St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-03-02
SHEEP ON KERGUELEN ISLAND
An Extensive wool-Raising Project
to De Carried Out by
Erenchnen.

An Extensive Wool-Raising Projec,
to he Carried Out by
,IoaEgT TT ETFTTef
If the French company that is nov
undertaking to start a colony and be
gin sheep raising on Kerguelen ISLAND
succeeds in its enterprise it will hav.
extended human activity farther soutf
than in any other pa n. OF the Indiar
ocean. The herders Of Kerguelen vii
live nearer the south pole than any oi
the Pacific islanders. and they will be
the most southern representatives oi
the Falkland islands and the extreme
southern part of South America. They
will be the most southerly people on an
oceanic island. The Falkland archi.
pelago. built up by rocks of clay, slate
and quartz. lies on the edge of the con.
tinental shelf of South America and
the group are continental islands. but
the kerguelen stands in midocean
about half way between Africa and
Australia. and is a typical volcanic
oceanic island. 1t lies only very little
farther from the south pole than the
Falkland islands. says the New York
| Sun.
British geographers for many years
claimed kerguelen as British island,
and French geographers. with equal
ardor. asserted that it was French
island because the French sailor whose
name it bears discovered it in 1712.
Neither government took part in the
controversy and Kerguelen might have
gone begging for an owner till this day
if reasons had not finally been ad-
vanced that decided the French govern
ment in 1893 to annex the island. These
reasons had nothing to do with the
present project of turning this iso-
lated land. which is nearly as large as
our Long Island, intoRa sheep range.
In fact. no animal life has been found
on kerguelen except the albatross and
few other birds. and the fora is very
poor. though zone of grass has been
reported.
But it is argued that the fishermen
of the French island of Reunion were
drawn to this region by the abundance
OF fish and the prevalence Of the sea
lion. which they hunt for its oil: that
there were number of very good har-
bors among the numerous fiords; that
Ignite had been found which gave fair
service as fuel, and, moreover. the is
land was very near the sailing routes
between Australia. the East Indies and
Chinese waters, and it would be worth
while to maintain a supply station
there. and so the French government
sent vessel to raise her flag over Ker-
guelen and the neighboring islands of
ST. Paul and Amsterdam. and England
and the rest of the world heard the
news without any disturbance of friend
ly relations.
The French have recently been a lit
tie impressed with the supposed SINH
larity between the climates of Ker-
guelen and the Falkland islands. The
advantage is certainly with the Falk-
lands. for their mean annual tempera-
ture of AZ degrees is at least two or
three degrees warmer than that of
kerguelen. There is not much differ
ence between summer and winter in
either of these groups. but the climate
in both is raw. great deal of mist pre-
walls and the summers are not genial
The Falkland islands are at least four
times as large, have 1890, 900 acres of
pasturage and they support over 7O0.-
coo sheep. besides some horses and cat
tie. 1t is not at all likely that the grass
lands of Kerguelen will afford nearly
SO large an opportunity for grazing.
But the French have determined thor
oughly TO test the question and to turn |
Kerguelen into a sheep ranch if it can |
be done.
So it happens that the Kerguelen
has been organized this-year
in France. 1t has all the capital it
needs to make this interesting expert
ment. The expedition to the far south
ern island was to leave last month and |
it is probably now on its way 1t is
by Capt. De Gerlache. who
led the Belgica expedition into ant
arctic waters and whose party was the
first to experience the rigors of the
south polar winter.
There are two vessels in the expedi-
ton. One of them is the steam yacht
Selika. in which Capt. De Gerlache will
'ail directly to Kerguelen to prepare
here for the arrival Of the other yes
'el. the Fanny. sailing craft. which
will stop at the Falkland islands on the
way. In those islands she will take on
BOARD 1.500 sheep and a number of
shepherds and then sail for Kergnelen.
By the time the Fanny shall arrive
here it is expected that Capt. De Ger
ache will have selected a landing place
or the sheep and picked out the best
'asturage grounds. Advantage will be
AIKEN of the best possible conditions
hat can be found for sheep raising
inc it is expected that year or so will
ully demonstrate whether the island
s adapted for the industry. The COM
'any behind the enterprise is very SAN
'uine that it will succeed,