THE SOUTHERN FISHERY 213 



normal naval complement being one hundred and 

 thirty men! 



The sloop arrived at Rio de Janeiro on the 24th 

 February, 1793, where they repaired and took on 

 board provisions, including " two live bullocks," and 

 on the 5th March set out for the voyage round Cape 

 Horn in company with another whaler, the Mediator. 

 The Cape was doubled on the nth April, 1793, and 

 a course set for the coast of Chile. On ist May they 

 saw Sperm Whales off Mocha Island, where the sea 

 was covered with them. The crew of the Rattler 

 killed six, four of which were secured alongside, but 

 the weather turning bad, only two were saved. 



Colnett next decided to cruise off Mocha Island 

 for several days, during which time large numbers 

 of Sperm Whales were seen. The Rattler, however, 

 only killed two additional whales here, of which one 

 was secured. Thence a course was set to 26 

 30' N., keeping the coast in sight, but as far as 

 St Felix and St Ambrose Islands no further whales 

 were seen (2Oth May, 1793). 



Subsequently they sailed to the Peruvian coast 

 near Lima and thence to the Gallipagos Islands. 

 Up to this time their search for whales had not been 

 very successful, so they doubled back to Peru, and 

 then sailed in a general northerly direction along 

 the west coast of Mexico. They cruised off the 

 Cocos Islands which was the most northerly point 

 recommended by the Admiralty, but Colnett disre- 

 garded his instructions and explored the coast as far 

 north as the Gulf of California, including the islands 



