SOUTH SEA FISHERY. 169 



rarely seen in soundings ; it inhabits the unfathom- 

 able ocean : far away from land, it seeks its prey, 

 produces its young> and follows all its natural incli- 

 nations. At times it may approach the shore, 

 but only within a certain distance, and where the 

 water is still unfathomable. This account is differ- 

 ent from any we have before seen, and we will 

 therefore supply, along with it, the statement of 

 another professional gentleman, an eminent natu- 

 ralist, who spent many a year in its pursuit, with his 

 attention peculiarly directed to it. Lesson states 

 that the individuals of this species are true cosmo- 

 polites, and throughout the year may be found in 

 every quarter of the globe. Yet, according to him, 

 there are certain and not very long seasons, when 

 they congregate together in great herds towards the 

 coasts, in the quiet bays ; and a union once formed, 

 the different pairs immediately separate from the 

 band, and direct themselves at random throughout 

 the boundless ocean. He adds, could the times 

 and places at which these re-unions take place be 

 ascertained, they would much diminish the labours 

 of the whaler. 



The method of conducting the southern fishery 

 differs in several particulars from that followed in 

 the north, and these differences we shall now en- 

 deavour to point out. Some of the ships are fitted 

 out solely for fishing the Sperm Whale, whilst 

 others keep a sharp look-out for the mysticetus 



