Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

Caiman asked for permission to proceed to Husvik, Stromness and Leith pending
completion of inquiries following the interview held on 19 February. This was
granted by the Magistrate, provided that the voyage was to be one of inspection only
and that nothing was removed from the stations. This also efficiently removed the
problem of what to do without having Caiman moored for an extensive period at the
KEP jetty. An interim Customs clearance was issued on 22 February and she sailed
very early next day.
Their offer to transport items for the BAS depots at Husvik and Leith, the latter
having previously been ‘raided’, was accepted. The whereabouts of the old and
intended depots were explained and a further offer, should time permit, to move
items from the old depot (Villa) to the intended new one (Customs House), was
accepted. A description of some archives remaining at the station was also given –
and Witty requested that these be returned to KEP, depending on convenience and
opportunity. Assurances were received that this would be done and that she would
return around the weekend.
Caiman was regularly in radio contact with Argentine and other stations while at
KEP and elsewhere. No attempts were made to monitor her radio transmissions
systematically, but several general interceptions occurred. Much of this traffic was
domestic, advice about contract and general descriptions of the whaling stations and
scientific station were transmitted. During her time at KEP the South Georgia Post
Office was opened and postcards, maps and letters were posted, mainly to
Argentina. To be carried on the John Biscoe which would be sailing on 6 March.
She returned from Stromness Bay on the afternoon of the 28 th , when her draught
indicated that no heavy load had been taken on board. The archives were delivered
and received with thanks. The two frames of broken windows at the new depot were
also brought round to give an indication of their size for making replacements,
another helpful gesture. Information was received that most of the items in the old
depot, as well as the boxes, had been transferred to the new.
The matter of the theft of items from the old depot was raised by Sr. Raggio. He
again apologised and mentioned that with the description given in the Argentine
Pilot and the appearance of the Villa housing the depot (very rat-infested and
disordered overall except for the depot) he was unaware of the origin and ownership
of the depot. This, under the circumstances, was credible. A copy of the British
Antarctic Pilot was then loaned to him and received with thanks
Another interview with the Magistrate was arranged for 2 March at 20.00. All
Caiman’s complement, Jon Watkins and Bob Headland were present. The relevant
contents of a signal was translated and understood. Sr. Marchessi was asked if he
could provide any further information which might assist in elucidating the matter
and to describe what he knew of Davidoff’s affairs. In the course of the conversation
they were told that Davidoff was very much an ‘hombre de negocios’ and had been
involved in several large salvage operations – some said to be rather dubious and
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