TRISTAN DA CUNHA. 315 



vessel, says (affidavit): "We heai-d reports of the number of seals formerly taken 

 there, but we did not get a seal; and saw only one." He took three there, however, 

 in 1887. 



SANDWICH LAND. 



Early in the present century many fur seals were taken at Bouvette Island and 

 Sandwich Land, small islands a few hundred miles southwest of South Georgia, but 

 when visited by Captain Morrell in 1822 he found not a single fur seal at Sandwich 

 Land, and succeeded in procuring only about 200 at Bouvette Island.^ 



According to Captain Budington (affidavit), in 1875-76 the southern island of 

 Sandwich Land was searched unsuccessfully for seals, but about 2,000 were taken 

 that season on the northern island, where also, in the season of 1876-77, six vessels 

 took about 4,000. The next year's catch, however, did not exceed 100 skins. During 

 the season of 1880-81 the island was again visited, but no seals were taken. In 1891-92 

 about 400 were obtained and about 200 more were seen. Prior to 1871 the Sandwich 

 Land group of islands had not been worked for twenty-five or thirty years, during 

 which time the seals had greatly increased in numbers and had become very tame. 

 At first they were easily killed with clubs, but since 1880 it has been necessary to 

 shoot them. Old and young were killed indiscriminately, only younig pups being left, 

 which were killed by buzzards or died of starvation. Captain Budington further adds 

 that "seals in the Antarctic regions are practically extinct, and I have given up the 

 business as unprofitable. The whole annual catch for seven vessels has not exceeded 

 2,600 skins for the last four years." 



TRISTAN DA CUNHA ISLANDS AND GOUGH ISLAND. 



The Tristan group of islands, situated in the South Atlantic about midway 

 between South America and the Cape of Good Hope, was first visited for fur seals in 

 1790 by Captain Patten, of the American schooner Industry, of Philadelphia, who 

 secured 5,600 skins. Large numbers are said to have been subsequently obtained 

 there, probably from the smaller islands of the group. Inaccessible and Nightingale 

 islands. The latter is apparently still frequented by a few fur seals. 



Gough Island, somewhat to the southward of the Tristan group, formerly 

 abounded with fur seals. Captain Morrell, writing in 1829, says: 



This island used to abound with fur seal and sea elephants, but they were so much annoyed by 

 their relentless persecutors that they have sought more safe and distant retreats, perhaps some lonely 

 isles in the southern ocean as yet unknown to that fell destroyer, man. These places might be easily 

 found, however, if merchants were willing to risk the expense of the attempt.'' 



Fur seals appear to have survived at Gough Island, however, till the present 

 time. Mr. George Comer states (in his affidavit) that his vessel put six men on the 

 island in 1887, where they remained niue months, taking about forty to fifty skins. 

 He adds : " Years before the English had had the working of Gough Island and had 

 run the business out, so there were practically no seals there." 



PRINCE EDWARD AND CROZET ISLANDS. 



The Prince Edward Islands are situated about 900 miles southeast of the Cape of 

 Good Hope. They formerly yielded a large supply of both fur seals and sea elephants. 



I Morrell's Voyages, pp. 58, 59, and 66. ^ Voyages, p. 356. 



