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New Zealand were, ignorant of the destructive powers of the animals. Of their abundance, an idea will be formed when it is stated that one of the " Hinemoa's " party shot over twenty in the course of a short excursion. Indigenous game is by no means abundant—a few flightless ducks and small wading birds were the only kinds met with. On Adams Island, however, which is really a part of the Auckland Islands, being separated only by an exceedingly narrow passage, is the breeding-place of the albatross and other sea-birds, whose nests are placed on the highest ground. The extreme altitude of any of the land is under 2,000 ft., the great bulk of it being from 100 ft. to, say, I,oooft. above the sea-level. Looked at from seaward, it is comparable to the best tracts of the east coast of New Zealand, and by some of the party likened in outline to Banks Peninsula, Provincial District of Canterbury. The area of Adams Island is estimated at 24,000 acres, and for pastoral purposes it is fully equal to the main island—■ in fact, the condition of the sheep seen upon it was considered superior—the fleeces being unbroken —to that of the pair taken frprn the northern part of the group. Without any defined line of demarcation there is yet as complete a tribal severance between the fur seals and the sea-lions as between two nations. The west coast of the Aucklands is the habitat of the former, the eastern inlets and harbours the periodical haunts of the latter. These terms are used advisedly, for, while the sea-lion is undoubtedly a migratory animal, the fur seal, there is good reason to believe, is a permanent resident of the isolated " rookeries" that are found either in the caves or rock-walled gulches that indent the steep cliffs. This western wall is of varying height, ranging from 250 ft. to perhaps 900 ft., the land falling away to the eastward in more or less gradual slopes, broken in places by outcrops of bare rock or loose stones. The line of western coast, it is necessary to state, was not seen from seaward by the " Hinemoa's " party, but was viewed by Captain Fairchild and Mr. Gordon from a saddle of one of the highest hills, of which the western face is an almost sheer down cliff. It is, therefore, impossible to estimate with any degree of precision what has been the effect of tne measure of protection afforded by the observance of " close seasons." That there has been poaching is well known, and there is but too much reason to fear that the number of fur seals is likely to be a continuously diminishing quantity. That they will ever be completely exterminated is not probable, some of the rookeries being exceedingly difficult of access, either from landward by means of ropes or from seaward by boat. The protection extended primarily to the fur seals has, on the other hand, operated most favourably as regards their congeners, the sea-liens. These were met with at nearly every point touched at among the Aucklands, and also at Campbell Island. At one place (Rose Island) ninety were counted on the beach, and among the scrub and tussock some hundreds of yards inland. At other places, where a landing was only effected for the purpose of setting up guide-posts, from ten to thirty were often seen on the beaches. They are, in short, fairly numerous along the ■extensive eastern coast-line from north to south, and this at the season of the year when their numbers are already reduced by the annual migration. In the absence of data as to the commercial value of the animals, the results of the conservation cannot be even approximately appraised, but, putting it at the low figure of £2 per head—Musgrave speaks of having tried-out as much as thirtyfive gallons of oil from a single sea-lion —the temptation to poaching becomes evident. Formerly ■only the blubber of the sea-lion was deemed of value, but there is reason to believe that the skins could be turned to account. To set the question at rest, it would be only necessary for the Government to authorise Captain Fairchild to kill and bring over to the mainland half a dozen sea-lions, the skins of which could be tanned, and the carcases treated to the best advantage. There is certainly no sufficient reason to continuously protect the sea-lions —they simply occupy and defile considerable areas on the coast that could be utilised for pastoral purposes. There is practically no danger of their complete extermination, for, as has been said, they are migratory, and the periodical slaughter could be conducted as at the Alaskan ■sealeries, under proper supervision. Although the sea-lions might be driven from parts of the coast suitable for sheep or cattle, there would still be ample space for them on the numerous islets and in the least accessible bays. Regarding the habits of the seals, it may be said that their time is divided pretty equally between fishing in the sea, and sleeping, or rather dozing, on the land. Ungainly and sluggish in their movements ashore, no sooner do they enter the water than their whole structure seems to undergo an entire change. Without apparent effort they dart and dive with such arrowy swiftness that one has no difficulty in understanding how they may get their living by fishing. But their activity in this respect has rendered the finny-tribe scarce, and it would go hard with them at times if it were not for the teeming abundance of crabs of two kinds, one in shape resembling a gigantic spider, and named accordingly, the other a counterpart of the larger kind, common on the coasts of Great Britain. Of these, the sea-lion in a few dives of three or four minutes' duration can obtain enough to occupy his digestive powers till next day. It is more than suspected that he occasionally varies his diet by preying upon penguins, and other seabirds and their eggs. Where he goes in the winter months is thus far a mystery, but that it is to some islands or shoal-waters in the further south there can be no question. Captain Fairchild considers it quite feasible to follow the sea-lions and penguins on their journey, the latter more especially going in immense flocks, and swimming at a rate of from four to five miles an hour a pace that even during the night would enable a steamer to keep within range of them. Campbell Islands, with an estimated area of some 20,000 acres, is of quite different geologic, formation to the Aucklands. Cretaceous strata intervene between volcanic and ironstone bands. The chalk, which contains the usual nodules of flint, has been hardened by heat and pressure, but it is still structurally distinguishable. The pasturage here is excellent, and evidently capable of being rendered even more valuable. Some handfuls of rye-grass seed scattered on a burnt patch some six months ago by Captain Fairchild had come up and taken good hold of the soil. There are two excellent harbours; but less timber than on the Aucklands. Antipodes Island has an area of, say, 4,000 acres, and is like the others, well grassed. Its formation, as seen in passing its bold shores, is chiefly sandstone, the layers of which are in places

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