BY W. LODEWYK CROWTHER, D.S.O., M.B. 147 



In 1855, the late John Ross completed his patent slip 

 at Secheron, and Messrs. McGregor also laid down a slip 

 at the Domain Yards. This enabled repairs to be carried 

 out, and ga,ve a tremendons impetus to Hobart Town 

 whaling. 



In 1857 the Brig "Grecian" (Chas. Seal, owner) when 

 cruising off the South West Cape "rose" Sperm Whales. 

 The boats were lowered in chase, and tha,t of R. Marney, 

 the chief mate, made fast to one. The whale at once 

 made away, towing the beat after it. Night came on 

 rapidly, and during the darkness flares were lit froni 

 the "Grecian" and guns let off. However, no trace was 

 ever again found of the boat or its crow. 



In the same year the late Dr. W. L. Crowther fitted 

 out an expeditio'U to take Sea elephant oil from Kerguelen 

 Island (Desolation Land). The "Offley ' (barque), Capt. 

 J. W. Robinson, sailed for her destination, Christraas Har- 

 bour, Kerguelen Island, with shore parties on board and 

 ■fitted out at great expense. The sea elephants were to be 

 taken from Hurds Island, which had no Harbour, and 

 only one open roadstead. For the expedition to be suc- 

 cessful a tender to land the shore parties and supplies, and 

 to bring off the barrels of oil to the larger ship was essen- 

 tial. The Schooner "Elizabeth Jane" was despatched to 

 the rendezvous at Christmas Harbour for this purpose. The 

 "Offley" made the Harboui' in good time and waited for 

 her tender. The latter, meeting heavy weather, leaked a 

 little, and, putting' into Mauritius, was condemned and 

 sold. To take her place the "Flying Squirrel" (schooner) 

 was at once fitted out and despatched ; the crew, however, 

 mutinied and returned to Hobart. By this time the 

 "Offley," after months of delay, had "mated" with the 

 "Mary Powell," an American Schooner, landed her shore 

 party at Hurd's Island and collected much oil. Eventually 

 when 400 tuns had been got on the "Mary Powell," a 

 sudden storm arose, the ship was driven on shore, and the 

 crew were only saved by a miracle. The "Offley," with 

 100 tuns on board, then returned to Hobart Town, and 

 the venture financially was a very big loss to my grand- 

 father. 



On the other hand, the "Elizabeth Jane," a small 

 schooner and two boat ship, had in a short cruise of a 

 few weeks off the South West Cape, some years previously, 

 returned to port with £2,600 worth of Sperm oil. 



Dwelling as I have on the voyages of individual ships, 

 I have neglected to write of the pursuit of the Spea-m 



