CURRENTS AND WHALING. 489 



reach the Kingsmill and Feejee Groups. There are, however, strag- 

 glers to be met with in this space during all seasons. 



The fourth belt extends from the southern tropic to the latitude of 

 50° S. The most profitable time for cruising within it is in the months 

 of March, April, and May, to the eastward of New Zealand. After that 

 date, along and between the parallels of 22° and 28° S., from the coast 

 of New Holland to that of South America. The portion of sea between 

 New Holland and New Zealand, is called the " middle ground," and is 

 frequently found very pi'ofitable. 



From an examination of the particular localities in which whales are 

 found most numerous at certain seasons, and connecting these with my 

 own observations on currents, I am induced to believe the places of 

 their resort will point more correctly to the neutral points, or spaces 

 of no current, than any other data that we yet possess. 



These must naturally become the rendezvous or feeding-places of 

 these animals. The determination of these points will therefore throw 

 additional light on the system of currents in the ocean, by pointing out 

 the neutral spaces. The chief resort of whales will be seen on the map 

 at one view ; and when these are connected with the currents shown to 

 exist by the observations of the Expedition and others, they will be 

 found to correspond in a remarkable manner with the neutral spaces. 



I have myself paid much attention to acquiring information in relation 

 to the position of these grounds, from the masters of whale-ships, but 

 have usually found their reports at variance one with another, and they 

 have sometimes differed as much as five degrees in assigning their 

 limits. Their position, no doubt, varies much in different years; but 

 even this will not explain all the discrepancies of the statements. 



If we examine the seasons of the appearance of whales at certain 

 islands, they will generally be found to be between the beginning and 

 the end of the summer of the climate, during which time animal life is 

 most prolific, and the food of the whale consequently abounds near the 

 particular group. I have frequently been told, and it is generally 

 believed, that whales are partial to warmth, and frequent few places 

 outside the tropics. This, if true, would be singular enough ; but the 

 main reason for their frequenting the summer seas at particular seasons 

 is the procurement of food, which is there to be found in greater 

 abundance; and there appears to be little doubt that in migrating, these 

 animals move with the currents, until they find their food in plenty, and 

 then continue in such locality until it is exhausted. 



A number of instances are known, as will be seen by referring to the 

 Track Map, which will be found in the atlas to these volumes, in which, 

 at certain seasons, strong currents have been experienced in places 

 vol. v. 62 



