The American Museum Journal 



Volume XIII 



OCTOBER, 1913 



Number 6 



A DESOLATE ISLAND OF THE ANTARCTIC 1 



SOUTH GEORGIA, IN THE LATITUDE OF CAPE HORN, THE 

 GREATEST WHALING GROUNDS OF THE WORLD 



By Robert Cushman Murphy 



Curator, Division of Mammals and Birds, Brooklyn Museum 



THE cold white hills of South Georgia were a most welcome sight after 

 five months of sea life. That desolate isle, which for more than a 

 hundred years has been the scene of ruthless sporadic destruction 

 of fur seals and sea elephants, has of late become the base of the greatest 

 whaling grounds in the world. The modern industry was instituted by 

 a Norwegian of both north and south polar fame, Captain C. A. Larsen, 

 who in 1893 touched at South Georgia with the "Jason" while on his ex- 

 pedition which led him into the Antarctic Sea east of Graham Land. Eight 

 years later Larsen commanded Nordenskjold's vessel, the "Antarctic," 

 which likewise visited South Georgia, and upon returning thence he de- 

 termined to establish a whaling station of the modern Norwegian type. 

 Thus the Compania Argentina de Pesca was incorporated in Buenos Aires, 

 and the right of locating in Cumberland Bay, South Georgia, was secured. 

 Larsen's success led to the establishment of other plants, so that now in 

 addition to the Argentine station there are five Norwegian and two English 



Copyright, 1913, by Robert Cushman Murphy. All rights reserved. 



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