Proceedings, (S;G.,for 1886. 283- 



sciences. Its objects naturally divide themselves into discoveries 

 which may offer to mankind a direct return in the shape of new 

 stores of merchantable products, and discoveries which simply add 

 to our stock of knowledge. 



4. The whale trade has been a lucrative one in the past, but the 

 steady warfare so long maintained against these animals has now 

 nearly exhausted all the old fishing grounds, so that last year the 

 whole English whaling fleet returned almost empty. Now, there is 

 reason to believe that an abundantly stocked fishing ground exists 

 within ten days' sail of Australia, only awaiting the advent of 

 steam whalers to yield rich returns. Captain Cook reported seeing 

 numerous whales within the Antarctic Circle ; and Ross says — "We 

 saw a great many whales whenever we came near the pack edge, 

 chiefly of a very large size.'' — (Eoss^ Voyage^ Vol. I., p. 265). This 

 was off North Cape, Victoria Land, in 69 degs. S., 167 degs. E., or 

 in sight of Antarctic land. Accompanying these whales where 

 many seals, some believed to be of the most valuable kind. He 

 discovered on the same shores extensive guano deposits also — 

 " sufficient to afford cargoes for whole fleets of ships for years to 

 come."— (i?055, Vol. I., p. 189 ; M'CormicTc, Vol. L, p. 152.) 

 Were the new expedition to confirm the existence of an abundant 

 supply of sperm whales, and fur seals, and of shores elastic with 

 guano, branches of a decayed colonial trade might be galvanised 

 into fresh activity. Australian whaling has hitherto been conducted 

 in sailing ships, and these have confined themselves to fishing 

 grounds lying well to the north of 50 degs. S. Seamen refuse to 

 venture into higher latitudes, and will not willingly fish even 

 within the zone of the westerly winds. To navigate the icy but 

 calmer regions lying beyond the " Roaring Forties," steam whalers, 

 are a necessity. It might assist explorers by providing them with 

 a base depot, if the Antarctic Islands were to be stocked with hardy 

 animals and birds, as well as with cold-enduring plants and herbs, 

 and even permanent settlements might eventually be promoted by 

 such means. 



5. It would indeed be strange if an unexplored region, 8,000,000 

 square miles in area — twice the size of Europe — and grouped 

 around the axis of rotation and the magnetic pole, could fail to 

 yield novel and valuable data to the investigator. 



Our acquaintance with the geography of the region is excessively 

 limited. We have charted a few discontinuous coast lines between 

 45 degs, and 180 degs. E. and between 45 degs. and 75 degs. W. 

 Ross just viewed the coasts of Victoria Land ; twice he approached 

 its shores, discovering its huge volcanoes and its icy barrier. We 

 do not yet know whether these scattered shores constitute parts 

 of a continent or whether they are, like the coasts of Greenland, 

 but portions of an archipelago, smothered under an over-load of 

 frozen snow which conceals their insularity. 



