1923

John Hamilton purchased Weddell Island. He set about making improvements to overgrazed Weddell, including stock reductions, replanting of tussac grass, and importing coniferous trees from Punta Arenas as ornamentals and windbreaks. He also attempted to diversify the farm economy through minor industries such as seal oiling (soon abandoned) and the introduction of exotic mammals such as foxes, skunks and guanacos from the South American continent. The only definite remnant of this experiment on Weddell Island are the Patagonian Grey foxes. Some people believe that Fuegian otters may also have survived in small numbers and there is still colony of guanaco on Staats Island.