Proceedings, (^c, for 1S86. 277 



to whom it was addressed, from Captain Gray himself, of 

 Peterhead, tendering three steam-whalers for the service, 

 provided that satisfactory terms are offered to him. Captain 

 Gray thinks that, after nearly forty years of North Sea 

 whaling, he might himself be tempted to try Antarctic 

 fishing for a year or two. He is quite confident of success, 

 but justly says that it could be done far more profitably 

 and economically from an Australian than a European port. 



Admiral Ommanney is strongly of opinion that the 

 mother country only can adequately equip and conduct a 

 suitable scientific expedition, which must be naval. This 

 expeditiou, consisting of two steamers equipped for a three 

 years' cruise, would cost scarcely less than £200,000. The 

 admiral cannot, however, move in the matter till after the 

 next meetinof of the British Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science, in September, 1887. But he regards with 

 favour the proposal of an Australian pioneer expedition in a 

 steam whaler, and thinks that the results might be extremely 

 valuable. As an English expedition can scarcely be pre- 

 pared to start before the end of 1888, or perhaps 1889, there 

 should be plenty of time to carry the idea into effect. 

 Captain Gray, or Sir A. Young, in the interim might be 

 induced to undertake a whaling expedition to the South 

 Polar Seas, and to carry hence two or three competent 

 observers, by the offer of a bonus, to be augmented if his 

 trip should 7iot prove commercially profitable ; and no doubt 

 some good results might thus be achieved. 



Mr. Chris tensen asks from £3500 to £6500 per steamer for 

 a twelve months' voyage. The other gentlemen make no offer, 

 but await one. The Agent-General, in a letter dated 26th 

 November and just received, reports that he has had an 

 interview with Sir Allen Young, from whom he expects in a 

 few days particulars of an offer to lead a whaling expedition to 

 the Antarctic Seas, if guaranteed £8000 or £10^000 to cover 

 possible loss ; the amount to be reduced by a certain sum 

 for every whale caught. Whether he will carry scientific 

 passengers at all, or proceed to high latitudes, and on what 

 terms, remains to be seen when his offer arrives. 



But there are other alternatives. Captain Gray suggests 

 the formation here of a whaling company, and feels certain 

 of its thorough success. Probably it would be most suc- 

 cessful with his assistance on the spot, and with his ships. 

 Still the scientific objects would be secondary, if not neglected, 

 unless strictly provided for in the conditions of agreement. 



