10 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



vessels found good whaling on the "River La Plate Ground" extending from latitude 30 to 40 

 south, and from 30 to 250 miles off-shore. The season here was from September to May, and the 

 whales taken were of all sizes. A few vessels continue to cruise on all these grounds, meeting 

 with moderate success. Large whales have also been found quite plenty in latitude 45 to 47 

 south, longitude 55 to 60 west, where ships cruise from November to May. 



Passing across to the east side of the ocean we find good whaling grounds along the coast 

 of Africa, also around the islands of Ascension and St. Helena. The principal resorts are in 

 latitudes 4 to 23 south, longitude 9 to 10 west; around St. Helena; latitude 34 south, 

 longitude to 7 west; also a few degrees east of the meridian in the same latitude; and on the 

 "Carroll Ground" in latitude 32 south, longitude 7 east. The time for cruising on the more 

 southern of the above grounds is from September to May, and farther north during the whole 

 year. 



SOUTH PACIFIC GROUNDS. Sperm whales are often seen off Cape Horn, and it is the opinion 

 of most whalers that they pass from one ocean to the other in their migrations. Captain Seabury 

 writes that he has himself on two occasions taken large sperm whales within sight of land off this 

 cape. The grounds in the Pacific have been exceedingly profitable. From the time of their dis- 

 covery in 1788, by Nantucket whalemen in an English whale-ship, dates the great prosperity of 

 the sperm-whale fishery which reached its climax in the year 1837. 



One of the most important and extensive grounds in the South Pacific lies off the coast of Chili, 

 extending from latitude 35 to 40 south, and from the coast 200 miles off shore. Within these 

 limits there are some specially favorable spots, as around the island of Huafo, near the south end 

 of Chiloe Island, off Mocha Island, and off the port of Talcahuano. Around the islands of Juan 

 Fernandez and Masafuero, and from these islands to longitude 90 west, are good grounds. Ships 

 cruise here and farther south from September to May, and sometimes throughout the year, find- 

 ing mostly large whales. 



Passing farther north we come next to the Archer Ground, which lies in latitude 17 to 20' 

 south, longitude 84 to 90 west, where ships cruise throughout the year, capturing large whales. 

 From the Archer Ground, all along the coast to Panama Bay, in latitude 8 north, from the 

 shore to 90 west longitude, many sperm whales have been taken. Along the coast from latitude 

 12 to 18 south, also from latitude 10 to 14 south, longitude 86 to 90 west, were formerly 

 noted cruising places. The latter is called the "Callao Ground," and is still visited by a few ships 

 that cruise throughout the year, taking medium sized bull whales, yielding from 40 to 60 barrels 

 of oil each. 



One of the most important grounds in the South Pacific extends from latitude 5 south to 

 2 north, and from the coast of Peru to longitude 93 west, embracing the Galapagos Islands. 

 " Most of the whales found here," says Captain Seabury, "are cows and calves, though occasionally 

 a large bull whale is captured. The large whale is quite often found 3 or 4 miles from the school 

 of small ones. After striking one of a school the o:hers sometimes stop around the fast whale, 

 which is called 'bringing to' or ' brought to,' when each of the four boats may fasten to a whale. 

 More frequently the rest start off after the first boat strikes and are pursued by the boats." 



Many ships have cruised on the Offshore Ground, extending from latitude 3 30' to 5 30' 

 south, and from longitude 100 to 120 west. The season here lasts during the whole year, and 

 the whales taken are of all sizes, though the majority are young bulls. These whales go in schools, 

 and the larger the size of whale the smaller is the number. This ground was discovered in 

 the year 1818 by Capt. George W. Gardner in the ship Globe, of Nantncket. The whalers had 

 been cruising along the coast of South America when Captain Gardner concluded to find new 



