Lynx
When the Sydney sealer Lynx set sail on 03 November 1820, her captain Richard Siddons had two men among his crew whose names will forever be a part of early New Zealand European history, Joseph George Thoms (a.k.a. Geordie Bolts) and John "Jacky" Guard. Both of these men eventually established themselves in the Cook Strait region, but in 1820 they had joined Lynx in an exploratory cruise to the sealing rookeries on the recently discovered South Shetland Islands. Despite having procured 5000 seal skins and 40 tons of whale oil by the time they returned to Sydney on 19 June 1822, the expedition was regarded as unsuccessful.
The next appearance of Lynx in New Zealand was on 23 February 1828, when a ship by that name arrived at the Bay of Islands from the whaling fishery, where she stayed until March.
When Lynx next left Sydney on 29 April 1829, her captain was Bolger and she was bound for the fishery again. The whaling barque arrived back in Sydney 15 months later having taken 1200 barrels of sperm whale oil while out. After three months in port, Lynx and Bolger were off again for the South Seas fisheries. On 04 July 4 1836, Lynx, Captain Shaw, left New Zealand for Sydney.
The following October she was in Foveaux Strait bound for New River. She had been sent by whaling entrepreneur John Jones to pick up cargo and crew. On board were some of Jones’ right-hand men, namely James Spencer, William Carter, and John Wilson. Also on board were two New Zealand Maori. While in Foveaux Strait Lynx spoke Magnet, another of Jones’ ships.
On 18 November, while carrying out her duties, Lynx was wrecked at New River. Survivors of the wreck traveled in a whaleboat across the dangerous strait to the Neck at Stewart Island where Captain Joyce took care of them until Governor Bourke arrived to take them back to Sydney. 100 tons of oil was lost when Lynx was wrecked.
The next appearance of Lynx in New Zealand was on 23 February 1828, when a ship by that name arrived at the Bay of Islands from the whaling fishery, where she stayed until March.
When Lynx next left Sydney on 29 April 1829, her captain was Bolger and she was bound for the fishery again. The whaling barque arrived back in Sydney 15 months later having taken 1200 barrels of sperm whale oil while out. After three months in port, Lynx and Bolger were off again for the South Seas fisheries. On 04 July 4 1836, Lynx, Captain Shaw, left New Zealand for Sydney.
The following October she was in Foveaux Strait bound for New River. She had been sent by whaling entrepreneur John Jones to pick up cargo and crew. On board were some of Jones’ right-hand men, namely James Spencer, William Carter, and John Wilson. Also on board were two New Zealand Maori. While in Foveaux Strait Lynx spoke Magnet, another of Jones’ ships.
On 18 November, while carrying out her duties, Lynx was wrecked at New River. Survivors of the wreck traveled in a whaleboat across the dangerous strait to the Neck at Stewart Island where Captain Joyce took care of them until Governor Bourke arrived to take them back to Sydney. 100 tons of oil was lost when Lynx was wrecked.