Following the initial settlement of the 
island, the locality became more frequent¬ 
ly visited, and probably many vessels 
called in there for shelter, quite apart 
from those of the sealing and whaling 
order. 
In the early days Tasman’s designa¬ 
tion seems to have been forgotten by the 
seafarers who visited it, as it is fre¬ 
quently referred to as Oyster Island, 
probably on account of Cox naming the 
bay on its south-western side Oyster 
Bay. 
just a century ago (March. 1825), a 
penal establishment was founded on the 
island, and particular attention was 
given to the growing of llax, in 1830 
a woollen factory was built, the product 
being valued at 8s per yard, an average 
of 100 yards weekly being the output. 
In addition 4000 pairs of shoes valued 
at 4s per pair were made. Several out- 
stations were also created. However, 
the authorities were not satisfied with 
the progress of the settlement, and soon 
after the founding of Port Arthur (1831) 
Hie settlement was vacated. 
In 1841, when Cord Stanley’s proba¬ 
tion system came into force, the station 
was again occupied. In 1845 there were 
six hundred prisoners on the island, but 
conditions were by no means satisfac¬ 
tory, and it was finally vacated as a 
convict station in 1850. 
During the eighties of last century a 
further era of prosperity was granted 
to the island owing to the development 
work undertaken by the Maria Island 
Company. For a few years great pros¬ 
perity reigned, but again there was a 
period during which the population of the 
island dwindled to small numbers, the 
majority being engaged in pastoral pur¬ 
suits. 
During recent years, largely owing to 
the efforts of the late Signor Bernacehi. 
ivho had large interests in the forme' 
company, development work once more 
proceeds upon the island. Large cement 
works rise above the old buildings of 
Darlington, and the hum of modern ma¬ 
chinery is in the air. 
After vve left Maria Island a course 
was shaped for The Schoutens. Half¬ 
way we passed a small Tocky islet, gen¬ 
erally called White Rock. This is the 
Isle tie Phoque (Isle of Seals), having 
been chartered and so named by Baudin’s 
expedition in 1802. 
The granite hills of Scbouten Island 
and Freyeinet Peninsula were now becom¬ 
ing closer, and preparations were made 
for landing. Shortly after 1 o’clock the 
anchor was dropped in a quiet bay on 
the north-west side of Schouten Island. 
The advance party were ashore in quick 
time, and were met by Mr. Fergusson, 
the lessee of the island, who had kindly 
granted us permission to camp there, 
and who, with Mrs. Ferguson, did every¬ 
thing possible to make our stay a pleas¬ 
ant one. Particularly welcome were 
the tracks which had been cut and the 
waterholes opened up. 
A site was selected for the camp, and 
as boatload after boatload of impedi¬ 
menta came ashore it was a task for 
“all hands and the chef” in order to get 
the camp lil ted up before nightfall. Soon 
these tents began to spring up, smoke 
arose from the galley fire, a wireless 
mast arose above tile trees, and not 
much remained to he done when the 
lusty, if not musical, sounds of the dinner 
gong—or rather petrol tin—summoned 
all hands to the evening meal. 
In the evening there was a certain 
amount of straightening up to be done, 
and most members sought Blanket Bay 
at an early hour, while others listened 
to the loud speaker giving forth a Syd¬ 
ney concert. Whilst, chatting around 
the camp fire plans were made for the 
following days, provided weather condi¬ 
tions held good, and it was decided to 
visit certain portions of Freyeinet Penin¬ 
sula. which extends southward from the 
mainland towards Schouten Island. The 
mountain ranges, such as (he Hazards, 
inn from east to west, and as the land 
between the groups is very low, the 
peninsula from a distance appears to 
consist of a number of islands. As such 
it appeared to Tasman when he coasted 
northward in 1042. He chnrlered Schou¬ 
ten Island naming it in honour of Justus 
Schouten, a member of the Council of 
India. To the Peninsula he gave the 
name of Vanderlin’9 Islands, thinking 
that they were separated from the main. 
From the time of Tasman until Bau¬ 
din’s expedition in 1802 very little at¬ 
tention appears to have been given to 
this portion of the coast. During the 
