This book is a history of the British Enderby settlement on the Auckland Islands (1849-1852) and its associated whaling venture. Charles Enderby - of Samuel Enderby & Sons, one of the most prominent English sealing and whaling firms had successfully petitioned for British government backing to establish a settlement on the Auckland Islands 'for the purpose of the whale fishery, as a station at which to discharge the cargoes and refit vessels.' Unfortunately, this island settlement experienced isolation, a storm swept climate, unproductive soil, inexperienced crews, drunkenness, and, above all, an unexpected shortage of whales. The result was that the raw colony ran into trouble and the parent company found itself facing disaster. Two special commissioners were sent to either close the venture down or move it elsewhere, and a bitter struggle developed, with Charles Enderby refusing to admit defeat and Governor Sir George Grey reluctantly becoming involved. Nevertheless, the settlement collapsed and the few Maori settlers on the islands, who had preceded and benefited from the colonists' presence, left soon after. Little trace of the colony remains, and the Auckland Islands are much as they were before Charles Enderby's arrival: uninhabited, isolated, wild, and beautiful, and now of World Heritage status.