THE ANTARCTIC SEAL FISHERIES. 417 



PRINCE EDAVARD AND CROZET ISLANDS. 



The Prince Edward group is in the Southern Indian Ocean, about 450 miles southeast of the 

 Crozet Islands, and 960 miles distant from Algoa Bay, Africa. The group is composed of the 

 two islands of Marion and Prince Edward, the center of the former being in about latitude 46 

 52' south and longitude 37 45' east, and the center of the latter island in about latitude 46 36' 

 south and longitude 37 57' east. Marion, the larger of the islands, is about 11 miles long and 

 8 wide. Both the islands are volcanic. One peak, on Marion Island, rises to a height of 4,500 

 feet. 



Fur-seals and sea-elephants once abounded here, audthe islands were frequently visited by 

 American sealers until within the last twenty or thirty years. Capt. Gurdon L. Allyn, of New Lon- 

 don, Conn., who was sealing on the islands in 1842, says: "Marion Island is of a triangular shape, 

 and has a coast line of about 50 miles. Running through the center, in a southeasterly direction 

 from the north part, is a rise of high mountains whose peaks are thousands of feet in height, covered 

 with perpetual snow. The margins and sides of these mountains are composed of volcanic cinders, 

 called clampers, the walking upon which will thoroughly demoralize a new pair of boots in one 

 day's time. In some places this island can be approached within a short distance ; in other places 

 dangerous reefs extend off shore. In several places are strips of beaches which are more or less 

 frequented by sea-elephants ; in other places large masses of irregular shaped rocks render walk- 

 ing along the shore impossible. There is one poor harbor, called Uxor, on account of a vessel by 

 that name having been wrecked there by dragging ashore. The north island is considerably smaller 

 and the best anchorage is in a small bay or roadstead at the extreme southeast point. Here 

 we found the holding ground, and rode out several severe gales in safety. The land of both islands 

 is similar. Probably both are of volcanic origin, and they are a sterile, desolate region, unfitted 

 for the abode of humanity. Here we found the schooner Emmeline, of Mystic, on the same errand 

 as ourselves, and we anchored near her. It being late in the season, the elephants were poor, 

 yielding only a few gallons apiece. We consorted with the Emmeline and worked the beaches 

 together. We also found a gang of men here from the Cape of Good Hope, taking oil for a 

 schooner which they expected at a stated time. We worked the beaches of both islands, and 

 obtained about 175 barrels of oil, and left on the 7th of January, 1853, for the Crozet Islands." * 



The Crozet Islands comprise a group of four small uninhabited isles in the Southern Indian 

 Ocean, between Kerguelen Land and the Prince Edward group. The most eastern island is in 

 about latitude 46 27' south and longitude 52 14' east. They were discovered by Captain Crozet, 

 who, however, did not land there. By the aid of a copy of the discoverer's manuscript, Capt. 

 Henry Fanning, in the ship Catherine, of New York, was enabled, about the year 1805, to redis- 

 cover this group, and to obtain from there a valuable lot of fur-seal skins. The crew of the Cath- 

 erine are believed to have been the first human beings that ever stepped upon the shores of these 

 islands. They began the sealing business here which during the next forty years was of Much 

 importance. Besides an abundance of fur-seals, there were great herds of sea-elephants here, and 

 these were the object of pursuit by numerous English and American oil ships, especially from 1830 

 to 1840. Whaling vessels spent part of the year here and took sea-elephants for their oil, making 

 what were called " mixed voyages." 



The most southern of this group of islands Captain Fanning named Few York Island ; the 

 most western he called Fanning's Island, and the third one, which is very high and mountainous, 

 he named Grand Crozet. 



The Old Sailor's Story ; Norwich, Conn. : 1879. 



SEC. v, VOL. n 27 



