THE SEAL FISHERIES. 
127 
tended the Crozier range, 3250 feet in height. * * * 
After leaving Betsy Cove, we successively visited 
Three Island Bay, Boyal Sound, Greenland Harbour, 
Cascade Beach, Hopeful Bay, Rhodes Harbour. Thus 
three weeks passed in exploring the various shores 
and inlets, in order to ascertain the position where 
the finest weather might be expected at which to 
establish an observatory for the astronomers who 
intend (if our report should be favourable) to visit 
here in December next to observe the transit of 
Venus. From observations, the results seem to be 
in favour of establishing a station here, for out of 
the twenty-five days of our stay sights might have 
been obtained at least on ten. 
Jan . 29 th .- — We anchored yesterday in Rhodes 
Harbour, in company with two sealing schooners, the 
Betsy Jane and the Rossel King , which had been 
fortunate in capturing twenty-two fur-seals, which 
they were willing to sell at 40s. each in the rough 
state. The manner in which the seal-fishery is 
carried on in the surrounding seas is both extravagant 
and destructive, for at the time of the discovery of 
this island it swarmed with sea-elephants, whales and 
fur-seals. On this becoming known, it soon became 
a favourite cruising ground for those engaged in the 
“trade.” This led, in an incredibly short space of 
time, to the reduction of all these species to a mere 
remnant ; and in a few years their utter extinction 
is sure to follow, for it can hardly be expected to be 
