.134 NOTES ON TASMANIAN WHALING, 



tripod scaffolding, to the base of which the whale was 

 secured, and by the aid of which the blubber was stripped 

 from the whale and taken on shore to be boiled down. (A 

 most interesting painting of the station at Wineglass Bay, 

 Freycinet's Peninsula, is in the Tasmanian room of the 

 Museum.) 



It is very difficult to obtain accurate particulars of 

 the early history of Bay whaling in V.D.L.. The Press 

 of that daiy gives only a scanty paragraph from time to 

 time, when something of more than ordinary interest is 

 ■noted. No records are available before 1816, when tlie 

 Government Gazette was first printed, and copies of the 

 earliest papers are not in the Government Archives. From 

 Fenton's History we read that "between 1813-1815, under 

 "Governor Davey, the whale fishery was carried on with 

 "profitable results and a lucrative trade in seal skins from 

 "the Bass Straits Islands was established." Bent, in the 

 H . T. Gazette for June 24;tn, 1816, writes as follows in his 

 local news: — "A great nuiubcr of whales have already 

 "made their appearance in Frederick Henry Bay, some few 

 "have been seen a,s high as Sullivan's Cove (i.e., the present 

 "location of the Hobarfc Wharves). Preparations are being 

 "made by Mr. D. McCarthy and coadjutors to begin the 

 "Fishing." The Editor adds the following: — "The very 

 "elements contribute to our prosperity when industry leads 

 "the way." During this year whales were taken in the 

 Derwent proper. 



In 1822 whales were again very numerous around our 

 Southern Coast, and even in the estuary of the Derwent 

 (Fenton). 



Between 1820 and 1830, as readers of McNab's works 

 will remember, the coasts of New Zealand were constantly 

 visited by whaling ships from England, France, and U.S.A. 

 (particularly the latter). These ships, observing the 

 regular winter arrival of the "Right" whales, to favoured 

 Bays and Inlets, gradually relinquished the deep-sea pur- 

 suit of the "Sperm" whale for the easier takings of the 

 "Right" whales off these Bays. This whaling was done 

 at first from the ship, which lay at anchor, and sent her 

 boats' crews away in pursuit, the whale when captured 

 being towed back to the ship and "tried out" on board. 

 From this method was evolved the shore station proper, 

 with the parties landed and living there, and trying-out 

 their catch on shore. 



Maori villagesi sprang up adjacent to the tents and 

 supplied labour, food, and crews for the boats. This 



