262 HISTORY AND DETAILS OF WHALING. 



her into shoal water among the rocks. Aware of the danger 

 and impending fate of her inexperienced offspring, she swam 

 rapidly around it in decreasing circles, evincing the utmost 

 uneasiness and anxiety ; but her parental admonitions were un- 

 heeded, and it met its fate. The young one was struck and 

 killed, and a harpoon was fixed in the mother. Roused to 

 reckless fury, she flew upon one of the boats, and made her tail 

 descend with irresistible force upon the very centre of our boat, 

 cutting it in two, and killing two of the men ; the survivors 

 took to swimming for their lives in all directions. Her subse- 

 quent motions were alarmingly furious ; but afterwards, ex- 

 hausted by the quantity of black blood which she threw up, 

 she drew near to her calf, and died by its side, evidently, in 

 her last moments, more occupied with the preservation of her 

 young than of herself." 



CHAPTER IV. 



Whale Grounds. — Whaling Seasons, and where Species of Whales are 

 found. — Sperm Whale Grounds. — Right Whale Grounds. — Humpbacks 

 and Bowheads, where found. — Right Whale not crossing the Equator. — 

 Arctic Passage for Whales. — Maury's Opinion of the Haunts of the Whale 

 in the Polar Sea. — Confirmed by Dr. Kane. — Vessels fitted for Whaling. 

 — Several Classes.— Time of Sailing. — Arrival at Home. — Length of 

 Voyages. — Seasons and between Seasons. 



Whale Grounds, or Places where Whales may be ta- 

 ken. The following embrace all or nearly all the prominent 

 localities which are familiar to whalemen as whale grounds. 



The Charleston ground, Brazil Banks, Tristan de Cuna Isl- 

 ands, Indian Ocean, Sooloo Sea, New Holland, New Zealand, 

 King Mill's Group, Japan and Japan Sea, Peru Coast, Chili 

 Off Shore ground, California, Kodiak, Ochotsk Sea, and Arc- 

 tic Ocean. 



