Part I: Seals teeth and whales ears - Scott Polar Research Institute ...

and learnt she was due at Signy next day! Again we had had little advance warning
and had been expecting her for about a week. We learnt that there had been a great
gale raging during this time and the Biscoe had to remain at South Georgia until it
had blown over. She had also to undergo some engine repairs. During this period we
also were more or less confined to base, but spent some days preparing elephant seal
carcasses for dog food at base ‘B’ – altogether we had about 3 tons of meat ready for
them when they arrived!
The Biscoe eventually turned into the bay at about l0 o’clock on 20 March and the
Governor came ashore in the first boat, with the mail, to inspect the base. It was good
to get all the letters as this was to be the last trip of the season and we could expect
no more mail until next December at the earliest. There was some new equipment,
including a decent tent, ski sticks, etc. Also a Norwegian pram dinghy – very heavy
and about 18 ft long, with a Seagull outboard motor – to replace the wrecked dory.
Two new Coventry Climax generators of larger capacity were landed to take the place
of the old machines and this took a load off my mind. The Auditor came ashore to
examine the accounts of the Post Office. This was one of my chief bugbears as there
were hundreds of letters from stamp collectors in each mail and it was surprising
how much work that entailed. Although my accounts weren't quite correct the error
was at least on the credit side!
I thought the Governor was quite pleased with everything though it had been
difficult to keep the place in good order, owing to its rough and ready construction
and with the limited equipment and supplies we had. (It is much more difficult to
keep a rough wooden floor clean, than one covered in linoleum! Also we had been
undermanned. Last year Gordon had had two supernumeraries, Falkland Islander
handymen, who were available to do all the routine maintenance). After the
inspection and when the first business was done I went aboard with the Governor.
He had a large, beautifully furnished suite leading off from the bridge (the Captain's
quarters when the Governor was not aboard), in great contrast to our primitive
accommodation. It was newly built, no doubt at great cost, and took up much
valuable fore-deck space. (We thought the money could have been better spent – on
good clothing and equipment for example!). Here we had sherry and a general talk
and then a meal. After this he went through the yearly report with me and seemed
quite impressed with the research that had been achieved. He said that he had been
very interested in my biological reports, which pleased me, and we discussed a
number of specific points.
I mentioned that I should like a third year if possible in order to complete my
work. This had been affected last season by: a) The abnormal ice conditions that year
and the understaffing of the base, which resulted in my being unable to do all the
seal work I planned. b.) Half the seal breeding population was carried away on the
ice. There was a great deal to do and I should like another year to continue the
survey. Personally, I liked the life immensely, but at £360 a year it was a relatively
underpaid job and I should like a little more in the bank. The question then arose as
to whether it would be better to remain at Signy for my third year or go to South
Georgia. There were points in favour of both options but on the whole I felt that
South Georgia was the best place for a further year. It would provide an opportunity
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