EXPEDITION TO KERGUELEN ISLAND.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9992, 23 March 1898, Page 5

EXPEDITION TO KERGUELEN ISLAND.

(FROM or*R OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

(B* Telegraph from the Bluff.)

MELBOURNE, March 15. In the latter part of last year, Mr H. Gunderseu, the Norwegian Consul in Melbourne, decided to equip an expedition to Kerguelen Island in search of seals, and for the advancement of natural science, and, accompanied by Mr Robert Hall, of Surrey Hills, who acted as naturalist, and Mr H. B. Evans, of Bristol, left for the Island in the Edward, brig, whioh also carried Captain Steensohn and a orew of fourteen hands. The Edward left Melbourne on the 27th October, 1897, and it was not till the 27th December that she commenced sealing. In the search for sealing grounds and new harbours, the vessel had some hard sailing, and although no fur seals were observed, sea elephants and leopards were found in large numbers. The party occasionally varied their sport by shooting ducks and rabbits, of which there is a plentiful supply on the island. From a financial standpoint the result of the expedition is not gratifying, as the value of the "take," comprising 19,000 gallons of blubber and 900 skins is barely expected to cover the cost of hiring aud outfitting the vessel for the trip, which is estimated at £1500 ,* but Mr Hall collected a fine assortment of birds' eggs, plants, seaweed, fossils and minerals which were not discovered by previous expeditions. In all the party spent fifty-three days on the island.