The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XII, No. 2 [‎302v] (107/154)

194
THE MONTHLY RECORD.
POLAR REGIONS.
Drift-casks for the Investigation of Polar Currents.— In the Bulletin of
the Geographical Society of Philadelphia (vol. ii. No. 3), Commodore G. W. Melville,
well known from his participation in the ill-fated Jeannette expedition, develops his
plans for an investigation of the circumpolar currents by means of drift-casks. His
proposal is that a number of oaken casks of a special design shall be constructed
and set adrift to the north of Bering strait in sets of five. The shape suggested is
that of parabolic spindles, conical at the ends, the material to be of sufficient
strength to withstand heavy pressures. They would be provided with the ordinary
bung-hole and bung, the intention being to place within each a tightly corked bottle
for the preservation of records in various languages, giving details regarding the
exact position in which the casks were abandoned, and requesting the finder to com
municate with the hydrographical office of the country to which he may belong.
The first five casks might be set adrift at or near Herald island, and the rest
successively to the northward, along the eastern edge of the polar pack, until about
lat. 75° N., long. 170° W. were reached. A map is added showing the probable
lines of drift across the polar basin, one, in Commodore Melville’s opinion, probably
bending to the east, towards the American archipelago.
Departure of Lieut. Peary’s Expedition.— The departure of the Windward
from New York for the North Polar region took place cn July 2. On July 9 the
ship reached Cape Breton, where Lieut. Peary had arranged to embark, and at once
proceeded to ccal. An early start northward was expected to be made, the ice in
those regions being reported unusually favourable for the time of year. The Hope,
with coal and other supplies, had sailed previously, and was to meet the Windward
in the north of Baffin’s bay. In accordance with the programme already made
public, Lieut. Peary will probably be landed at Sherard Osborn fiord, the ship then
returning home if not caught in the ice. In the cate of favourable ice-conditions,
however, it is possible that he may steam still farther northward before landing. He
hopes to reach the northernmost point of Greenland early in the summer of 1899,
and to push on for the pole with a small and compact party during the same season.
Mr. Wellman’s Expedition. —Mr. Wellman writes to us from Archangel under
date July 4, announcing the immediate departure of his expedition for the north.
The personnel consists of nine in all, four from America, and five from Norway,
whilst eighty-three Siberian dogs have been taken on board. A Reuter telegram
from Vardo, dated July 15, announces the return thither of Mr. Wellman after a
preliminary cruise to the north, heavy pack-ice having been found to bar the way in
77° N. A renewed start was to be made on the 17tb. The unfavourable ice-conditions
this summer in the Spitsbergen seas are also referred to in Globus (vol. 74, p. 18).
Australasia and Antarctic Exploration. —With a view to arousing interest
in antarctic exploration in the Australasian colonies, the Hon. C. C. Bowen, who,
as a member of the New Zealand Legislature, was present at the Antarctic Con
ference held last summer at the Society’s rooms, has written an article on the
subject, which has been published in the Press of Christchurch, New Zealand
(May 16, 1898). After recounting the various attempts which have been made
within the last ten years to set on foot a British expedition to the Antarctic, and
lamenting the apathy shown by the Australasian colonies, Mr. Bowen proceeds to
sketch the past history of south polar research, as he believes that ignorance of
what has been done so far, and of the important problems awaiting solution, is the
real cause of the little interest displayed by the colonial public in the matter.
Some effect seems to have been produced already by Mr. Bowen’s article, which has
been reproduced, in whole or in part, in other colonial papers.