BY W. LODEWYK CROWTHER, D.S.O., M.B. 137 



"Thus almost at our very door and threshold are we 

 "'provided with the means of becoming rich with little com- 

 "parative trouble or exertion ; and at the same moment 

 "we are rearing up a fine and manly race of native youths, 

 "in a manner that would qualify them to contest the palm 

 "of superiority on the water with the inhabitants of any 

 "existing upon the whole face of the globe. ' (Melville, 

 V.D.L. Annual, 1813). 



The oil for export by 1826 was of considerable value 

 in the Infant Colony. The value of it exported in the last 

 quarter of the year was £1,180. {H. T. Gazette, 1826) 

 Mr. Meredith, of Great Swan Port, in the same year, is 

 mentioned {H.T.G., 1827) as having taken a whale with 

 blood red blubber, which when boiled down gave Oil of the 

 same colour, also five tons of casks arrived for him in order 

 to bring his Oil to Hobart Town for lading in the "Per- 

 sian." 



The yhip "Governor Sorell" during the year is reported 

 as having been wrecked going to Slopen Island to pick up 

 Oil — which indicates a. station being situated there (li.T.G.,. 

 1826). 



The Gazette mentions "nearly every Bay and Inlet 

 "around the coast are swarming with whales, particularly 

 "at Circular Head." 



The Editor adds that there was some difficulty in 

 obtaining casks for the export of Oil, and also a tending 

 for the Bay Trade to cause neglect of the Sperm Fishery — 

 "which should be the mainstay of the Trade." 



The prices of Oil in London for the year were — Sperm 

 £65, Southern £25 per tun. 



One other extract from the Gazette, dated May 6th, 

 1825, is of interest, and is given in the Editor's own 

 words : — 



"The Whale alluded to in our last as having been seen 

 "up the River as high as New Norfolk, has since been 

 "killed on the beach a.t that Township above the punt 

 "ferry. It is no less remarkable than evident that this 

 "animal was bewildered, having actually run itself aground 

 " — a circumstance perhaps never before heard of on this 

 "Island. 



"It was not a Specimen of the Whales usually caught 

 "in and near the Derwent, but one of that specimens of 

 "fiyh frequently taken at sea,, and known as the 'Ein Back.' 

 "It was 90 feet in length, and will produce a considerable 

 "quantity of Oil." 



