STEAM WHALERS 
379 
Terror Gulf before the season closed. This fine season's 
work had not been surpassed in geographical interest by 
any sealing vessel since the voyage of Balleny. 
The Jason was a ship with a destiny before her as well 
as a history behind. Re-named the Stella Polare, it was 
to be her fate to carry the Duke of the Abruzzi's Arctic 
expedition to Franz Josef Land, whence Captain Cagni 
attained the nearest approach yet made to the North 
Pole. But while the Jason was still in Antarctic waters 
the Hertha and Castor were proving worthy consorts. 
They were working amongst the islands of the South 
Shetlands, and southward west of Palmer Land. Captain 
Evensen reached an even higher latitude than Larsen had 
done on the other side. He made his way southward to 
the west of Palmer Land, passed between the Biscoe 
Islands and Graham Land, and on November 9th he 
crossed the Antarctic circle, much surprised at finding 
so little ice at the very beginning of the open season. 
Next day Adelaide Island was sighted and drift ice 
encountered. After a detour to the northward along the 
Biscoe Islands the Hertha again worked to the southwest, 
and on November 21st reached the remarkable latitude of 
69° 10' S. in 76° 12' W. without hindrance from ice. Next 
day she sighted Alexander I. Land, having come very 
much nearer to it than either Bellingshausen or Biscoe ; 
but unfortunately beyond the positions we have quoted 
Evensen’s voyage has added little to our knowledge. On 
December 14th he met the other Norwegian ships off 
Joinville Island, and remained in company until they 
finally left Antarctic waters in March, 1894. The three 
ships returned to Norway in July of that year. 
Svend Foyn of Tonsberg was the acknowledged chief 
of the whalers of Norway, a man of the most remarkable 
