III.—Geological Observations in the South Shetlands, the Palmer Archipelago, and Graham Land, Antarctica

Abstract

The following observations were made during a prospecting expedition which left the Falkland Islands in the late spring of 1913 for the South Shetlands, the Palmer Archipelago, and Graham Land. The cost of the expedition was provided by Messrs Salvesen of Leith, the well-known shipping and whaling firm, who are lessees from the Colonial Office of the minerals in these remote areas. Arrangements were made to prospect as large an area as possible during the whaling season 1913–14. The steamer Hanka, a modern whaler, proved very suitable for prospecting work, owing to its light draught, small size, and fairly high speed. It could, however, owing to its small capacity, operate only within a limited radius of a supply base, and Messrs Salvesen's big whaling factory ships in King George Island; Leith Harbour, Belgica Strait, Graham Land; and Fournier Bay, Schollaert Channel, Anvers Island, formed effective bases of supply.