BY SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON, Kt.l?., D.SC, H.E , O.B.K. 47 



smaller forms of bird life. The final extinction of the 

 ground parakeets is ascribed to the depredations of these 

 cats. They are also a factor to be reckoned with in the 

 depletion of the smaller petrels. 



Short references to the wonderful bird population have 

 been recorded at intervals during its history by exploring 

 expeditions'*^), which, in passing, made brief calls at the 

 island. But no proper chai-t or detailed survey of Macquarie 

 Island was made known until the work of the Australasian 

 Antarctic Expedition in 1911-14. Up to this latter cam- 

 paign, the only important contributions to the Natural His- 

 tory O) came from Professor J. H. Scott and Mr. A. Hamil- 

 ton, of the Otago University, who made short visits there; 

 the former in 1880 and the latter in 1894. These visits 

 resulted in the publication of a general description of the 

 plant and animal life, and drew attention to that fascinat- 

 ing field for further observations. 



This brief record is not complete without some reference 

 to Mr. Joseph Hatch's association dO) with the island. For 

 many years past he has conducted a blubber oil industry, 

 with headquarters at Invercargill. Every year parties of 

 men have been sent down to the island to kill the sea- 

 elephants and penguins and render them down for their oil. 

 This was then brought back in casks to Invercargill to be 

 refined before marketing. The slaughter of about 700 sea- 

 elephants and some 300,000 Royal penguins would, so far 

 as one can ascertain, be considered a fair season's work at 

 Macquarie Island. ' 



This trade was never attended with any proper finan- 

 cial compensation for the toll of life involved. As a result 

 Mr. Hatch has passed through a series of financial crises, 

 and, indeed, the nominal rent of £20 per annum for the 

 lease of the island remained for years unpaid. This is 

 an indefensible position for anyone seeking to justify the 

 great slaughter. 



More recently, in 1914, the trade was revived with 

 greater vigour, Mr. Hatch having interested additional 

 capital in the venture, which was then floated off under the 

 title of "The Southern Islands Exploration Company." From 



(8) BellinKhausen, 1821; Wilkes. 1840; Scott, 1904; Davis (Shackle- 

 ton Expedition), 1909. 



(9) See: Scott, Repts. A.A.A.S. Vol. III. (1891). pp. 226-227. Proc. 

 N.Z. Inst. XV., pp. 484-938. Hamilton; Proc. N.Z. Inst. (1894). dp. 



659-578. 



(10) Ho has operated at Macquarie Island at least as early aa 

 >-H91. 



