Hamilton. — Notes on a Visit to Macquarie Island, 561 



that the taking of seals of any kind should be prohibited ; and 

 regulations to that effect, under section 12 of " The Fisheries 

 Act, 1889 " (53 Vict., No. 11), were issued in 1891 by the Tas- 

 nianian Government, and published in the Robart Gazette 

 (21st April, 1891). This being the law, it was necessary for 

 us to apply for permission to kill some sea-elephants for 

 scientific purposes. The requisite permit was kindly granted 

 by the Colonial Secretary of Tasmania before we left New 

 Zealand. 



Like the other outlying islands of the South, there is 

 already a mournful list of wrecks on this speck in the waste of 

 waters, and some rude graves at the northern end of the 

 island contain the remains of some who surely here rest in 

 peace. The " Caroline," a ship supposed to have been named 

 the "Eagle," and several others have gone to pieces on these 

 shores. Though not wrecked on the island, the people of 

 New Zealand will always associate the disappearance of the 

 steamer " Kakanui " :;: with Macquarie Island, when nineteen 

 men were lost on the return of the steamer to New Zealand. 

 She no doubt foundered in one of the heavy gales which are 

 so frequent in this part. In 1830 the "Lord Nelson" was 

 lost at the north-west end. At a place now called Eagle 

 Bay, about half-way down the west coast, the "Eagle" was 

 lost, and her crew had to remain on the island about two 

 years ; some of them died before they were rescued. The 

 " Caroline," a barque, was wrecked at the south end in 1838. 

 The " Countess Cimento " was wrecked in 1849, about three 

 miles from the north end, on the east coast ; and in 1879 the 

 schooner " Bencleugh " was wrecked near the same place. 



The vessel in which we sailed is a smart little ketch of 

 about 100 tons called the " Gratitude," and we embarked 

 from Dunedin wharf with all our stores and collecting:- 

 material on the 22nd of February. This vessel usually makes 

 three trips in the year — in December, February, and March. 

 A good supply of stores was taken, as it was considered 

 possible that Mr. Jennings might find it necessary to remain 

 on the island till the vessel returned on the March trip. 

 Besides ourselves, there were two boys from Dunedin as pas- 

 sengers, so the small cabin was very crowded. 



Our passage along the coast was slow and uneventful. 

 Between the Otago Heads and the Nuggets I saw some 

 gannets and an occasional albatros (D. exulans). Being a 

 very bad sailor, I was soon in " Sick Bay," and I got worse and 

 worse, until at one time I thought I should never land again ; 

 and I was confined to my bed the whole of the voyage, both 



* For particulars of the loss of the "Kakanui," 83 tons, 22 h.p., see 

 Captain Fairchild's report on the result of the two searches, in the Otago 

 Daily Times, 23rd February, 1891. 

 36 



