The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-02-13
Two Trips Around the World

BY o. E. HAMILTON


employing into Fovoaux strait. To the
left is Stewards island. We are cross
ing and recrossing the paths of the
old-time whaling vessels of from ten
to thirty years ago. One of the most
thrilling chapters of commercial history
is the record of the hunts for the oil of
the sperm whale, in this region and
further south.
Birds? Thousands! Sea gulls and
mutton birds galore! Lifting our field
glasses, as far as the eye could scan
the sea were birds filling the air like
myriad of flies in pantry. By man
euvers we could tell they were interest
ed below the surface of the sea. Now
dive, and one will come forth with a
fish in the bill while the rest begin to
fight for possession. Now these schools
of fish, which are deep water fish,
either blindly rise to danger near the
surface, or are driven to their fate. We
are told the latter is true. Fancy the
wonderful arrangement Of nature to
provide for the seafaring bird. Fish
between two enemies. The coarse deep
water Barracuda drive millions OF
these small fish from below. The keen
eyed bird from above swoops down like
a dart and secures full meal, yet with
al an unmissed fish from the school.
And what wonderful display of the
toll involved to secure "their daily
bread. God cares in marvellous way
for the birds Of the air, and the beasts
of the field but what toll throughout all
nature to sustain life. One pleasing
thing could not be overlooked as we
beheld this scene, and that was how
happy they seemed IN their toll. Like
cyclists in the fun of making curve,
would they make spiral swoops patient
ly waiting the sight of victim. The
harmony was only broken by the
"groucher, who turned from his indus
try to fight, jealous of the success of
another. Just the difference. observed
among certain bipeds
At the close of the day the good ship
puts in at Preservation Inlet. This
was one of the shelters of the whaler.
, For time it was a shipping point for
!: gold. There is at present nothing there
J but an old hotel, few miners and
| sandfies. But the inlet is one of the
easiest accessible to be found any
where. New Zealand has many such
) splendid harbor sights indenting her
coasts, but few of them are located
, where they are, at the present time at
: least, of avail. Many of them never
, will be of use unless rich gold finds
: are to be had along the west coast, OF
, the eternal hills opens up some new
industry. Little doubt, however in
places that will be done.
The following day Dusky and Doubt
full sounds are explored. At the former
: place there lived one lonely fisherman
: who came aboard and gave information
l as to ships course in passing up the
t sound. He was a man of about sixty
, hale and hearty, and seemed happy il
| his lot. Doubtful sound is so named
} for the reason that in island so lies in
! the entrance that from the sea, there
h coast. But by following curving
} before looms up deep water inland
e sea with huge mountains closely and
Z heavily walling all sides.
e Between Dusky and Doubtful is a
|. sound called Breaksea. Then just
d north Of Doubtful, indenting the coast
e is Thompson sound. The former il
connected inland with Dusky and the
" latter with Doubtful. So that our shil
II in each case entered the first named anl
8 passed through the natural connection
d and made the exit to sea through Break
9 sea and Thompson sounds. While pass
y ing out to sea through Thompson SOUND
n the sun at an angle of forty-tive degrees
J from the horizon, just kept above
d rather straightlined mountain wall, 81
9 that while steaming slowly, we came t.
g a place where it was on the top of
IS high waterfall. Fancy scene in whicl
h a mighty waterfall seems to pour out O
II the dazzling sun! Such scene | hat
d never before witnessed.
g The sun was of such brilliant hue
e and the reflection of the top Of the fall
so dazzling that it had the appearance,
e of the sun pouring itself over tn
i mountain top and down the precipitou
IS wall.
J., At an early hour the next mornin.
It the engines were shut down and a de
a lightful time was had in fishing. Line
d were payed out to about thirty fathom
N when the blue cod, hungry for thei
g breakfast, nipped the bait eagerly an,
e were hauled in at a good rate of speed
'e A few soldier were caught, and Capt
is Sundstrum, principal owner of tn
e company's ships and one Of the passen
y gers, closed the episode by pulling i
Q, two groper one OF Whlch weighed thlrt
d eight pounds.
p At the close of the day the sinkin
- sun shines with pale glow on tn
70 rough coast line with ill shaped rock
breaking the waves approaching tn
r shore, on which occasionally seals ca
k be seen basking in the evening ligh1
at The engines are shut down to half spec
rs during the night EARLY next mornin
u, the noise of passengers and the whistl
le blast announce the approach to tn
Or king of the sounds, the end Of the Sc
"a journey for myself and Mr.. Garmong.
TX Fog! Heavy enough to be cut out i
he cakes. Like the sea off the British
r. Isles. Enough to make Londoner
ve homesick! All around is gloomy, tn
le decks look greasy. A similar forlor
n environment was experienced by tn
SIS writer three years ago in the Bay {
e. Biscay when the engine shut down fo
cd several hours and the foghorn blast wa