Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-01-28
sEaEp ON KERcUELEN ISLAND
A. Ex.en.i,e weel-Raisiss PROBES
3 10 BE Carried ,0ut ~
Frenchmen.

II the French company that ~ 49,
undertaking to start colony and %.
gin sheep raising on Kerguelen isiano
succeeds In its enterprise 1t will haye
extended human activity farthersouth
than in any other part Of the Indian
ocean. The herders Of Kerguelen Wal
live nearer the south pole than any o.
the Pacific islanders, and they VIII %
the most southern representatives q
the human race, except those living ID
the Falkland islands and the extreme
southern part Of South America. Ihey
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 ana
Australia, and is typical volcanic
oceanic island. 1t lies only a very little
farther from the south pole than the
Falkland islands, says the New York
Sun.
British geographers for many Year,
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 1772.
Neither government took part in the
controversy and Kerguelen might have
gone begging for an owner till this day
II reasons had not finally been ad.
vanced that decided the French govern
ment in 1898 to annex the island. These
veasons hadEnothing TO do with the
present project of turning this iso.
lated land, which is nearly as large a.
our Long Island, into sheep range,
In fact, no animal life has been found
on Kerguelen except the albatross and
few other birds, and the flora is very
poor, though a 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 q 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 1T
tie impressed with the supposed SINH.
larity between the climates Of Ker-
gpelen and the Falkland islands. The
advantage is certainly with the Falk.
lands, for their mean annual tempera.
ture Of ~ degrees is at least two or
three degrees warmer than that Of
There is noAmuch differ
ence between summer and winter in
either of these groups, but the climate
In both is raw, a great deal Of mist pre-
walls and the summers are not genial.
The Falkland islands are at least four
times as large, have 100000 acres Of
pasturage and they support over 7oo,-
900 sheep, besides some horses and cat
tie. It is not at all likely that the gras6
lands Of Kerguelen will afford nearly
30 large an opportunity for grazing.
But the French have determined thor
oughly to test the question and toturn
KergueleD into sheep ranch If 1t can
BIO done.
80 It happens that the Kerguelen
has been organized this year
IN France. 1t has all the capital 1t
needs to make this interesting expert
ment. The expedition to the far south
ern Island was to leave last month and
Il is probably now on it's way. It 10
by Capt. De Gerlachs, who
ed the Belgica expedition into ant
arctic waters and whose party was the
irst to experience the rigors Of the
Iouth polar winter.
There are two vessels in the expedl-
ion. One Of them Is the steam yacht
selika, in which Capt. De Gerlache will
all directly to Kerguelen to prepare
here for the arrival Of the other YES
'el, the Fanny, q sailing craft, which
will stop at the Falkland islands on the
way. In those islands she will take on
BOARD $500 sheep and a number Of
'hepherds and then sail for Kerguelen.
By the time the Fanny shall arrive
here it is expected that Capt. De Ger.
ache will have selected landing place
or the sheep and picked out the best
'asturage grounds. Advantage will be
aiken of the best possible conditions
hat can be founu for sheep raising
md 1t is expected that year or so win
ully demonstrate whether the island
adapted for the industry. The com
ANY behind the enterprise Ia very san