for spars, and myriads of seals, put the southern portion of the West Coast of the South Island definitely on the map, so much so, that as early as 1793, the first sealing gang to visit New Zealand landed there, obtaining 4,500 skins which were sent to the China market; this, with the exception of a few spars obtained by casual vessels visiting the North Island, was the first shipment of any kind sent overseas from this Dominion and to the southern portion of the West Coast must go the credit thereof.
From 1803 sealing became very general and as showing the quantities then existent, comments on Australia by Sir Joseph Banks (whose name is perpetuated in Banks Peninsula), dated June 4th, 1806, were as follows: “The island of Van Diemen, the south-west coast of New Holland, and the southern part of New Zealand produce seals of all kinds in quantities at present almost innumerable. Their stations on rocks and in bays have remained unmolested since the creation. The beach is encumbered with their quantities, and those who visit their haunts have less trouble in killing them than the servants of a victualling office who kill hogs in a pen with mallets.”
With such a harvest awaiting the taking, many Australian and other overseas vessels made Dusky Sound their headquarters, operations extending in all directions, and to well
