THE WHALE FISHERY. 211 



" The proprietor of one of the whaling stations on the North Island has described to me the 

 method of catching the whale by the shore parties. The men are enrolled under three classes, 

 viz, headsman, boat steercr, ami common man. The headsman is the commander of the boat, and 

 his post is at the helm, except during the time of killing the whale, which honor also falls to his 

 lot. The boat-steerer pulls the oar nearest to the bow, always steering under the direction of the 

 headsman, and fastens the harpoon to the whale. The headsman then kills the whale. The com- 

 mon men have nothing to do but to ply their oars according to orders, except one called the tub- 

 oarsman, who sits near the tub containing the whale line, and sees that no entanglement takes place. 



"The wages are the shares of the profits of the fishery ,~~apportioned to the men according to 

 their rank. The headsman gets more than the boat-steerer, and the boat-steerer more than the 

 common man. The leader of the party commanding the boat is called the chief headsman. A 

 certain code of etiquette or laws exMsts among the whalers. This code has been handed down 

 by tradition, and is in all cases faithfully adhered to. It regulates and settles the various claims 

 to the whale. Each' station has its own laws and customs. It is a fundamental rule, however, 

 among all of them that he who once made fast has the right td the whale even should he be obliged 

 to cut his line, provided his harpoon still remains in the whale. Each harpoon has its owner's 

 private mark, and there can be no dispute about the ownership of the weapon. The boat mak- 

 ing fast to the calf has a right to the cow, because it is well known that the cow will not desert 

 her young. A boat demanding assistance from a rival party must share equally with the party 

 granting .the assistance. These unwritten laws are universally recognized among whalers. A 

 dispute seldom occurs as to the ownership of the whale. Should such a dispute arise it is always 

 satisfactorily settled according to the code. 



" The whale-boat used by the shore parties differs in size and construction from those used by 

 whaling vessels. The former is clinker shaped, sharp at both ends, and is higher out of water at 

 the bow and stern than it is amidships. It is usually about 30 feet long and narrow in width, and 

 especially adapted for riding on the surf. A platform" is erected at the stern, reaching forward 

 about feet, even with the gunwales. To this is attached a cylindrical piece of wood used for check- 

 ing the whale-line, and it is a custom to cut a notch in this wood for every whale killed by the boat. 



"A constant lookout for whales is kept from a site near the station, and when a whale is 

 sighted three or four boats are immediately launched and proceed at racing speed, the spout of 

 the whale, like a small column of smoke on the horizon, indicating the direction to be taken. 

 When the fastest boat reaches the whale, the boat-steerer drives the harpoon straight into the 

 animal. A turn is taken around the loggerhead to check the rapidity with which the line runs 

 out, and the boat flies through the water, forming ridges of foam above the sides. The skill of 

 the headsman is now shown in steering and watching the course of the whale. Other harpoons 

 are thrown into the animal, which, after diving several times, soon becomes exhausted. The 

 headsman then lets fly his lance into the spot where life is said to be. The animal soon afterwards 

 spouts thick blood and is a sure prize. This method of catching whales is, however, not so satis- 

 factory or profitable as that pursued by whaling vessels, and is principally practiced now by the 

 Maori, or native race. 



" The sperm whale is more frequently met with in the New Zealand waters than any other 

 kind of whale. Mr. Eldridge, the first officer of the American bark Janus, informed me that during 

 last March lie saw forty or fifty of these whales near the East Cape. The sperm whale travels at 

 the rate of 4 or 5 miles an hour. Adult females or those with young in their company evince a 

 strong affection for each other, and when one is killed or sustains injury the parents or companions 

 hover about, and even render assistance. The yfhalers take advantage of this trait and kill a 

 number before the others make off. When, however, a company of male whales are found, and 



