Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

Shackleton seeks to prevent a false sense of physical security on the part of the crew by developing an Emergency Stations Bill, which assigns each man to a particular task, should the crew have to break camp quickly. In order to maintain a sense of discipline, Shackleton creates a paramilitary atmosphere in the camp. “Each day in camp began at 6:30 a.m.” (100), and breakfast was served at about 7:45 am. The menu includes seal steak, with occasional canned fish, porridge, and tea.

Seal hunting takes up a fair amount of the crew’s time. Several members of the crew spend much of their time looking for seals. When a seal is sighted and killed, the crew waves a small flag signaling for other members to assist in bringing the carcass back to camp. In order to preserve ammunition, the seals are often killed by hand. The usual method is to stun the animal with a heavy blow and then cut the jugular vein. “Braining” the seal by pickaxe is an alternate method. The ship’s doctors dislike this method as it leaves the brains inedible; it is their feeling that the brains, which are thought to be high in vitamin content, should be consumed by the crew.