Depletion of the Fur-Seal in the Southern Seas. 457 
numbers of penguins swimming in the sea and sitting on 
the rocks—computed at a low estimate at several millions— 
attests the presence of a plentiful food supply. 
A seventh vroup is the Chathams, discovered at the end 
of the last century by Lieut. Broughton. This group, 
which is situated in the latitude of New Zealand (43°), was 
inhabited by numerous natives of a primitive Polynesian 
race called Moriori, thirty of whom survive. About 1835 
it was conquered by the Maoris, who now number 300, and 
to whom are added an equal number of Kuropeans. It has 
from the first been asealing ground. Several shore parties 
lived here at various periods, and the outlying rocks are 
still visited by a small number of seals. Of the doings of 
sealers here I have found it impossible as yet to get records, 
but it was recognized as a new field. ‘These islands have a 
good climate and soil, and were, until recently, for many 
years the headquarters of the now abandoned sperm whale 
fishery. 
When the Kuropeans commenced to hunt seals on the 
coast of New Zealand they also found whales in immense 
numbers. The coasts swarmed with black or inshore 
whales, and the deeper waters, even near the land, abound- 
ed in sperm whales. The great. sea now known as the 
Tasman Sea, between Australia and New Zealand, was 
called the Middle Ground, and was throughout its extent a 
whaling ground. It was found worth while to equip 
whaling vessels both from Sydney and from England. In 
addition to these were many from America and France and 
some from other countries. The very first whaling fleet 
which sailed from Sydney brought in a large catch, and 
reported the amazing fact that they had sighted 15,000 - 
whales. Mr. Wm. Chapman, who visited New Zealand 
with the Governor of Nortolk Island, in 1793, describes the 
number of whales off the north of New Zealand, where he 
saw several whale-ships successfully cruising. ‘The crew 
easily killed a whale, apparently for pastime. The whale 
fisheries were continued with activity until after 1840, but. 
from that date a great decline in results is noticed, 
34 
