CURRENTS AND WHALING. 491 



The whalers of the Atlantic next pass to the north coast of Brazil, 

 in the months of October, November, and December, and thence to 

 the Brazil Bank, and off the mouths of the Rio de la Plata, where 

 they fish in January and February ; after this they seek St. Helena 

 and the Carrol Ground, which lies from fifty to two hundred miles 

 southeast of that island, towards the Cape of Good Hope. On the 

 latter ground they remain during the months of March, April, and 

 May ; and thence they pass to the westward, along the South Ameri- 

 can coast, to the eastward of the Windward Islands; thence to the 

 Bahama Banks, Cape Hatteras, and along the coast of. the United 

 States, home. 



The smaller class of whalers seldom extend their cruisins; to the 

 south of the line; but after they have visited the first two whaling- 

 grounds, they usually pass to the westward, towards the islands of 

 Fernando de Noronha, and thence along ihe South American coast, 

 till they reach the Windward Islands. They frequent the Caribbean 

 Sea in the months of January and February, and farther to the west- 

 ward, off the peninsula of Yucatan, and Cuba, in April ; after which 

 time they proceed through the Gulf of Mexico, to cruise off the 

 Bahama Banks, and Cape Hatteras, in May. Thence they pass 

 northward, on either side of the Gulf Stream, to the eastern side of 

 the Grand Banks. 



In the Indian Ocean, the south part of Madagascar, off Point Dau- 

 phin, is visited in March and April ; in May. June, and July, the 

 ground off the southwest cape of Madagascar, in the Mozambique 

 Channel, and upon both sides of that channel. The whalers usually 

 recruit in St. Augustine's Bay, where supplies are to be had in 

 abundance, and both wood and water are easily procured. After this 

 they usually spend some time off Cape Corrientes, with the Cape and 

 headlands on either side, and visit the Comoro Isles. Sperm whales 

 are frequently found in numbers among these islands, and ships usually 

 do well in their vicinity. The African coast, from Mozambique to 

 Zanzibar, is good ground, and the latter place is also a good port for 

 repairing. 



Some ships extend their cruising during the northeast, monsoon, from 

 October to April, to the Arabian coast, but the African is generally 

 preferred. The Chagos Archipelago at times affords some success, 

 but it is very doubtful ground, and has not been often frequented. The 

 proper season is during the southwest monsoon. 



The most profitable ground in the Indian Ocean is the west and 

 northwest coast of New Holland, as far eastward as the islands of 



