210 MARINE MAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 
names were the Beaver, Washington, Hector, Warren, Rebecca, and Favorite, and the 
names of their captains were those characteristic ones among the settlers of the 
islands, as follows : Worth, Bunker, Brock, Barnard, Header, and Folger. These 
ships were only two hundred and fifty tons burden, dull sailers, having no copper 
on their bottoms, and but scantily fitted with whaling appliances or provisions. 
The scene of their first exploits was upon the coast of Chile. These pioneer voy- 
ages, through the persistent daring of the hardy men who led them, were eminently 
successful, which induced the people of the neighboring settlements of other New 
England ports to extend their whaling commerce, and but few years passed before 
a numerous fleet were plying over those rough waters. Gradually, however, they 
extended their cruises toward the more distant but smiling regions of the tropics. 
As early as 1800, * American whalers were plowing the sparkling waters along the 
coast of Peru, and their keels cut the equatorial line, north and south, in the 
Pacific. A favorite cruising -ground was from the Spanish Main, westward, around 
the Galapagos Islands. There a rich harvest rewarded them, where they labored in 
a genial climate, with an almost uninterrupted succession of fine breezes and pleas- 
ant weather. At certain seasons, north of the equator, the north-east trades blew 
fresh, and at the south they would frequently increase to a brisk gale ; but these 
periodical breezes, compared with the heavy gales of the Atlantic and the tedious 
weather about Cape Horn, served only to enliven them into renewed activity under 
the heated rays of a tropical sun, when in pursuit of the vast herds of Cachalots 
which were met with, bounding over or through the crested waves. During these 
long voyages, it became unavoidably necessary to occasionally go into port, in order 
to "recruit ship." When arrived at these places of supply, good store of fresh 
meat, water, and vegetables was laid in, and the ship's company were allowed to 
pass, in turn, a few days of liberty on shore. In due time those ports along the 
coast of Chile and Peru, which were suited to the requirements of the adventurers, 
became famous places of resort for American whale- ships. The principal ones were 
and the assailants are immersed in the dreadful upon as a sure prey. The blood which she has 
element. * * At other times she will dive lost in her flight weakens her so much, that 
and disappear from human sight ; and every- if she sinks again, it is but for a short time ; 
thing must then give way to her velocity, or the boat follows her course, with an almost 
else all is lost. Sometimes she will swim away, equal speed. She soon re -appears; and, tired 
as if untouched, and draw the cord with such at last with convulsing the element, which she 
swiftness, that it will set the edge of the boat tinges with her blood, she dies, and floats upon 
on fire by the friction. If she rises, before she the surface." 
has run out the whole length, she is looked * Nantucket paper. 
