California Gray Whale. 513 
ing a whaling station, and as the objects of pursuit became scarce— 
notwithstanding the improved mode of capture by the use of the 
harpoon-gun and bomb-lance—the pursuit became unprofitable, 
when Yankee ingenuity proved equal to the emergency and shore 
whaling stations were thought of. These are built upon the shore 
in sheltered places, but commanding an extensive seaward view. 
Convenient structures are erected and equipped with all necessary 
implements and apparatus, with boats and arms for the capture of 
the whale, and everything on shore for treating the captive when 
brought to the shore. Near the station was a high lookout upon 
which a watchman was stationed with a well-understood system of 
signals, by means of which he could telegraph the boats when far 
out to sea. Here the men built comfortable cabins where they lived 
with their families, and later, as the whales became scarcer, they 
could pursue other avocations when their time could not be em- 
ployed in the pursuit of their prey, which intervals increased as the 
whales became less and less abundant, till now many of these shore 
stations have been entirely abandoned. Here, in Monterey, the first 
whaling station was established on shore in 1851, and later another _ 
was established, both of which did a successful business for years, but. : 
within the last few years they have been entirely abandoned. Some 
of the buildings still remain but they are fast going to decay, and 
the old whale boats may now be seen leaning up against the sheds 
useless and abandoned. So at Carmal mission, a few miles across 
the peninsula; the absence of the game has compelled its desertion, 
and this is now true of most of the many whaling stations along 
this coast which once flourished. The station near the mouth of 
the bay of San Diego, I believe, is still kept up; at least when I 
passed it three years ago I saw two whales were on the ways. 
Altogether we may well fear that this interesting species of this 
_ Sreat family may before many years become extinct, as did the sea 
ee (unless governmental powers shall interpose to save them), 
Which existed in incredible numbers about Bering Island when the 
TFS navigator was cast upon it, and where he found his grave in 
The California whale may make a bolder and harder struggle for 
existence than did the Rhytina, but it is rapidly going to utter ex- 
 tmction. While other species of the whale family have greatly 
diminished in numbers in all waters, still their habits protect them 
from final destruction, They have a wider range and cannot be 
