] 6 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



Ground, in the Gulf of Mexico, and in the Caribbean Sea. A few small vessels have cruised with 

 indifferent success for right whales along the west coast of Africa, in latitude 15 north, and in 

 Center Bay, about latitude 23 north. At no particular place in the North Atlantic are they now 

 abundant, though they were formerly taken in great numbers close to the New England shore, 

 and eastward of the Newfoundland fishing-banks. 



SOUTH ATLANTIC GROUNDS. The most noted grounds for right whales at the commencement 

 of the right- whale fishery iu the last century were off the coasts of Brazil and of Patagonia, on what 

 were called the "Brazil," or " Main," and " False Banks," and especially between the thirty-sixth and 

 the fifty-fifth parallels from the coast to 30 west longitude. The most important spots were on and 

 about the above banks and from latitude 38 to 45 south, and longitude 38 to 45 west. Right 

 whales were also quite abundant in the vicinity of the Falkland Islands, which were first visited by 

 our whalemen in 1774; near the Tristan Islands, between latitude 28 to 42 south, and from the 

 meridian to 20 west longitude, was called the "Tristan Ground," and was a favorite cruising 

 place. Good whaling was also found from latitude 34 to 43 south and longitude 24 to 28 

 west. Other important grounds were along the west coast of Africa from latitude 22 to 32 

 south, or to the Cape of Good Hope. Ships met with great success on the South Atlantic grounds 

 for many years, and it was not an uncommon occurrence for vessels of from l/iOO to 2,500 barrels 

 capacity to fill up and return home from the South Atlantic in one season, making the voyage in 

 from seven to ten months. 



The grounds more particularly visited at the present day in this ocean are around the Tristan 

 Islands in latitude 36 to 38 south, longitude 10 to 25 west, from September to January; on 

 the east coast of South America in latitude 30 to 35 south, from May to August ; and from 

 September to June along the coast of Patagonia in latitude 42 to r<2 south. The whales caught 

 are of the regular right-whale species, the bull when full grown yielding from 40 to 60 barrels of 

 oil and the cow from 60 to 80 barrels, or about 60 barrels on an average. The whalebone aver- 

 ages about 300 pounds to 100 barrels oil in the bull, and 400 to 600 pounds to 100 barrels oil in 

 the cow whale. 



INDIAN OCEAN AND SOUTH PACIFIC GROUNDS. We now pass the Cape of Good Hope to 

 the right- whale grounds in the Indian Ocean, all of which are at present entirely abandoned by 

 the Americans. On many parts of the ocean lying between the parallels of 20 to 50 south, and 

 from longitude 18 to 80 east, right whales were found abundant in former years, and a few 

 ships continued to cruise there up to 1879, though most of the whales have been killed or driven 

 from the ground. The most important places within these limits of latitude and longitude were 

 at Delago Bay, in latitude 26 south, longitude 32 east ; east of Cape of Good Hope, in latitude 

 35 to 38 south, longitude 30 to 35 east ; around the Crozette Islands, in latitude 45 to 47 

 south, and longitude 49 to 52 east ; in the vicinity of St. Paul's Island, in latitude 32 to 38 

 south, longitude 70 to 80 east; and near Kerguelen Island, in latitude 48 to 50 south, longi- 

 tude 69 to 700 W est. 



The season for cruising in the Indian Ocean is the same as in the South Atlantic. The best 

 mouths for whaling offshore are from September to May, and when inshore more whales are 

 taken in the winter months, when they can be found around the islands, near the rocks, and 

 among the kelp or seaweed. The whales in this ocean are smaller than those taken in the South 

 Atlantic, averaging 40 barrels of oil and 240 pounds of bone for the bull, and for the cow whale 

 60 barrels of oil and 360 pounds of bone, or 600 pounds of bone to 100 barrels of oil. 



In former years right whales were found quite plenty on the west and south coasts of Australia, 

 especially at Cape Leeuwin, Geographe Bay, and King George Sound. They were also taken 



