A blind HI survey for galaxies in the zone of avoidance, 308° ≤ l ≤ 332°

We report on a blind neutral hydrogen survey for galaxies using the 21 cm multibeam receiver on the Parkes 64 m telescope. The surveyed region covers \b\ less than or equal to 5 degrees in the zone of avoidance (ZOA) from Galactic longitude 308 degrees to 332 degrees. The survey represents the first phase of a blind H I survey covering the southern ZOA (l = 212 degrees to 36 degrees). We have detected H I in 42 galaxies above a 3 sigma limit of 60 mJy. The galaxies detected in this survey have velocities out to 6000 km s(-1) and H I masses in the range 4 x 10(7) to 3 x 10(10)M. (h(75)(-2)). Only eight of the 42 galaxies have velocities previously measured. A further nine galaxies appear to have optical counterparts in the Woudt's 1998 catalog. In total, 16 of the galaxies appear to be associated with IRAS sources, although only three of these are without optical counterparts. The estimated median extinction for the 20 galaxies with optical or IR counterparts is A(B) = 3.8 mag. For the 22 galaxies with no counterparts, the estimated median extinction is A(B) = 5.6 mag. The distribution of galaxies is suggestive of a connection between the Centaurus supercluster above the Galactic plane and the Pavo-Indus supercluster beneath the plane. No previously hidden concentrations of galaxies were found.