Letter received by Banks from William Wilson, 2 July 1806 (Series 23.46) - No. 0002

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go farther, but, having no market for their surplus grain, and the Government there by means of the prisoners raising on the Government farms more than half of the grain requird for the Public Store. The Agriculturists knowing that Exports in Grain were altogether impracticable, Resorted to the external, though near, resources of the Colony - Viz - In procuring Seal Skins about Bass's Straits, and subsequently Elephant Oil.  This species of industry has been uniformly encourag'd by Governor King in whose time it commenc'd.   His Excellency contracted with the first adventurers for the Seal Skins suitable for Shoe Leather I think at 7/- each. The Fur Skins since found so useful in our Hat Manufacture were then considerd of less value, And for a considerable time after their value in England were ascertaind they were sent to China, supposd to be the only market where they were in demand.

On better information they sent various investments of them on freight by different whalers.  These were chiefly dry Skins and might amount on the whole to about 50.000.  To encourage the Fishery Governor King consented to their putting on freight a few Tons of Oil onboard His Majestys Ship Glatton.  But the first entire Cargo carried wholly by the Colonists, was purchasd from them by Robert Campbell Merchant there and by him Shippd onboard the Lady Barlow for England with the Governor's consent.  This Cargo consisted of 260 Tuns of Elephant Oil and nearly 14,000 Fur Seal Skins, all dry for want