530 ACCOUXT or the S. sea whale-fishery. [aPP. N" VIII. 



America. " The whales resorting to the latter situations are 

 females, which go into shoal water for the purpose of deposi- 

 ting and rearing their young until nature has given them suf- 

 ficient strength and powers to follow the older animals in all 

 their meandrings in a deeper element than where they are 

 first brought into existence.'*'' 



2. In what situations are the lai'gest quantities of spermace- 

 ti-whales usually found '? 



An. On the coasts of Chili, Peru, and California ; about 

 the Gallipago Islands and Marquesas; and indeed almost 

 throughout the Pacific Ocean, the sperm-wJiales are to be 

 found in great abundance. 



3. Is there any particular season of the year for entering 

 on the voyage out, and for prosecviting the fishery ? 



An. There is no particular season for the sperm whale ; for 

 the right whale, the seasons at Avhich they usually visit cer- 

 tain coasts, as mentioned in answer to query 1st, mvist be at- 

 tended to. 



4. Do you ever take any other kind of whale besides the 

 mysticetus or right whale, and the sperm whale ? 



An. Hunch-backs, finners, and sulphur-bottoms, are occa- 

 sionally taken ; the latter is a species of finner, very long, and 

 swift in its going. The blubber on each of these kinds is 

 seldom more than 6 inches thick, except on the breast ; the 

 whale-bone not longer than from 18 to 24 inches. 



5. Yi-^hat is the usual length of time occupied in the passage 

 out ; — on the fishing-stations ; — and on the voyage altogether ? 



An. The passage to the fishery beyond Cape Horn is usu- 

 ally about 4 months ; on this side the Cape about 3 months. 

 The stay on the fishery depends entirely on the success. 

 The voyage in the sperm-fishery is seldom less than two 

 years. 



6. How many officers, men, harpoons, lances, whale-lines, 

 and boats, arc required for a ship of 300 tons .'' 



An. There are three mates, who, with the master, are the 

 principal liarpooners ; the whole crew consists of about 30 



