora, although the South Georgia station also had a secondary major task, that of observing the transit of Venus. Fortunately the Deutsche Polarkomission had the foresight to include a trained zoologist on the expedition, in the person of the medical officer, Dr Karl von den Steinen.