WHALE OF THE SOUTHERN SEAS. 123 



that this is the whale which has heen so extensively 

 fished in the southern seas as the Mysticetus ; and 

 that it was on its account that so many establish- 

 ments were set agoing in many parts of the Brazils* 

 which, after being carried on for a time with great 

 success, are now nearly abandoned; D'Orbigny 

 states, that in 1834 the whales had nearly dis- 

 appeared from this coast. They seem, however, to 

 frequent many other places in abundance : they 

 are found in the Bays off Terra del Fuego, and on 

 the western coast of South America, and they are 

 also found around New Holland as well as the coast 

 of Africa. It is in the month of June they visit 

 the Cape of Good Hope, principally the females, 

 and for the purpose of bringing forth their young. 



The method of fishing this animal is very differ- 

 ent from that we have been considering at such 

 length, and is, upon the whole, a much more easy 

 operation. According to Lesson, from whom we 

 principally derive our account, this species is usually 

 found at no great distance off the coast, and where 

 the water is beginning to get shallow. When struck, 

 it often dives to the bottom, the depth being seldom 

 more than two hundred fathoms; it then returns 

 to the surface after an interval of a few minutes ; 

 and occasionally dives a second, third, or even a 

 fourth time. Sometimes it takes a horizontal course, 

 and " runs" along shore twenty or thirty miles in a 

 direct line. When observed by others of the species, 

 they usually take the alarm, and running off, are 

 followed by the fast whale as long as it is able. 



