210 MARINE MAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 



names Avere the Beaver^ Washington, Hector, Warren, Rebecca, and Favorite, and the 

 names of tlieir captains were those characteristic ones among the settlers of the 

 islands, as follows : Worth, Bunker, Brock, Barnard, Mcader, and Folgcr. These 

 ships were only two hundred and fifty tons burden, dull sailers, having no copper 

 on their bottoms, and but scantily fitted with whaling appliances or provisions. 

 The scone of their first exploits was upon the coast of Chile. These pioneer voy- 

 ages, through the persistent daring of the hardy men who led them, were eminently 

 successful, which induced the people of the neighboring settlements of other Kew 

 England ports to extend their whaling commerce, and but few years passed before 

 a numerous fleet were plying over those rough waters. Gradually, however, they 

 extended their cruises toward the more distant but smiling regions of the tropics. 

 As early as 1800, '•' American whalers were plowing the sparkling waters along the 

 coast of Peru, and their keels cut the eciuatorial line, north and south, in the 

 Pacific. A favorite cruising -ground was from the Spanish Main, westward, around 

 the Gralapagos Islands. There a rich harvest rewarded them, where they labored in 

 a genial climate, with an almost uninterrupted succession of fine breezes and pleas- 

 ant weather. At certain seasons, north of the ec{uator, the north-east trades blew 

 fresh, and at the south they would frequently increase to a brisk gale ; but these 

 periodical breezes, compared with tlie heavy gales of the Atlantic and the tedious 

 weather about Cape Horn, served only to enliven them into renewed activity under 

 the heated rays of a tropical sun, when in pursuit of the vast herds of Cachalots 

 which were met with, bounding over or through the crested waves. During these 

 long voyages, it became unavoidably necessary to occasionally go into port, in order 

 to "recruit ship." When arrived at these places of supply, good store of fresh 

 meat, water, and vegetables was laid in, and the ship's company were allowed to 

 pass, in turn, a few days of liberty on shore. In due time those ports along the 

 coast of Chile and Peru, which were suited to the rec|uirements of the adventurers, 

 V>ecame famous places of resort for American whale- ships. The principal ones were 



and the assailants are immersed in the dreadful upon as a sure prey. The blood which she has 



element. * * At other times she will dive lost in her flight weakens her so much, that 



and disappear from human sight; and every- if she sinks again, it is but for a short time; 



thing must then give way to her velocity, or the boat follows her course, with an almost 



else all is lost. Sometimes she will swim away, equal speed. She soon re -appears; and, tired 



as if untouched, and draw the cord with such at last with convulsing the element, which she 



swiftness, that it will sot the edge of the boat tinges with her blood, she dies, and floats upon 



on fire by the friction. If she rises, before she the surface." 



has run out the whole length, she is looked * Nantucket paper. 



