THE WHALK FISHERY. 11 



fields, and in his search he cruised over the ground extending from latitude 5 to 10 south, and 

 from longitude 105 to 125 west, where whales were found in great numbers. This new field 

 was christened the "Offshore Ground," and continues to this day a favorite resort of Pacific 

 whalers. 



On a belt of ocean from latitude 2 north to 2 south and extending across the Pacific from 

 the west coast of South America, large numbers of sperm whales have been taken, especially 

 from longitude 110 to 130 west, and also around Jarvis Island and the King's Mill Group. The 

 whales taken near the equator are generally of the smaller kind. 



Vessels have cruised with some success around the Marquesas Islands, Low and Societies, 

 Navigator's Islands, the Fiji group, and around New Zealand and Australia. The most noted 

 part of the New Zealand Ground is 20 miles southeast and southwest from French Eock, which 

 lies iu about latitude 31 30' south, longitude 179 west. Other resorts included on the New Zea- 

 land Ground are on the Vasques Ground, in latitude 36 south, longitude 165 west; from lati- 

 tude 36 to 38 south, longitude 164 to 166 west ; around the Three Kings, in latitude 32 

 south, longitude 170 to 175 east; 40 to 80 miles off shore east-northeast from Monganui and 

 east-southeast from Cape Bret ; around Stewart's Island, the Snares, and Chatham Islands. 

 Sperm whales have sometimes been found abundant all around New Zealand. Large schools of 

 great sperm whales abounded here more than on any other whaling ground. Captain Seabury says 

 that " several ships often get into a school of these whales at one time, each vessel taking 

 one or more whales that yield 100 barrels of oil. The season for cruising at the extreme south is 

 in the summer mouths, or from September to April, and on the northern ground vessels cruise 

 throughout the year. Hurricanes are sometimes encountered off the Navigator's Islands and French 

 Rock, so that only the best of vessels are sent there." 



Sperm whales were once abundant all the way across from New Zealand to Australia, and 

 around Tasmania ; also along the shores of Australia, and near Wreck Reef, around New Ireland, 

 the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, Kermadec Islands, New Caledonia, and New Georgia. Banker 

 Bay, New Ireland, was a noted place. 



Noit'i'ii PACIFIC GROUNDS. The most important ground in the North Pacific for many years 

 was off the coast of Japan, first visited by whaling vessels in 1820. Around the Bonin Islands, in 

 latitude 27 north, longitude 140 west, was also a noted ground. Vessels cruised all the way 

 from latitude 28 to 32 north, and longitude 165 west to 165 east. The Japan Ground 

 included the region from the coast of Japan southeast to Bonin Islands, across to 165 west 

 longitude. The season was from May to November, during which time great quantities of oil were 

 frequently taken. The whales were mostly large bulls, and many of them very old, as was shown 

 by their teeth. 



Capt. William M. Barnes, formerly of New Bedford, writes : "There is now (1881) not a single 

 sperm whaler in the North Pacific Ocean, and in certain parts of.it, as on the old Japan Ground, the 

 A rotic cruisers in crossing have lately seen sperm whales in increasing numbers." During the winter 

 season in the northern hemisphere the Arctic whalers occasionally spend a few months among the 

 islands of the Western Pacific, but otherwise these large grounds are now seldom resorted to by 

 whalemen. In many cases the sperm whalers find it difficult to fill their casks with sperm oil, and 

 so assist iu making up their cargo by spending a few months in "humpbacking." 



Sperm-whaling was formerly carried on with good success around the Ladroue Islands, also 

 in the Sooloo or Mindora Seas, and around the East India Islands, where ships continued to cruise 

 until within about three years. The whales were generally very small, and mostly cows with 

 calves. A great deal of calm weather and strong currents are found around these islands and seas. 



