490 CURRENTS AND WHALING. 



where, three months afterwards, they were found to have ceased alto- 

 gether, or even to have changed their direction. I have now particular 

 reference to i he Northwest Coast. 



Having pointed out the different belts in the Pacific, I will now refer 

 to the localities in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, where the sperm 

 whale fishery is most successful. 



These, in like manner, are found to correspond, and are connected 

 with the obstructions of the submarine currents, or the places where, 

 from opposing causes, they become lost. 



In the Atlantic Ocean : 



J.. Off the Azores or Western Islands. 



2. " Cape de Verdes. 



3. North of the Bahama Banks. 



4. Gulf of Mexico. 



5. Caribbean Sea. 



C. To the eastward of the Windward Islands. 



7. North coast of Brazil. 



8. South coast of Brazil. 



9. Carrol Ground, or a space of ocean lying between St. Helena and Africa. 



In the Indian Ocean: 



1. Off the southern end of Madagascar, and between it and Africa. 



2. " northern end " " " " " 



3. The coast of Arabia. 



4. West coast of Java. 



5. Northwest coast of New Holland. 



6. South coast of New Holland, and between it and Van Diemen's Land. 



The periods or times allotted to these fisheries coincide with the 

 times at which it might be expected that the food of the whale would 

 be most plentiful if brought by the polar streams. 



The Atlantic fishery is for the most part carried on in a smaller 

 class of vessels than those used in the Pacific; the voyages are of less 

 duration, and less capital is therefore required in this business than the 

 other. In speaking of cruising-grounds, I shall follow the order in 

 which they are visited. 



The first in point of time is that near the Azores. This ground does 

 not extend more than two hundred miles from these islands, and lies 

 principally to the southward of them. Here whales are found during 

 the summer months, and as late as October. These islands, it will be 

 well to remark here, lie in the route of the Great North Polar Stream, 

 and form an obstruction to its passage ; consequently the food is 

 arrested in its progress and is accumulated here. 



The next ground visited is off Cape Blanco and the Cape de Verdes, 

 and it is also searched by the outward-bound ships of the Pacific fleet. 



