210 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



water, and where, from the lofty summit of the headland, a good view could be had of the offing 

 and of any whales which might chance to sport there. The advantages rendered the site an eligi- 

 ble one. The season for which the men engaged themselves began with the mouth of May awl 

 lasted until the beginning of October, extending through a period of five mouths, which in New 

 Zealand includes the winter season. During these mouths the cow whales resort to the coast w th 

 their young calves. 



" It required a large sum of money to equip a whaling station. A pair of shears, such as un- 

 used for taking out or putting in the masts of ships, had to be erected in order to raise the immense 

 carcasses above water, so that they could be more conveniently and expeditiously cut up. It was 

 also necessary to build 'try- works,' as they were called, being furnaces for melting the blubber. 

 Storehouses were erected and well supplied with spirit, cord, and canvas. Three or four well- 

 built and well-found boats completed the outfit. All these establishments seem to have been 

 conducted on the same system. The men employed in the active part of the work received a certain 

 per cent, of the oil procured, and the remainder was the share of the merchant at whose expense 

 the station had been fitted up, and who had also the advantage of taking the oil at his own valu- 

 ation, which very generally was largely in his favor. In looking over some old records kept at 

 one of the stations near the East Cape I find that in one year forty-one whales were caught, which 

 yielded 145 tons of oil and 1 tons of bone. I have been informed by old whalers here that as 

 much as 14 tons of oil had been obtained from one whale. A breeding cow and calf produce about 

 1 cwt. of bone to 1 ton of oil, but a small fat whale a much less proportion. 



" The flourishing condition of the fisheries attracted vessels from all parts of the world. In 1843 

 as many as twenty whaling vessels were seen at one time in the harbor of ( tago, Middle Island. 

 At a later period Russell, Bay of Islands, became the favorite resort of the whalers. The fisheries. 

 however, began to decline rapidly, notwithstanding the employment of an increased number of 

 boats and men. The places which were once the favorite haunts of whales soon became entirely 

 deserted by them. The country at that time was without a representative form of government, 

 and no laws were enacted to protect the fisheries. The whales frequenting the coast of New Zea- 

 land were soon extirpated or driven off to other regions. They were attacked by the shore parties 

 the moment they reached the coast, when they had generally by their side a calf too young to 

 support itself without being suckled by the mother, and which perished as a natural consequence 

 of her loss. Had an act been passed making it unlawful to kill the whale until a later period in 

 the season, many of the calves would have been spared to return the following year. 



"In 1858 the legislative assembly of New Zealand, with a view of improving the condition 

 of the whale fisheries, passed an act, which is still in force, requiring the proprietors of whaling- 

 stations to give valid security on future produce of oil and bone. There had been very general 

 complaint among the whalers that the merchants would not advance money or goods without legal 

 security. The act enabled the merchant to receive a mortgage on the oil and bone which the pro- 

 prietors of the whaling stations might obtain dining the ensuing season. The mortgage must be 

 in duplicate, and recorded, so that no subsequent sale by the whaler can afi'ect the security. If 

 the whaler should refuse to deliver the oil and bone specified therein the owner of the security can 

 take possession of the same. 



"This security is made transferable by deed, and by indorsement, and every transferee has 

 the same right, title, and interest as the person in whose name such security w;is originally taken. 

 The security can also be canceled by the registrar at any time at the request of the. owner. The 

 act, further provides that if fraud should be practiced on the owner he can recover double, the 

 amount of the consideration named in the mortgage, and every one found aiding or abetting such 

 frauds shall be fined double the amount of the consideration. 



