Codes of Survival -Scripts - a series of short factionalized stories based
on historical events in the Subantarctic Islands written by Lloyd Godman
to accompany the exhibition and installation - 1993 - © Lloyd Godman
Codes of
Survival - Scripts
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1907 - OBSERVATIONS AND COLLECTIONS
Upon the arrival of the entire expedition about mid day on the 17 th of
November 1907, we had been greeted by a lowering sky that darkened the atmosphere to that of late evening even though it was just after noon. There
was a fresh north-north-west breeze that brought occasional shrouds of mist sweeping across the sky and obscured the tops, and every so often
there was the odd fine drop of rain falling on the wind. Similar weather had prevailed for the past few days on the island, although the wind direction had swung markedly on the compass during this time.
We had been more than surprised to find a bedraggled group of castaway
seamen from the Barque the "Dundonald"  , firmly entrenched and residing
at one of the Government stations we had called at. They were
certainly elated to see us and realise that at last rescue was at hand.
From their delirious accounts and garbled conversations, these poor
chaps had struggled through a real hard time of it. We spent quite some time making sure they were recovering now they had found the supply depot. We added to this with our own stores and felt assured they would have no fears of running short of food or medical needs.
Initially, they told how t had been wrecked on Disappointment island  and
had miraculously managed to scramble ashore on the sheer cliffs. It seemed
that island had no supply station because of the very fact no one thought
that the cliffs could be scaled. Poor chaps were a little perplexed to learn that although they were rescued, they would still have to suffer this place a little
longer, at least until we had finished our scientific studies and could
return with them to New Zealand and civilization.
The weather was not fine in any sense of the word, as we eventually began ur studies, but it did not stop us working at all, and in fact was perhaps more
pleasant to work in than the heat of the dry alpine ranges on a summers day backin the New Zealand.
The first samples I had taken, Notothenia colbecki, Boulenger were not unexpected, as it had already been partly described through an earlier
collection and taken from Campbell Island. At the kind invitation of His
Excellency the Governor to join his party for a tour of the southern islands at
the beginning of the year, in February this year, I had been able to take some specimens at the Antipodes Island, where I found it quite common.
While at anchor on the north-east side of the island I caught this "cod"  very readily on several lines I had over the side and once hooked it
affords no sport at all, being hauled unresistingly to the surface,
almost dead on arrival!
Many of the fish caught here at the Auckland Islands were infested with
fluke like parasites which glided over the surface skin of the body. The gills harboured crustacean parasites which Dr Chilton identifies as
Livoneca novae-zealandiae. There is also an internal worm that appears to severely attack the fish. Together these varied parasites render the fish
unusable and certainly most uninviting for eating with no one requesting
fresh fish from the cook at any time during the expedition.
The head of this fish is not exceptionally broad and as its width is equal
to its length, is quite round in nature. The fine scaleless nature of the
skin means that it is smooth and naked, with the exception of the
upper part of the checks and orpercles, for here it bears small
imbedded scales. From close behind the opercle, the upper lateral line
arises, and in a slight initial rise, runs almost straight to beneath the
last dorsal ray; the lower line occupies the middle of the caudal
peduncle, arising posterior to the centre of the anal.
The fish has a row of widely spaced canines that stand in front of each jaw,
behind which sit a broad band of villiform teeth that narrows at the sides.
There is no teeth on the vomer, palatines or on the tongue. While there are some variations, the out line of the dorsal fin is rounded
and it commences slightly behind the opercle, the second spine being the
longest, 3.9 in the length of the head. The length of its base is twice the
diameter of the eye and that of the second dorsal 2.3 in the total. Beneath
the sixth dorsal ray arises the anal and this extends further back than the
dorsal. By comparison, the pectoral is weakly rounded and does
not reach to the vent, the ventral stretches to the centre of the pectoral rays.
This is equal to the caudal in length, or one half of the head. This
caudal is slightly forked, and the depth of the peduncle is one
half longer than the diameter of the eye.
This species is inexplicitly marked with an olive coloration above and a distinct pale yellow beneath, while the fins are dark brown with the median one
s being margined with pale yellow.
I have concisely listed all the measurements from all the fish caught for
future documentation and research, but I suppose over all, the fish would
be no longer than 510mm and these larger fish would be about 400mm
without the caudal.
Among the other species caught in the first few days was Bovichtus
variegatus, Richardson; Notothenia microlepidota and Rhombosolea
tapirina. I found Bovihtus variegatus also living in the various nooks and
crannies around the enclosure of the bays. One I had hooked was
immediately swallowed by a large Notothenia, and in one move, I was
able to obtain both specimens. I found Notothenias abounding in the
sea weed of the shallow water, and although they are of a sluggish habit
the young are quite fearless and will follow a bait right to the surface
of the water. The survivors of the "Dundonald" wreck that we had
picked up, told me that they had not been able to catch fish and they
had all concluded that there were so few because of the presence of the
seals, yet I found them fairly plentiful.
We did get off the boat in those first few days, which allowed some limited
work along the shore line and at this time, I was able to beach dry some specimens successfully in the limited sunlight and heat though I don't know
how. I would spend the morning, as the tide was low then, among the cluster
of exposed rocks that clung along the coast and I was nearly always
accompanied by the resident sea lion or two. Mainly the younger males.
They were very interested in my activity and came quite close at times with a big splash and roar, before they would swim off faster than they arrived. This became a game with a couple of individuals, and every time I was near they would investigate my presence in a flash. It can be quite slippery along the edge after the tide has dropped and the sea weed is left above the water. I had a few minor falls as I slipped and slid across the rocks at times.
I would catch three or four fish at a time before carrying out some basic measurements and classification on site, for I am not one to have a total mess of specimens and an equal amount of figures to sort out once I reach some semblance of a laboratory, the way some disorganized scientists work. I feel the more I can record on the spot the more meaningful and relevant the information may be, and the fewer chance of mistakes.
It must have been after one of these fishing stops that I left my rule out and did not put it back in my kit. When I found that it was missing I retraced my steps to find it. I have done this before and have somehow always managed found it again about the same location that I though it was left. But this time, it must have been once to often, for it never turned up, even though I searched for some time and some of the others in the party were alerted to keep an eye out for it.
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