64 ADDRESS. 



accurately surveyed, and they are much frequented by our whale 

 ships at the present time. 



While standing direct for Charles Island, (on which there is a 



mariner., whose hazardous calling is the pursuit of the great leviathan of the deep. 

 Many of them weigh from three to four hundred pounds, and will live in the hold of a 

 vessel a remarkable length of time, without sustenance, and still retain much of their 

 original fatness and richness of flavour. Their drink is pure water, which they carry 

 with them cool, fresh, and sweet, for a long time after they are made prisoners. 



The hill-sides of these islands, near the shore, are covered with prickly-pear trees, 

 upon which these terapins feed, and thrive in a most wonderful manner. These 

 animals have doubtless saved the lives of many seamen employed in the whale- 

 fisheries in those seas, who would otherwise have perished or suffered much with the 

 scurvy. They sometimes take from six to nine hundred of the smallest of these 

 tortoises on board, when about leaving the islands for their cruising grounds ; thus 

 providing themselves with fresh and wholesome provisions for six or eight months, 

 and securing the men from attacks of the scurvy. 



The amount of tonnage and capital employed in the South Sea fisheries has so much 

 augmented, within a few past years, as to produce a general impression that every 

 thing connected with this great interest is going on prosperously. 



Such, unfortunately, is not the case. Abuses of the most serious nature, not only 

 exist, but are of daily occurrence in the whale fleet. Some of these abuses may be 

 corrected by the owners, while others can only be reached by the strong arm of 

 government. That our public vessels do all in their power to redress these evils, is 

 readily admitted ; but having an extensive coast and its interests to protect, they are 

 often distant from the ports frequented by whalers. Hence arises the number of dis- 

 ordered ships, and protracted if not broken voyages, with which many are but too well 

 acquainted. 



The few consuls we have had on the coast have been merchants, who have probably 

 held their commissions for the security they yield to their own interests and to con- 

 signments made to their respective houses ; while the whaler, who brings them no 

 profit, can receive but little of their attention. Their views are limited to their own 

 sphere of operations ; the difficulties of the whaler, if considered at all, are but a 

 secondary object. Yet, in a national point of view, the mercantile interest of our 

 citizens on this coast is vastly inferior to that of those engaged in the fisheries. 



A few items will be sufficient to prove this fact : In the single port of Payta, in the 

 year 1831, the amount of tonnage of our whale ships amounted to twenty-four thou- 

 sand four hundred and thirty-nine, having on board forty-six thousand eight hundred 

 and ninety-five barrels of oil. For the year 1832, twenty-seven thousand one hundred 

 tons of shipping, and forty thousand eight hundred and ninety-five barrels of oil. For 

 the year 1833, up to October, t;wenty thousand two hundred and seventy-six tons, and 

 thirty-six thousand four hundred and fifty barrels of oil. 



Yet, at a point that is, and ever must be, of such great importance, so often the seat 

 of abuse and irregularity, as well on the part of the local authorities as among our own 

 shipping, we have no accredited agent to look after these immense interests. 

 In a letter received by Commodore Downes, from J. C. Jones, our consul at Oahu, 



