GREAT SEALING EXPEDITION.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1302, 1 October 1872, Page 2

GREAT SEALING EXPEDITION.

On July 27th, says tho New York Times, v there was a sound of mirth and merriment in the quaint town of New London, which, with the exception of New Bedford and Nantucket, ia the only important whaling station on the Atlantic coast of the United States) The reason of the festivity in New 'London was that the taut schooner E. B. Simmons waff, within a few hours, to weijjh anchor and start on a scaling expedition to the South Shetland Iblcs, which* are within ten days' sail of Cape Horn. On board the little craft, which is a qnick sailor, were gathered a goodly number of old sea-dogs, who came to drink the Captain's health, and wish him a fortunate voyage and thousands of prospective seal Bkius. The owner, of the vessel, a Mr Phillips, ft furrier of this city, was on board, also Captain Morison, of No. 109 South street, in this city, who is to encase the officers and crews for several of the ships about to leave for the islands. In addition there were a large number of the prominent residents of New London present. At last, • amid great enthusiasm, the vessel got under way, and the crowd dispersed. She will call at the Cape Verde Islands and take on board several Portuguese negroes, to attend to the Bkinning of the seals and the rendering of tho their blubber. This" vessel is the pioneer of some fifteen others which are bound to the islands, the following being an approximate list of those now; completing their equipment j— The Francis Allen, steamer of 120 • tons, nowin thiscity ; two sailing vessels from Stoningtou, six from New London, two from New York, sent out out by the furriers. In addition to the foregoing, the Falkland Isles Trading Company, a powerful cftrporation, hitvo expressed their intention of sending out vessels to the Shetlands on sealing expeditions. Last year, it may be remembered, four vessels from New London sailed for the New Shetland, and returned last May, each vessel having gained in a nine months cruise over GO.OOOdoI a-piece. Their names were the Franklin, Peru, Golden West, and Francis Allen, the latter vessel now being in New York in course of being altered from a sailing vessel to a steamer. Great interest is felft in this South Sea seal scheme by the fur trade in this city, who believe that immerse fortunes will bo nude there by the seal fleet of this year, judging by the wonderful prices gained last year. Furriers here state that the South Shetland seal-skins are double as good as those from Alaska, and that they will realise, when dressed and tanned, prices varying from 40dol to 50doi a piece.