lb. oz. Sledge (complete) 130 0 Tent (complete) 44 0 Tent poles, five in number 25 0 Coverlet 31 8 Extra coverlet (used only in cold weather) 20 0 Lower robe 23 0 Waterproof floor-cloth 15 0 Sail 9 4 Eight sleeping bags 64 0 Eight knapsacks (packed) 96 0 Two pickaxes 14 8 Shovel 6 8 Store bag 25 0 Cooking gear 29 0 Gun and ammunition 25 0 Medical stores 12 0 Instruments 15 0 ------- Constant weights 584 12 Forty-five days' provisions for eight men (including packages) 1080 0 -------- Total 1664 12 which, dragged by seven men, is equivalent to about 238 lbs. per man to drag. This should never be exceeded, nor should it even be kept up for any length of time. It will thus be seen that it is impossible for a sledge party to be absent from the ship for more than seven weeks, at the outside, on its own resources. In order, therefore, to enable it to remain away for a longer period, depôts of provisions are established during the autumn on the line of route, and auxiliary sledges are despatched in the spring from which the extended parties may be replenished with provisions after they have been away from the ship some two or three weeks. These auxiliary sledges, on their return, are again completed with provisions and sent out to meet the extended parties on their way back. By these means, a sledging party may remain away for as long as twelve or thirteen weeks.