500 SEAL SKINS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1916, Page 10

500 SEAL SKINS.

AI'CKI.AXIU ISLANDS EXPEDITION. EXCITIXfi ADVENT-PRICK. liltifV, November Tl. \\ itli a, tally of seal skins to their credit, Waitiri's party have, returned to IJIull" from the Auckland Island.-' after a, strenuous time of it. It may be said at the outset that the trip did not prove a paying proposition, and the loss of the launch and a portion of the piovisioni made 'things rather unpleasant. However, the partv were undaunted, and did their best' with the limited appliances available.

The season commenced with a trip to Disappointment Island, which is two and a-half hours distant, and fairly safe with a good launch- and experienced boatmen. The chief was the only man who landed dry. A party and stores v. ere landed from the launch Excelsior, and a trip was made to Rose and Lion Islands the same afternoon, when five sea lions wore killed and one wounded. When trie<l-out tliejdubber produced five and a-half drums of oil. During the next two days 23 skins were obtained on thi! two islands, following it up on tlie eieventh day by bagging 17 seals out of l!l. On the 12t.1i the Disappointment Island party were taken oil' after getting a good haul of 107 fur skins.

r.AN'D SLIP AT RKD ROCK. The famous Red Rock Rookery was tested 011 the 14th, and; the party was lauded in a whale-boat—tho lirst attempt oil record from tho sea. Tin; launch had to be anchored some distance out, and the landing on the rookcry was effected in an open whale boat. Half of this historical rookery, it was found, had been spoilt by :i land slip. However, 51 skins were obtained for the day's work. Several attempts to land on other rookeries failed, and on the iiith the launc.li returned to Port Ko->, where the skins and oil obtained were put aboard the Rachel Cohen, which sailed on tho 18th.

HAUL AT QtTARTETTK ROOKERY. One of the best day's returns was obtained at Quartette Rookery on the •20th, and it proved to be a very good rookery, where they obtained 154 skins. The weather changed for the worse however, with terrific snow squalls, and for days nothing could be done. Tho sq.ialls were so sharp and terrific that they almost tore the tent from its fastenings, and it was bitterly cold. One or two stray sea lions were killed in harbor, but an accident resulted in a mail named Robinson receiving a nasty cut from a wounded sea lionf The days were .spent in moping about doing any odd job, salting skins, seeirg that the launch moorings were ■secure, and so on.

PARTY'S LAUNCH WRECKED, It is hard to realise tho tremendous seus that run in those latitudes, and despite tho attention and care taken to secure the launch the seas gained 1 tho mastery, and the launch was lost. Spencer went aboard specially on tho 28th to put out another small anchor and give the engine a run, which he did. In the evening the seas increased in intensity, and. the launch got a rough handling, and was seen to bo in grave danger. Eventually she dragged hc.r moorings, and was driven ashore and smashed to pieces during the night. This development was a severe blow to the party, as it robbed 1 them of a speedy means of working the rookeries from the sea. When tho tide ebbed after breakfast all hands worked the beach, and saved what timber and effects could be reached. The engine was saved in a damaged condition. The party were camped some distance from Port Rose, and Waitiri, Topi and Spencer had to tramp for four hours in rain and sleet over wet; spongy ground to obtain provisions from Port Ross. A few pigs were shot en route, but they were very thin. The wreck took place on the 28th, and it was September 2 before the party succeeded in getting all their gear back to iPort Ross.

AN EXCITING ESCAPE. During the ensuing days expeditions fossicked, about in various directions, and got a few skins, despite the desperate weather—all gales. However, the weather moderated, although very foggy. On the Bth a trip was made to north-west rookery, where they bagged 22 fur seals, a sea lion and a pig, following it up next day with 28 skins, nuking a total of 51 for the rookery, which »"as capital. The work was not without a spark of excitement. Harwooif, while hooking a seal, drove three others over a rock behind Spencer. One of them landed on Spencer's back, knocking him over, and another landed across his leg; but, strange to say, neither bit him, and he had a lucky escape. The spare launch, which had bcejli damaged, was repaired, and an Oregon spar was found on Hose Island, and shipped as a mast for the launch. The ■heavy tramping had begun to show in the party's footwear, and Spencer's boots were beyond repair, a new pai'r having to be borrowed from the depot. The Be,icon was visited on the 17th, and " the inscription, was still clear—f'H.H.S. Blanche, 1.869 and 1870." By the 17'tli the launch had been pretty well rigged, ready for sea.

