46 WHALES AND WHALERS. [ PART I. 



the northern island, and pass between the latter and 

 Entry Island. This is borne out by the fact that 

 they are never seen on the opposite coast, nor do 

 they enter the northern entrance of Queen Char- 

 lotte's Sound. From Entry Island they sweep into 

 Cloudy Bay, and at the end of October they go 

 either to the eastward or return to the northward. 

 In the beginning of the season the chase is said to 

 be most successful in Cook's Straits and Te-awa-iti ; 

 in the three latter months in Port Underwood, 

 which is only thirty miles distant. From the 

 month of June they begin to show themselves near 

 the Chatham Islands, 150 leagues to the eastward 

 of New Zealand, where their number increases with 

 the termination of the season in the latter place. 

 During the six remaining months of the year the 

 ships cruising in the " whaling-ground " fall in with 

 many whales. This whaling-ground extends from 

 the Chatham Islands to the eastward of the north- 

 ern island of New Zealand, and from thence to Nor- 

 folk Island. It is curious that the whalers assert 

 that this whaling-ground is nothing but a shoal, 

 although I am not aware that soundings have ever 

 been obtained. Perhaps Captain Ross, who is now 

 in the South Seas provided with sounding-lines, 

 will confirm a fact which is of some importance in 

 the natural history of this animal. The migration 

 of the whale is probably owing to its search for 

 food ; but we must still regard it as a subject for 

 inquiry, which cannot be terminated before we know 

 many more particulars connected with it, and espe- 



