CHAPTER XXIII 
THE CROZET ISLES 
A SMALL group of islands lying 50 nautical miles to 
the east of Prince Edward Island and covering an area 
of 207 square miles are designated by the name of the 
Crozet Isles. The most important of these volcanic 
islands, which are wholly uninhabited, are called Possession, 
East Island, and Hog Island. They were discovered 
on the 28th of January by the Frenchman Marion du 
Fresne. He and Crozet took possession of them in the 
name of France, without attaching any special value to 
this new acquisition. The islands have been repeatedly 
visited since their discovery, as by Charles Goodridge, 
for instance, in the twenties, and then by the “ Challenger.” 
The natural character of the islands is similar to that 
of the former group, but the coasts are for the most 
