Hurley's Journal - November 5, 1915
Latitude - 69, 1.10 S.
Longitude - 51, 57 W.
Temperature +3.
Calm, fine, sunshiny day.
A few more stores have been retrieved from the Billabong, and all materials likely to be of value, wood, cordage, canvas, ironwork, etc. One of the ship's binnacles has been brought into camp, and later will be erected on a lookout platform.
The sailors are busy at work erecting a canvas hut, 23 x 11 feet from sails and spars, to be used as a galley and shelter. I searched the ship over for a suitable object that could be converted into a cooking range: as the ash chute was the nearest approach to the desideratum, it was conveyed to the camp, where assisted by Kerr and Rickensen, I began the tedious task of cutting a number of "pot holes". As our sole implement is a small, very blunt cold chisel, and the chute is constructed of 1/4" mild steel, we are like to develop our biceps by the time the stove is completed. The stove is designed to consume blubber for fuel, and, when installed in the new shelter, should ameliorate the cook's duties considerably.
It is estimated that there is now sufficient food in the camp, augmented with seals and penguins, to last the party nine months. We anticipate a dissemination of the ice during December to January. Arrangements are therefore being made to consume only the salved unconcentrated foods during the intervening period, reserving the sledging stores exclusively for boat or emergency use.