The Francis makes a further salvage voyage…

The Francis makes a further salvage voyage in December and again in January 1798.

Matthew Flinders is aboard the third voyage, assigned to make geographical observations.

He notes colonies petrels and seals, and locates and names the Kent Group of islands.

The salvage team also collects and preserves a wombat, which they forward to England for scientific observation.

At the same time, George Bass is on his whaleboat voyage following the coast of the mainland, and he had thought to make for the Sydney Cove to replenish his provisions but leaks in the boat had prevented him setting that course.

He had, however, encountered a group of escaped convicts marooned on an island.

They, too, had been making for the ship with the false hope of refloating her and making good their escape.

Seal hunters will be active in the area soon after, and the island will become a base for sealers exploiting fur seals and Southern Elephant Seals.