Proceedings of the Royal Society for the month of June, 1888.

• Main Author: Royal Society of Tasmania
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 1888
• Subjects: Royal Society of Tasmania; Van Diemens Land; VDL; Hobart Town; natural sciences; proceedings; records; Allport; Antarctic; Mutton; New Zealand; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://eprints.utas.edu.au/15701/; https://eprints.utas.edu.au/15701/1/proc-june-1888.pdf

The usual monthly meeting of this Society was held on June 11th, at the Museum, but owing to the unpropitious weather the attendance was much smaller than usual. In the absence of the president (His Excellency the Governor) Mr. James Barnard took the chair, and in opening the meeting, stated that His Excellency Sir R. G. C. Hamilton was absent in the country, but had expressed his desire that the business of the evening should not be postponed. Although the attendance was small, he (the chairman) should proceed with the reading of the papers, and not break the regularity of their meetings. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Barnard directed the attention of the ladies and gentlemen present to the bound book of proceedings for the past year as printed and published at The Mercury office, and which were laid on the table for the use of members. He said the book had been well printed, and was got up in a most creditable manner, it having received the attention which it deserved. Includes additions to the library during the months of April and May. Details of a paper by Mr. J Toplis on the Silver extracting process. Mr Allport raised the subject of protection for the seal and mutton bird. The former he said were becoming in very large numbers the victims of poachers from New Zealand. At one time as many as a, 1,000 seals were to be counted on Clarke's Island in one day, but they were rapidly being killed, and would soon become extinct unless protected. As to the mutton bird, their eggs were being destroyed, as well as being sent away wholesale, and the birds themselves were being destroyed in immense numbers. The bird was a most valuable one, its oil being an excellent thing for consumptive persons, its feathers were marketable, and the flesh on the bird was excellent eating. Bishop Sanford introduced the subject of appointing an exploring party to proceed to the Antarctic regions.