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

earranging the weighting stones and putting extra ropes across the tarpaulin. In
that weather there wasn't more we could do. I went out for a couple of hours and
took a few photos. I went down to Sceapul but couldn't get far without putting
some cows into the surf, so I turned back. The light was very bad. A trawler to the
South was battling against heavy seas, heading towards Pentland Firth, at times
completely blotted out by spray. In spite of this disappointing weather, which
prevented us from doing much and undoubtedly meant a further postponement of
our departure we were all thoroughly cheerful.
Next day the wind had veered easterly, force 2-3, a blessed relief from the
flapping and creaking, but it was a dull day with rain and very poor visibility. We
were up at 8.30 am but couldn't do anything outside, although the sea was calmer.
Fine rain kept us in, but two went over to the fank for the noon radio schedule.
Minna did not appear on the air. I prepared some soup for lunch, cleaned the Tilley
lamp glass and put on a new mantle.
After lunch I went down to Sceapul, the others to Fianuis. I stalked a herd of seal
on Loba Sgeir - about fifty or so - immatures and idle bulls, lying on ledges above
the channel. They had very varied colour patterns - predominantly light yellow
with black or brown mottling. I managed to take some telephoto shots before they
became alarmed. Some went straight into the water; others waited and looked
around before diving in; others went to the edge but no further. I took some other
shots of a small group on a ledge further along. I also made some pencil sketches,
with notes to work up later. Another large group I had seen further up was hidden
from me. I saw them again later, about 40-50 in all on the West side of Loba Sgeir.
Later, on Sceapul, a cow was slapping her side with her fore flipper, perhaps
warning another cow (?). The light was failing when I got home at 5 o’clock.
After dinner I went with Morton to the fank for a radio schedule with Archie at
the Butt. There were no messages for us, but we sent one to the Minna. Callum had
taken our noon message in to Stornoway; he reported that Minna was lying
alongside and reported that they said “they had been doing something else and
had forgotten about the noon schedule". Incredible but not too surprising.
After heavy rain during the night we woke to find the wind had shifted to the
southwest and the sea was much flatter, with a confused swell. We walked over to
the fank for the radio schedule and learnt that Minna was at the Butt of Lewis,
contemplating coming for us tomorrow, about 10-12 am. A Shackleton aircraft flew
low over the island. After a frugal lunch the sun came out and I went to the North
end and took photos. There was very impressive surf where the westerly swell
struck the island. Not many cows were left by now; most animals were weaners,
pups and bulls. We found another dead tagged and branded moulter, which
brought the casualties up to four. Later we packed up the gear at the fank and
stored the collected skulls in the collecting tank. Then back to the manse for supper
at 6 o’clock.
4 November was a fine day. We were up early for breakfast and took a load
over to the fank in expectation of Minna arriving before noon as promised. It was a
lovely morning; still some swell from the southwest, but not enough to stop us
getting off. Returning from the fank at about 8.45 am. we saw Minna approaching
from the South. So we took another load over, and saw Minna in the bay, but still
some distance out. We busied ourselves preparing the gear, packing, etc., having
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