rickers to the mast-heads in order to increase the spread of our aerials, but still we failed to hear anything.

The rickers had to come down subsequently, since we found that the gear could not carry the accumulating weight of rime.

Soundings proved that the sea continued to shoal as the 'Endurance' drifted to the north-west.

The depth on April 2 was 262 fathoms, with a bottom of glacial mud.

Four weeks later a sounding gave 172 fathoms.