A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. On the 30tli camp was struck and the launch (jacked up for a try at the south of the island. Waitiri Bros, and Spencer left on the launch with the dogs, and she sat very deep in the water. The whaleboat took Topi, Hanvood and Walker, and both craft left Shoe Island together in a north-east wind. On working round it was decided to go to Fly Harbor. When they passed Kekeno Point they experienced a fair tide rip, while the \vind worked round to about north-west, and increased to a singleroef breeze with a nasty wobble at times. The whaleboat turned in towards Carnley Harbor, but the launch kept out, and the whaleboat turned out again and followed the 'launch, being taken in tow off Gilrov Head. Under the- Ice of the cliffs the wind was exticiiH'ly squally, and the boats battled about "until 10.30 p.m., when the whaleSpat had to leave the launch. Before doing so their swags were put aboard, also'"guns and food. In the transfer tlie sail was lost, also the rabbit traps ami various other provisions. The boats worked about for an hour, and got under the loe of the cliffs on the south side. '

AS HOURS IN AN OPEN BOAT. Four attempts were made to get into Flv Harbor, but they were blown out again each time. On the 21st four more

unsuccessful attempts wore made, urnl I ;i 11 hands wen? pretty nearly perished with tlie colli. The tirepot, however, produced a clip of lint. coll'ee all round, wliicli put now life into t!u>m. At 1.20 p.in., after another desperate struggle, they »ot romul the south point of Ely Harbor and i-uccfedcd in 1 nulling after 2K hours in tlie boat—tile roughest time any of the party had ever had in their lives, and they were very nearly angels on several occasions.

PERISHED, STIFF" AXI) SOKE. They were soaked through, and there was not a dry stick in their swag*. They put up their tent, had tea, dried then- clothes, and slept the sleep of exhaustion. Next day they all woke still' and sore, wrists swollen, "and with other signs of tin; arduous and sensational experience they had undergone. The provisions were found to have, sull'ered, too, and 1 the biscuits and sugar were scarcely eatable. Tlie case of butter was found to be rotten, and several tins of meat ditto. The party had to make the most of mussels and a few ducks. Kurtherniore, the sealing season ended without- any further luck.

A SOLID TKAM'P. TTanvoml, Speiu cr and Topi decided to walk to Port P.oss. and camp at Fleming's hut en route, and thev left on the 3rd. being landed at. Figure of Eight Harbor. Fleming's hut was not located. Ihe party made up the gully '■mining up from Norman's Inlet, and saw a linger-post which had not been touched for years. They were caught in rain overnight under'the cliffs, and were ve.rv wet and stiff next mornin». Spencer got oil' lightest through having a pretty dry bunk. On the 4th they reached Red Roek Rookery, and climbed the hill high above it, wlmrc they had to spend the night in fog and rain, but they pushed on next morning, and got to Port Doss after a very rouwh trip, the distance covered lieing 3-2 miles. They found that tlie. boating party had arrived just ahead of them.

LTFE AT THE AUCKLANDS.

Killing time is the hardest* job ever set a sealing party, and Waitiri's men were set the task of having to wait a month oil the desohnte Auckiands. Howex ei\ they made the time pass as pleasantly as it was possible to do, and their several exploration expeditions proved very interesting. On the 7th they visited Ocean Island and saw about IS goats there, and caught three of them. They were very thin, as food is very scarce. On the 10th J. Waitiri and Spencer pulled over to Shoo Island, where .they inspected some brickwork and a stone placed there by the, German expedition of 1574 in connection with the last transit of Venus. The cattle there were very poor and weak. The Derry Castle figure-head, which was a quaint reminder of one of the many shipping disasters on the Auckiands, was found to have fallen down, and the party were unable to raise it again. On I the 20th, wliilc Spencer was strolling round towards the Passage he was startled by two sounds like cannon shots at intervals of ten minutes, but could see nothing to cause it. Topi also heard the same sound, but only one of them. No cause could be found to account for it. Two shocks of earthquake were felt about 10 a.m. on the 22nd. Tho weather_ was abominable, and the non-arrival of the Rachel Cohen was beginning to cause anxiety as to her fate. were running out, and shags, sea lions, mussels and penguins bad to appear upon the menu. The feeling began to spread' that the Rachel Cohen bad been wrecked, but all fears were set at rest on November 1, when tho Rachel Cohen was sighted over the end of Enderby Island —a sight for sore eyes, and the cause of great excitement.