BY SIK DOUCI-AS MAWSON, Kt.B , D.SC, B. K., O.B.E. 43 



It is, therefore, only common sense that postulates that 

 the very least that should be done in the case of Macquarie 

 Island, if killing is to be permitted, is the passage of legis- 

 lation to secure the maintenance of its animal population 

 by limiting the slaughter. But without Zoological advice 

 and proper oversight on the ground such administration 

 could never expect to be effective. 



Considering its small size and its absolutely unique 

 position as the sine qiuc von for certain Subantarctic life 

 in our Australasian Quadrant, I am convinced that the 

 wisest course is to reserve Macquarie Island as a sanctuary 

 and breeding place, interfering as little as possible with the 

 balance of existing life. 



How this protection can best be secured necessitates a 

 divergence for the brief consideration of its geographical 

 features <^) and administration. 



Macquarie Island is situated about 900 miles S.S.E. of 

 Hobart as a solitary speck in the stormy seas of 55 deg. 

 South Latitude. In actual miles it lies nearer to New Zealand 

 than to Tasmania, but on account of the prevalence of 

 strong westerly weather, it is easier of approach from the 

 latter. Foy the same reason the direction of New Zealand 

 is the more favourable to navigation for the return voyage. 

 On these grounds, voyages to the island in sailing craft 

 would be best included in an itinerary between Hobart and 

 New Zealand. In the case of power-driven craft, however, 

 the existence of the Auckland Islands, with good harbours, 

 situated in an intermediate position, rather favours com- 

 munication backwards and forwards to New Zealand. 



As it is placed on the map, Macquarie Island does in- 

 deed suggest a genetic connection with the New Zealand 

 Archipelago. It has the appearance of being an outlying- 

 member of the company represented by the Auckland Is- 

 lands, Campbell Islands, and Snares Groups. But the 

 latter all stand in comparatively shallow water upon the 

 New Zealand platform, from which the Macquarie Island 

 ridge is separated by a deep submarine trough. 



Since its earliest days it has been attached as a depen- 

 dency of Tasmania, though until recently few Tasmanians 

 were aware of their charge. In the year 1890 an endeavour 

 was made by the New Zealand Government to annex the 

 Island. Upon discovering that it had been attached to 



(4) I'or fuller particulars refer to '•Macquarie Island" by D. Maw- 

 son. Proc. Roy. Geog. Soc. Austrahisia (S. Aust. Branch), Vol. XX., 

 pp. 1-15. 



