Studies of southern sea lions

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33091, 5 December 1972, Page 2

Studies of southern sea lions

(N.Z. Press Association)

DUNEDIN, December 4. Scientific understanding of the animals and environment of the Auckland Islands, 220 miles south of Stewart Island, will be improved in the next few months. The research vessel Acheron returned to Dunedin yesterday to complete the first of a series of Govem-ment-backed trips to the

Auckland Islands with scientific parties. Nine scientists and 12 tons of stores were landed there last week. A study of sea lions on Enderby Island, on the northern fringe of the 30-mile-long group, is being made by an Australian couple, Mr and Mrs B. J. G. Marlow. Mr Marlow is the curator of mammals at the Australian Museum, Sydney. About 70 bull sea lions were on the beach near where the couple went ashore, according to the Ach-

eron’s owner-skipper, Mr A. J, Black. "The Marlows were thrilled about the reception,” he said today. Memories were revived for one of the visiting scientists, Dr C. A. Fleming, of the Geological Survey, Wellington, who was posted to the Islands for coast-watching duties during the Second World War. Dr Fleming collected glacial rock specimens from Enderby Island and returned to Dunedin with the Acheron, as did Dr A. N. Baker, of the Dominion Museum.

Dr Baker has two sea lion skeletons for the museum’s collection. The nine scientists who were landed at the islands will not return to New Zealand until February or March. Mr Black said tne Acheron would sail for the islands on Friday with another party of scientists, including five Americans. A third trip is arranged for January 26, and the Acheron will stay at the islands for five weeks before bringing back the first of the scientists;