NavList:

Hello:

I was just reading an excerpt from Shackelton's South which made me consider the accuracy of charts in the early 1900s.

Upon arrival at King Haakon Bay landfall (south side headland), Shackelton wrote
" Worsley's noon observation gave 54* 10' 47" S, but the German chart indicated 54* 12'S . Probably Worsley's observation was more accurate."

An on-line service indicates that Cave Cove (later called I believe) is 54* 11' S ....Worsley got it right!

I imagine Shackelton wanted to again publicly compliment his brilliant navigator. But I ask the question, probably discussed herein but could not find it, was it unreasonable to expect a very far south chart in 1914 to be accurate to within a
couple of minutes of latitude? Even less accuracy in longitude? I believe I've read that charts were often being corrected into the 1940s and maybe later?
Because of the whaling station the coastline was very well defined?

Bruce
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