Part I: Seals teeth and whales ears - Scott Polar Research Institute ...

where we still hoped to land, weather permitting. The tide-race in Smylie
Channel was very strongly against us and as it was relatively calm, formed into
hundreds of small whirlpools about 6-10 feet across, with water bubbling up
elsewhere. It was a most impressive experience and at times the Protector was
almost standing still, even with her engines racing. However, we got through,
passed Tea Island and Staaten Island, inside Sea Dog Island and then rolled
around Rodney Bluff, where there was also a strong tide. At Bird Island the
swell was again too high for a landing; we rounded Cape Meredith in the halflight
of a very fine sunset and so on through the channel between Clump and
Tussac Islands. There we narrowly missed a reef; then with Natural Arch dead
astern we entered Albemarle and dropped anchor at 9 o’clock off the factory.
Next morning we left at 8 o’clock to land sheep at Jack's Island where we
dropped anchor an hour and a half later. The sheep were ferried ashore in
three boats, tussock was cut for the horses and, taking the large boat in tow, we
returned to the station. I did some typing before lunch and at 1 o’clock Johnny
and I went ashore with my .22 rifle to get some geese for the pot. We walked
over to the penguin rookery, but the sheep startled the geese and we had to go
over to the freshwater pond near the shore. Here we shot ten - five geese and
five ganders. Johnny showed me how to attract them, by lying down and
raising a leg in the air - for the upland geese are very curious and come to
investigate. We plucked the five geese and gutted them, took the wings of all
(for they attracted a bounty) and walked back to the station, well laden. There
was a number of teal, rather small for a .22 rifle, and some widgeon, grey duck,
and logger duck at the pond. A party was held ashore, which I did not attend,
to celebrate Jack's daughter's wedding and Ken's promotion. The beer must
have been strong, for the boys came back aboard in a very drunken state; two
fell out of the pram into the water, providing some amusement, but of course
this is potentially very dangerous.
On 25 February we left Albermarle at 6 o’clock and headed for Beauchêne
Island (called ‘the boosheens’ by the boys) – a reputed fur seal stronghold. A
heavy swell made the Protector roll badly and breakfast was quite an
adventure. At 9 o’clock we changed course for Sea Lion Islands, because the
sea was worsening and in any case a southerly swell is hopeless for a landing
on Beauchêne. We dropped anchor at Sea Lion Island around noon intending
to wait a few hours for any sign of moderation in the sea. We were to take 150
sheep back to the station, but they would not have stood the trip in that sea. I
went ashore to the landing place - a natural flat jetty of natural rock on one side
of a narrow inlet, with fourteen feet of water alongside. Above, in the tussac,
were two sheds and a sheep-pen, and sheep and stores could be raised or
lowered by means of a thirty foot wooden chute, with a retractable lower end
like a drawbridge. The sheep in the pen had to be hobbled with rope, manhandled
to the chute and thrust down it to slide to the rock ledge below. Then
they were loaded onto the pram dinghy, an oarsman sat on top of them and
rowed out to the ship. Arrived at the ship, the sheep were hoisted aboard by
means of a noose around their necks. They seemed none the worse for the
brutal experience and, once on the deck quickly huddled together again.
Unfortunately, on the journey out to the ship, some sheep inevitably managed
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