i92 
PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
me in possession of much information respecting the best situa¬ 
tions for catching spermaceti whales, the practices of those who 
follow that business, and the importance of the southern whale* 
fishery, I hope I may be pardoned for enlarging a little on that 
subject, for the advantage of those who are strangers to the Pa¬ 
cific ocean. 
First, as respects the best place for finding spermaceti wha¬ 
les, I should recommend cruizing a short time off the island of 
Mocha; indeed some vessels have filled up their cargoes at this 
place, and even farther south; but, as they are here subject to a 
gTeat deal of tempestuous weather, it is found too harassing for 
their people, and soon brings on the scurvy and other diseases ; 
from thence angle the coast as far down as Conception, keeping 
the land in sight; and, after cruizing here a short time, put into 
Conception for wood, water, and refreshments, if you have not al¬ 
ready obtained them at Mocha ; from thence work down along 
the coast of Chili and Peru, keeping at the distance of from 20 
to 80 leagues from the land; make the land in the latitude of 
14° or 15° south, and from thence down to the Lobos de Mar , 
keeping at the distance of from 20 to 40 leagues from the land* 
Cruize close in with the Lobos islands, as the spermaceti whales 
resort much to this place, and are frequently taken within two 
leagues of the land ; from the Lobos islands proceed to cruize in 
about the latitude of 5° S., angling down the coast, and inclining oft’ 
shore towards the Gallapagos islands, about the whole of which 
spermaceti whales may be found, but in the greatest abundance 
near Rock Rodondo. To go over the ground I have already 
marked out, and to examine it with care, will require from three 
to four months; and it should be so arranged, if possible, that 
your arrival among the Gallapagos should be in the month of 
May, June, or July; by this means you will escape the most tem¬ 
pestuous seasons of the coast of Chili. After cruizing here two or 
three months, it is likely that it will be necessary to go into port, 
on account of the health of your people, as not even the tortoises 
of those islands will prevent their having the scurvy Proceed 
now for Turnbez, on the coast of Peru; here you may, if neces¬ 
sary, renew your stock of water and wood, and lay in a supply of 
