Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

Then, in good conditions about 5 miles north north west of Cape Bennet, we
did a 2-hour trawl, taking grab samples at the same time as we drifted. These
proved very successful in depths of 70-112 fms and we obtained ten. But then the
trawl when being hauled in came undone at the cod-end and almost the entire
catch was lost. The few small animals left looked so interesting that we did
another trawl, drifting over the same line, but for only 40 min. This yielded a very
large catch which we had aboard by 6.30 pm; it took 4 hours to sort. It contained a
good sample of fishes of a number of species: pearly clusters of brachiopods,
urchins, starfish, brittle stars, holothurians, two species of small octopus, lovely
cup corals (red and creamy yellow), amphipods, worms, a fascinating jar-like
spiky sponge (a volcano sponge), the many-armed sun starfishes, polyzoa,
hydroids, anemones, polynoid worms, nemertines, several gatropod molluscs,
lamellibranchs, other sponges and more. The fish were interesting and of different
species to those taken in the trawls south of Coronation Island - in particular no
Prionodraco (Bathydraconidae). After the sorting was complete we had a game of
liar dice in the wardroom, a game for which I proved to have an unsuspected
talent! (The losers paid for the drinks). Some silver-grey fulmars appeared that
day. We drifted overnight.
On 5 February we moved to the west and shot the trawl in 60 fms about 21/2
miles north of Conception Point. At the same time we took five grab stations
before and another five after the trawl was in. The trawl gave a good haul of fish,
large numbers of echinoderms (starfish and spatangoids), as well as other forms.
The grabs brought up good samples of mud fauna. Altogether very profitable we
felt. We decided not to do another run there, but in view of a freshening wind and
sea, to go north about round to Signy and trawl in Normanna Strait. There was a
30 kt wind and heavy sea and Coronation Island was shrouded in heavy cloud,
but we could see that the coastline was mostly of ice cliffs, with steep shores and
few possible landing places. At the western end the Larsen Islands were quite
spectacular rocky pinnacles and as we rounded them we could see the
Inaccessible Islands in the gloom to the west. There were large numbers of silvergrey
fulmars and porpoising penguins around the ship. It was quite lively
rounding the western end of the group, but running with the sea was much easier
and when we entered Normanna Strait it was quite flat in the lee of Signy. We
saw the US research ship Hero, grey on a near horizon as we rounded North
Point. She was just entering Borge Bay and anchored shortly afterwards. So we
put out the trawl in 120 fms and at first all went well, as we took grab samples at
the same time. Then suddenly the bottom rose to 40 fms and the trawl snagged.
By skillful ship handling the Captain brought the ship around and we were able
to get the line in, but found the net was ripped. We anchored in Borge Bay and I
spoke to the base, giving them our news and that we'd call in to collect Mike's
spectacles, some more jars etc. Later on the Goon show I spoke to Inigo at South
Georgia, who had been anxious to talk about the Jane replacement, and an extra
marine biologist post for South Georgia, John Mauchline's book etc. I also spoke
to Jerry at Signy who had information about the Hero's programme. They are
undertaking a geological project on the history of the Scotia Arc and were
interested in the discontinuity between the quartz mica-schist rocks on Signy and
Coronation and the greywacke's on Laurie Island. They planned to camp on
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