APP. K°.VIII.] ACCOUNT OF THE S. SEA WHALK-FISIIEBY. 529 



No. VIIX. 



SOME ACCOUNT OF THE AVIIAI.E-FISIIERY CONDUCTED IN 'VHt 

 SOUTHERN SEAS. 



When I first entered on this work, it was my intention to 

 incUule in it an account of all the known fisheries for the 

 whale ; but some reflection induced me to decide, that it 

 would be better to present to the public a work, which, though 

 partial, would be particular and original, than one that, if 

 more general, would be indebted, to a considerable extent, to 

 the information of others. 



While I maintained my first intention, however, I address- 

 ed a letter to Captain Day of London, a respectable and suc- 

 cessful southern fisher, through William Mellish, Esq. and 

 received in reply a communication, possessing so much inte- 

 rest, that I should scarcely think it right to suppress it. The 

 following queries formed the substance of my letter to Cap- 

 tain Day ; the answers are the substance of his reply. 



1. In what latitude and longitude, or near what land do 

 3'ou usually find the greatest plenty of righi (mysticete) 

 whales ? 



An. The situations resorted to by the right whales, are 

 numerous. Among many others, I may mention, that thev 

 occur " on the Brazil Bank, from latitude 36* to 48° S. in 

 the former pai'allel, in the months of November, December, 

 and January, and in the latter in February, March, and 

 April."^ In the same months are to be found many of these 

 whales in the Derwent River, New Holland ; also about the 

 Tristian Islands ; and in June, July, August and September 

 they occur in Walwick Bay, and other inlets, on the coast of 

 Africa. The same animals are hkewise met with near the 

 island of St Catharine, on the coast of Brazil ; they also re- 

 sort to some of the bays to the westward of Cape Horn, and 

 to the northward of Coquimbo on tlie west coast of South 



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