[Bass Strait rivalry, the sealer ‘Charles’ in the Kent Group, 1803]

Fine etching by the maritime historian and etcher Geoffrey Ingleton depicting the sealer ‘Charles’ in the Kent Group, Bass Strait 1803.

On December 26, 1803, the schooner “Governor King” (captained by Moody) arrived in Sydney from Bass Strait with 37 tons of oil, 700 seal skins, and reports of violence and mistreatment by the crew of the American ship “Charles.” The conflict arose over sealing rights, and the Americans overpowered the Sydneysiders, who were then marooned on a small island before being rescued by Captain Moody. On October 8, 1803, a group of convicts led by J. Duce stole the Commandant’s boat from Risdon Cove and caused trouble for the sealers in the Furneaux Group. Eventually, they were mostly recaptured, but Duce remained at large, or possibly died, after escaping from a sealing gang. He had a history of dishonourable actions reported in the Sydney Gazette. (Sydney Gazette, 1 Jan. 1804 to 22 Apr. 1804. )