Whaling and Sealing History

The natural wealth of the area, its sheltered harbours and its remoteness attracted the somewhat secretive early sealing and whaling operations. The first American whaling vessels probably anchored at New Island around 1774, over 220 years ago. The majority commenced their voyages from New Bedford, New York, Nantucket and other whaling ports of New England. The island became a self styled home of these Americans hence its name "New". New Island has a 'Coffin's Harbour' and nearby lies Coffin Island, both named after the well known family of Coffin who captained many of the whale ships from Nantucket. The Coffins were some of the earliest pioneers of these waters and may even have named New Island.

The islands of Quaker, Penn, Fox and Barclay lying close to New Island are all synonymous with the Quaker families who operated whale oil businesses, sending whaling ships to the southern oceans from ports such as Nantucket. The neighboring Beaver Island was named after the whaling vessel "Beaver" which was recorded as being the first whale ship to double Cape Horn.

New Island, like many others was to suffer from the depredations of these early exploiters. The colonies of penguins and albatross on the island presented a large source of food in the form of eggs. Wildfowl, especially geese were in abundance and records left by these whalers confirm that large numbers were taken for food. Captain James Weddell anchored at New Island in 1823 and recorded the excellence of its harbours and its value for supplies of wildfowl and fresh water.

Depredations continued with the introduction of pigs and American cottontail rabbits. The island's fur seal colonies were exploited although probably only in small numbers. The island suffered deliberate burning by the whalers who only saw the thick growth of vegetation like tussock grass a hindrance to their shore operations.

Left: The American Cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus sp.) still exists on New Island

Marooned on New Island...

Captain Charles H. Barnard, an American from Nantucket, who whilst engaged in a sealing venture around the Falklands in 1813, was marooned along with four of his men on New Island. These events occurred in the context of the war between America and England in 1812. After rescuing survivors of the wreck of the British ship Isabella, which had gone aground on Speedwell Island, Barnard and his men were left on New Island by the very men they had saved.

With his own vessel, the Nanina stolen, Barnard and his companions were left with only a few personal items, his dog and an open boat. For two years they survived on or about the Island until they were eventually rescued. Barnard describes his exploits in a book he published in 1829.

During their time on the Island, Barnard and his men constructed a rough stone building. Its exact position on the Island was however unclear, and for some years there was speculation on where his original campsite might have been. Through a lot of research and patience, a copy of Barnard’s original narrative and map, and our knowledge of the Island, we have been able to establish that the position of his stone shelter was here, where the current Barnard Building now stands.

	The Barnard Building (2 photos left & below): One of the objectives of the New Island Conservation Trust is the preservation of historical buildings and artifacts on the Island. The Barnard Building as it is known, was completely restored in 2006.
This is the oldest standing building in the Falkland Islands, and is now a museum and visitor’s centre. The building retains some of the original stone walls built by Captain Barnard and his men.
Photo right: This basic stone shelter was built by Captain Barnard as a lookout for passing ships, and remains atop New Island's Barnard Hill.	Photos © G. Strange . 2007

During the 1850's when a large nitrate industry developed off the Peruvian coast, interest was shown in the guano deposits on the New Island seabird colonies. The industry, the only one attempted in the Falklands, was however short lived the deposits being difficult to access and of low value. For a short period, some time between 1851 and 1860 New Island was the site of yet another industry exploiting its natural resources. Penguin oiling was started with Rockhopper penguins being caught and rendered down for their oil. The remains of stone corrals are still evident on one of the New Island South colonies where birds were caught and killed.

In 1860 the first Crown lease was issued for New Island with rights to collect guano, oil and fish the coasts, an early reference to sealing. It was at this time that the island experienced the first of a succession of settlers engaged in sheep and cattle farming, a industry which was to continue unabated for the following hundred years.

In 1908 a new era of whaling commenced around the Falklands. As with the earlier whalers the location of New Island and its excellent harbours attracted the industry. The island became the site of the first and only land based whaling station in the Falkland Islands. Catches of whales were comparatively small and in 1916 the station closed and moved to South Georgia from where more lucrative whaling grounds could be fished.

New Island's Whaling Station These photographs above show the scene on New Island when the Whaling Station was in operation, between 1908 and 1916

Some of the remains of the whaling station, nearly 90 years since its operation. Many pieces of machinery and whale bone remain along this bay.

For more information...

Detailed information about New Island's fascinating history can be found in the 2007 New Island Management Plan - a 160 page, full colour informative book including many photographs and a range of information, now available from the New Island Trust or from Ian Strange. Please contact us for more information (see Contact page).

A narrative written by Captain Charles H. Barnard entitled 'Marooned' describes the 'sufferings and adventures' of his marooning on New Island in 1812.
Edited and with and introduction by Bertha S. Dodge, Wesleyan University Press, Middletown, Ct., USA (1979).

Further information may be found in 'The Falkland Islands', authored by Ian J. Strange.
The Falkland Islands, David & Charles, Newton Abbot, Uk, 1972, 1981, 1983.