BY W. I.ODEWYK CROWTHEE, D.S.O., M.B. 183 



Whale Bone or "Baleen" : from the mouth of the 

 "Right" and other Black Whales, was a valuable product, 

 and up to 5 cwt. wasi taken from that of a large whale. 



As we divide the whales into two divisions, so also 

 we find two distinct methods of whaling. 



It was the habit of the "Right" whales in the winter 

 months to come to the coaists of New Zealand and Aus- 

 tralia to calve and feed. Some Bays were more favoured 

 than others, and on tliese, shore establishments were fitted 

 out for "Bay Whaling." Such places in the early decades 

 of last century were Cloudy Bay, Foveaux Straits in New 

 Zealand, and the East Coast of Tasmania, etc. 



The "Spierm" whale, on the other hand, kept to the 

 open sea in pursuit of his food, the "squid," and to take 

 the Cachalot, ships were fitted out for lengthy cruises on 

 the high seiaa. 



In succession, then, will be considered these two 

 methods of whaling, i.e., 



(1) The Black Whale Fishery ("Bay" whaling). 



(2) The Sperm Fishery. 



The former was carried out either (a) by a land estab- 

 lishment with boat crews, or (b) by small vessels, cruising 

 around the Coast and Bays of V.D.L. The latter by 

 larger ships fitted out for prolonged cruises on the high 



seas. 



THE BLACK WHALE FISHERY. 



It is very difficult to find definite data dealing with 

 the commencement of -Bay whaling in V.D. Land. It 

 was of a different type from that of New Zealand, wnere 

 the ships from U.S.A., England, or Australia selected a 

 bay, where they landed their shore parties, the latter doing 

 all their work from the shore stations, and the ship when 

 full returning to its home port. 



In V.D.L. it was more the practice for a station to 

 be established at a selected Bay and for the Oil taken to 

 be shipped by a tender to Hobart Town and thence to 

 England. One or more boats' crews were stationed at 

 the establishment, and a lookout posted on a favourable 

 position. On a whale being sighted the crew pulled away, 

 and, if possible, made themselves fast to the whale, killed 

 it, and, often after a very long and laborious tow, brought 

 their catch to the shore. There, there was fitted a rough 



