THE WHALE FISHERY. 



209 



Decennial return showing the number, tonnage, and creii's of Taxmanian vt seels engaged in the whale fisheries ; also the num- 

 ber and tonnage of such cc*c/ tntinil inuarth; and the quantity of oil, cf'C., which they brotujht into port. 



[Compiled from statistics of the colony of Tasmania for 1879.] 



* Not given in the returns prior to 1871. 



The whale fisheries of New Zealand are discussed as follows in a report to the Department of 

 State by U. S. Consul G. W. Griffin, dated Auckland, New Zealand, May 16, 1881 : 



" The presence of a fleet of American whaling vessels from New Bedford, Mass., now in the 

 waters of New Zealand, has directed my attention to the condition of the whale fisheries of this 

 colony. The principal ports of New Zealand for whaling vessels are Russell and Maugonui. 

 There appears to be no just reason why these ports should be preferred to others of the colony, 

 unless it is that Russell and Mangouui are small places and do not oft'er as great inducements for 

 the men to desert their ships as the larger cities, and that it is always difficult to supply the loss 

 of trained men for whaling purposes. 



" The whale fisheries of New Zealand, like those elsewhere, have declined rapidly during the 

 last thirty years, but they now appear to be rallying again. The cause of their decline has doubt- 

 less been the substitution of other material for whalebone and the discovery of kerosene and 

 other lubricating oils which have taken the place of whale and sperm oil. A large number of 

 whaling stations were established along the coast of New Zealand as far back as 1825. The indus- 

 try has been a very lucrative one. Few ships that ventured to those shores were unsuccessful in 

 obtaining full cargoes of oil and bone. 



u I find that the industry was most successfully pursued by what was known as 'shore parties,' 

 who located themselves at eligible points all round the coast of the islands. The method of catch- 

 ing whales by shore parties was first started in New Zealand by some of the rough white adven- 

 turers from the Australian colonies, who had for many years previously pursued the arduous life 

 of catching seals in boats and small crafts along the coasts of the Middle Island and Fo% r eaux 

 Strait. They were encouraged to engage in the pursuit of the whale and to form establishments 

 for that purpose on the shores of Cook Strait. Upon hearing of the success of these shore fish- 

 eries the people established whaling stations at Wellington. Some also were started at various 

 points on the west coast of the North Island, near New Plymouth, and a large number at various 

 places on the east coast of the North Island, between Cape Palliser and East Cape. 



" These stations were fitted out for the capture, chiefly, of the black or 'right' whale (Balcena 

 antipodum), which approached the shores of New Zealand in large numbers during the calving 

 season, from May to October, inclusive. Very frequently the sperm whale, the humpback, the pike- 

 headed, and other species came near enough also to be captured by the shore parties. The 

 stations were generally established near a projecting headland, close to which there was deep 

 SEC. v, VOL. u r-u 



