CURRENTS AND WHALING. 487 



Whales of the two different kinds are easily distinguished at a 

 distance by the experienced, from the volume of their spout; its direc- 

 tion and elevation ; the number of times it is repeated ; the manner in 

 which they dive; the length of time they disappear; and the body they 

 expose to view. 



I shall now proceed to point out the cruising-grounds, and explain 

 the operations of the whalers, directing my attention first to the 

 sperm whale fishery, not only because it is the most valuable, but 

 because it depends more upon the skill and information of those 

 engaged in it. 



The master of a whale-ship should be a good seaman and navigator, 

 well acquainted with the winds and currents, as well as with the 

 cruising-ground of his prey. When he is thoroughly acquainted with 

 these, and possesses a good ship, with a spirit of perseverance and 

 energy, there is little fear of his returning home with a " clean ship." 



The principal whaling-grounds in the Pacific are shown on the 

 map annexed to this chapter; they are confined particularly to spaces 

 which have been known in the Pacific Ocean by names well under- 

 stood among the whalers, such as the " on-shore ground" and the 

 "off-shore ground," "middle ground," &c. These spaces, however, 

 have wide limits ; thus, for instance, the " on-shore ground" embraces 

 the whole extent of ocean along the coast of Chili and Peru, from the 

 island of Juan Fernandez to the Gallipagos Islands; and the " off-shore 

 ground" the space between latitude 5° and 10° S., longitude 90° and 

 120° W. 



The following list embraces all the different grounds in the Pacific 

 visited by our whalers. 



1. The on-shore ground. 



2. " off-shore ground. 



3. In the neighbourhood of the Hawaiian Islands. 



4. " " Society Islands. 



5. " " Samoan Group. 



6. " " Feejee Group. 



7. " " Kingsmill Group. 



8. Along and to the south of the equator, from the coast of South America to the 



Kingsmill Group. 



9. Across the South Pacific, between the parallels of 21° and 27° S. 



10. " North « " " 27° and 35° N. 



11. In the neighbourhood of the east coast of New Zealand. 



12. The Middle Ground, between New Holland and New Zealand. 



13. The coast of Japan, and between it and the Bonin Islands. 



14. The northwest coast of America. 



15. Coast of California, 



These, it will be seen, embrace a large field, and it might be sup- 



