Exploring the South Shetlands 



The Seal Hunters Extend the Range of their Cruising 



It is obvious that such a tremendous slaughter of the seals was not only rapidly 

 exterminating them but that, after the Stonington camps had been established, 

 it was increasingly difficult for other sealing vessels to get more than the "leav- 

 ings." As a result, the other sealing vessels at Yankee Harbor were forced to 

 seek new rookeries and this meant exploring the shores of other islands until 

 they found them. 



On December 22, Captain Davis began his first cruise in the Cecilia, return- 

 ing to the South Bay of Livingston Island.^^ The log of the Huntress reported 

 that Captain Johnson's shallop came in on December 24 with 1,600 skins, no 

 doubt from the eastward, as neither Captain Palmer nor Burdick mentioned 

 the New York boats as cruising along Livingston Island's shores. 



While waiting for the Cecilia's return, Captain Burdick gives us some im- 

 portant glimpses of Yankee Harbor and of his work guarding his vessel. On 

 Christmas Day, 1820, he is particularly interesting: 



"Begins with strong Gales at N E with Snow and hail Me and the 

 Boy busily engaged in scraping the ice from the Cables and Sides of 

 the schooner The NE side of our harbor is formd By an Iceburg from 

 three to five hundred feet high from the surface of the water, which 

 Break off in flakes of 4 or 5 hundred tons with a report as Loud as a 

 Cannon These pieces of ice float in the water and the wind drives them 

 afoul of us which is very chafing Latter part moderates. Employd in 

 mending Scrivits on the cables. So Ends this Day."^^ 



On December 28, 1820, Captain Davis returned from the camps with 1,384 

 skins. It is quite clear that the seal in the camp areas were becoming scarce, 

 and that it behooved the hunters to find new rookeries as quickly as possible, 

 as Captain Davis left again that very same day. This cruise lasted twelve days, 

 during which Captain Davis circumnavigated most of the South Shetlands. 



". . . at 4 P.M. Capt. Davis returned with the shallop he had crused as 

 far to the NE as the Land Extended but found now Seal to speak of. 

 He fell in with an English Ship and Brig that wher Castaway; took 

 part of ther Crews and put them on Board of English Vessels Lying at 

 Raged Island. Returned by where the men where Stationed Brought 

 in 2470 Skins — took 696 on Board being my part. He informed me that 

 Samuel Johnson had run away. . . . The skins were found to be in Very 



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