404 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE 



and those belonging to other nationalities, especially at Desolation and the Falklands. These 

 animals abounded on all the islands frequented by the fur-seal. They were specially numerous at 

 Desolation or Kerguelen Land until 1850 or 1860. At Heard's Island, south of Desolation, they 

 were found in great numbers when that island was first "worked" in 1854, and that place is still 

 their principal hauling ground. From the Tristan Islands, South Georgia, South Shetlands, and the 

 vicinity of Cape Horn ; from the islands of Ichaboe and Mercury, and other places on the southwest 

 coast of Africa; from the Crozet and Prince Edward Islands and numerous other islands in the 

 Southern Atlantic and Southern Indian Oceans, large cargoes of sea-elephant oil were taken in 

 the early history of this industry. 



CAPE HORN KEGION. 



At the southern extremity of South America, south and southeast of the Straits of Magellan, is 

 a large group of islands, known as Terra del Fuego, or < ; land of fire." The name was wisely given, 

 for the entire group is of volcanic origin, and more desolate islands could hardly be found. The 

 group extends north and south about 200 miles, and east and west some 380 miles. At its eastern 

 extremity are the Straits of Le Maire and the western limit is Staten Island. South of the main 

 cluster of Terra del Fuego are numerous small islands or rocks, and the most southern is known 

 as Horn Island, whose southern extremity is the famous Cape Horn. 



The few inhabitants of the larger islands of the Terra del Fuego Group are half-starved 

 miserable beings who live on fish and seal's flesh. Captain Delano says that they eat the seals 

 raw and nearly rotten. There are some good harbors among the islands, where the sealing vessels 

 lie at anchor while the crews are ashore in search of their prey. The islands of Diego Kainirez 

 form a small group some 50 miles southwest of Cape Horn, and extending for about 4 or 5 miles 

 northwest and southeast. There are three principal islands and numerous rocks above water. 

 Nowhere is there any vegetation, nothing but barren rocks upon which the fur-seals love to 

 climb. 



The dangers of sealing among the islands about Terra del Fuego are very great, and many 

 vessels have been lost there in the history of the business. Only five or six years ago the 

 schooner Charles Shearer, of Stonington, left a crew of sealers on Diego Ramirez and proceeded 

 farther in search of new rookeries. The vessel never returned, but the crew were rescued by a 

 passing merchant vessel bound to San Francisco. After the departure of their vessel from the 

 island the crew secured several hundred skins that were left there and afterwards brought to 

 Stonington by a vessel sent out after them. The owners of the Shearer supposed that their vessel 

 had gone to South Shetlands, and the United States Government sent a vessel there in hopes of 

 rescuing any men that might be left in those desolate isles, but no traces of vessel or men could 

 be found. 



Capt. George F. Athearn writes from West Tisbury, Mass., under date of April 11. 1881, con- 

 cerning the danger of sealing in the Cape Horn region, as follows: 



"The dangers of the sealing business are many. The southwest coast of Terra del Fuego and 

 islands of Cape Horn are exposed to almost endless gales of wind, accompanied with thick rain, 

 snow, or hail. The days of good weather arc few. These westerly gales bring in a heavy swell 

 on all this coast and Western Patagonia. This coast is composed of hundreds of islands, growing 

 smaller and more barren as they approach the sea coast, the whole line of which is fronted by outlying 

 rocks and blind breakers. It is on these outlying rocks that the seal are found. The constantly 

 prevailing swell may and does for months prevent boats from landing, and when it is possible to land 

 it is done with great difficulty and danger. But the greatest danger is in approaching these out- 

 lying rocks from the outer belt of islands. In daylight and clear weather there is not much danger, 



