XX PROCEEDINGS, JUNE. 



colonel, in his paper, stated that it was quite possible that the islands 

 in the Straits proved to be a resting place for birds on their way from 

 Australia to Tasmania. 



PROTECTION' FOU THE SEAL AND MUTTON' IIIKD. 



Mr. C. Alli'ORT called attention to the desirability of getting protec- 

 tion in TasTTiania for the seal and the mutton bird. The former he said 

 were becoming in verj' large numbers tlie victims of poachers from New 

 Zealand. At one time as many as a, 1,000 seals were to be counted on 

 Clarke's Island in one day, but they were rapidly being killed, and would 

 soon become extinct unless protected. As to tlie mutton bird, their 

 eggs were being destroyed, as well as being sent away wholesale, and 

 the birds themselves were being destroyed in immense numbers. The 

 bird was a most valuable one, its oil being an excellent thing for con- 

 sumptive persons ; its feathers were marketable, and tlie flesh on the 

 bird was excellent eating. 



In the course of a very lengthy discussion which took place on the 

 matter. Bishop Sandkork said he lived at one time for 10 days on an 

 island on the mutton bird, not having been able to get anything else. A 

 young delicate friend of his was with him at the time, and he greatly 

 improved in his healtii, through, he (the Bishop) believed, eating the 

 bird named continuously. 



Mr. E. Swan did not agree with the Bishop that the bird was u good 

 article of food, and Dr. Barnard said the oil from it could be made much 

 more palatable than cod liver oil, wh.ich was so much used for con- 

 sumptives. 



The Hon. B. S. BiRii said the Government before they took steps for 

 protecting the mutton bird would require sound information as to the 

 necessity for such protection. 



Mr. V. Belstead, Mr. F. H. Wlse, and other gentlemen having 

 spoken, the matter dropped. 



THE ANTARTIC REGION.S. 



Bishop San'ukorI) introduced the subject of appointing an exploring 

 party to proceed to the Antartic regions. If, his lordship, said, Tas- 

 mania did not do something, Melbourne would take the matter out of 

 their hands, and he reminded them that Germany had its eye on the 

 regions named. He had no doubt whatever that the starting-point 

 should be from Ilobart. 



The Chairman said the question had now become a national one. He 

 thought representations for assistance in the matter of an expedition 

 should be made to the Imperial Government. 



\'otea of thanks were accorded to the gentlemen whose papers had 

 been read to the meeting, and a similar compliment having been 

 passed to the Chairman, the proceedings terminated. 



