492 CURRENTS AND WHALING. 



Timor, Lombock, and Angier, and westward to the Keeling Islands, 

 including the coast of Java. 



On reference to the map illustrative of the currents and whaling- 

 grounds, before referred to, it will be perceived how nearly these 

 grounds coincide with the places wherein, according to the views 

 already stated, the polar streams are obstructed by land or islands, so 

 as either to interrupt their course, or create such an impediment as to 

 change it. 



The Sooloo Sea is the only place that remains to be noticed. Ame- 

 rican ships; however, have seldom gone thither; but some English 

 vessels are reported as having met with much success there. 



There are two routes by which our whale-ships can enter the 

 Pacific: one by the Cape of Good Hope and round New Holland; the 

 other, by Cape Horn. 



To take the first route, they ought generally to time their departure 

 so as to meet the season off New Zealand in March, and this is also 

 the best course for ships sailing in the autumn from the United States. 

 They will then reach their whaling-ground at the earliest possible 

 season, and place themselves at once in a situation to reap the harvest 

 of which they are in search; and they would, in all probability, have 

 time to refit and recruit after the outward voyage. This is much 

 more important for insuring success in this employment than very 

 many either of the masters or owners are aware. After a few days 

 in port, and a supply of fresh vegetables, they would find both their 

 ships and crews in a better condition to take the sea and keep it. 

 After remaining six weeks or two months on the New Zealand 

 Ground, until the winter season and boisterous weather approach, 

 the vessels should pass to the northward, towards Sunday Island, 

 and thence cruise to the eastward, between the latitudes of 22° and 

 28° S., or even in a few degrees higher latitude. The lower lati- 

 tudes are, however, found to be the most frequented by the whale. 

 Along these parallels they proceed as far as the coast of South Ame- 

 rica, so as to arrive there in the course of the month of September, 

 after passing part of the time to the westward of the islands of Juan 

 Fernandez and Massafuera. 



Other vessels reach the Society Islands in June, and thence pass to 

 the westward, in order to meet the season off the Samoan and Feejee 

 Groups; thence again without the tropics to the south, either on the 

 " middle ground," between New Holland and New Zealand, or to a 

 higher south latitude, and again meet the season off New Zealand at 

 the end of summer or in March. Those that reach the coast of Chili 



