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RIGHT WHALING GROUND: SOUTH PACIFIC.

As to whether the right whales are to be found in the high noitheni latitudes in our winter, or in high southern latitudes in summer, when tlip whalemen do not visit such latitudes, of course the chart does not show. Thus, between 50 and 60° N., IJO nnd 155° W., we only know that whales arc abundant fiom May to St ptember, inclusive. We know not as to the other month*, because the night and cold then duve the whalemen from this pait of the ocean, and we cannot siy anyt': lns, as to the numbers in winch the fish resoit there then. The ch,uts an. 1 therefoie silent on the subject. It is the same at the south in its seasons —that is, when it is winter there the whalemen abandon the high latitudes, and seek iheir game in more genial climates. Dut, seeing the abundance of our whales in the Greenland nnd Aictic Seas in oui summer season, and seeing that they haie not been bought for in similar latitudes south, 1 invite tlie attention of the whalemen to the subject of southern whaling in south summer time. Below the parallel of 50 ° S.—-indeed with hero and there an exception—l might say that, below the j parallel of 48 ° S., the whale chare is a blank ; consequently (evr vessels go beyond that parallel. The indications to tlu chait are, that somewhere to the south of these paiallels, and between those mendiuns, as given below, whales are probably to be found in considerable numbets, it not in greater quantities, viz.: — Below 40° S. fiom 25° W. to 10° E. A. " 50 S. " 43 E. to 60 E. L\ " 43 S. " 120 E. to 140 E. C* " 3D S. " 100 E. to 150 W. D. In view of all the information befoie me, would I suggest the following as a very inviting loute or cruise for a vessel that finds herself on the Whaling giound of the South Atlantic in our fall months :—: — She can ciuise in the region A. of the last-mentioned table ; and fiom thai, but still keeping- well down to the south, pass rapidly on, unless she finds whales by the way, to the logion 13. A week or two here will satisfy her as to the piospect for whales. Entering the region C, move time might be spent in it, ciossmg different parallels, taking care to keep well to the south. j After having- cruispd and tried sufficiently in region I C, the favouiite region, the yes-el may then "ciack on" for region D, and when this iegion is explored, the season at the south will probably be over. The N.W. aie the pievailmg winds of these latitudes; and therefore the progiainrae of this route would be easy. Ending the search for right whales at the south, and I leaving the legion D foi the equatonal cruising giounds and entering- them between 175 ° ]£. and 175 ° W., the route westwaid, and between 5° S. and 10° S., T=-ill bo through the be^c sperm velmla grounds. These grounds commence between the meridians of 180 and 170 ° W., after crossing the pai allel of 35 ° S., ioi just here spei'm whales resort in great numbers. Continue N. between these meiidians until you cross ! 10° S. i From 170° E. to IC5° W., between the parallels of 5 ° and 10° S., is capital spoim ground. The vessel, therefore, reaching these grounds between the meridians of 170 and 130 ° \V., may tany in them, tending westward, as long as she lias luck, taking care not to look north of the line here for whales, foi they are not to be found excopt as sttagglers. After crossing these grounds, which reach west as far as 170 ° E., and east to America, she should carry on, without stopping to look for whales, until she crosses 20° N., between 165° W. and 174° E., which is a^ain fine sperm ground. After passing west of 175 ° E. she will find good sperm ground between the parallels of 20° and 30° N., as iar as 140 ° E. Passing from these grounds, excellent right whale fishing will he found above the parallels of 50 ° N. between 135 ° W. and 165 ° W. 45 N. '* 145 E. " 175 E. 35 N. " 145 E. " 155 E. and up through into Behiing's Straits. Upon all these last-mentioned right whale grounds there is good fishing from May to September, inclusive. I have not as yet found the log-book of any whaler that has cruised here at any other season of the year, and therefore my information as to the rest of the year is negative. But there is reason afforded by the chart for the opinion that the right whales of the Noith Pacific never come to the south of the parallels named, and that, therefoie, as a general rule, these fish remain m somewhere to the north of the parallel of 35 ° all the year. If this indication of the chart be conect, and I see no reason to question it, it appeais that this animal must have supplies of food all the year round above 35 ° N. I have reason to believe that the tempeiature of the sea has much to do with the whale or the growth of its food; that the sperm whale delights in warm water, and the right whale in cold ; and those whalemen who are co-operating with me in collecting materials for the 11 Wind and Cuirent Charts," and the whale chart belongs to the series, will therefore understand and appreciate the importance of keeping a daily record as to the temperature of air and uater. There is another point, also, to which I would call their attention, because, by regai ding it, it may prove of value to these researches and to them, and that point is deep sea soundings. It is said that the sperm whale goes to the bottom of the sea for its food. \\ hat is the greatest depth to which it can go for this purpose ? and are its places of resort confined to parts ol the ocean that come within these depths ? Now, if owners would provide their ships each with a few thousand fathoms of twine, and some sciaps of old iron or lead to serve as sounding weights, 1 am sure that the whalemen, from the gieat philosophical interest which many of them manifest with legard to my reseaiches, would in calms get deep sea soundings for me. If the ocean were very deep, and the time could not bespaied to haul up the line, it might, the length out being known by what is left, bo cut; and as the line and sinker would cost but little, the expense to each ship would be but a trifle. I take this occasion to say, because some of the whalemen have supposed it unnecessary to continue the abstract when in sight of land, that it is important to have a complete abstract for every day they aie at sea, that we may know whether they find iish or not, bow plentifully, the force and dncction of winds and cuilents, temperature of the air and water, and glean information as to all other phenomena which they are requested in the abstiact log to note. AI. F. Mauuy, Lieut. U.S. Navy. National Observatory, Washington, D.C., April 16, 1850.

* This region is particular!}' attractive.

Monmiis. Latitude. Longitude. J.iuuni v. Fe.biu.uy, AJaicb... '20* to 50' b. May, June, July '25 to .'3O S Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec 30 to 40 S. October, Novumbei, I)( j c... . .'JO to 'lo S. October, JN'ovembej, Doc .'3O to 40 S. December and January . . . . 35 to 45 P. Jul\ to Nov. (inclusive) ..3') to 40 S November and December ..35 to -I j S. JainiHi v 45 to 50 8. Dec, .1.m., Feb., J\l,»., April 40 to 50 S. Pept. to N,\y (inclusive) ..30 to 4.) S. August to December " . . '20 to 40 l . ]\oromber, December, Jan,.. 30 to 50 S.j 45- to 50- E. .35 to 40 J',. .)5 to 00 K. 00 to 07> K. 0> to 80 X 90 to 95 E. 11.5 to I'JO K. 11201 120 to 130 E. loO to 170 E. 170 X.175 W 85 E. 75 W 175 E. 165 W 105 E. 150 W KORTU PACinc. 145 to 150 E1 15 to 150 E. 100 to 155 E1»5 to 165 Eio's to 170 E. 16'J XV 165 W 115 to 130 W Api il and Mny 10 to 45 N. July to October (inclusive) . ( j to 50 N Aptil and Way 10 to 50 N May to Sept. (inclusive).... J-j to 55 N. May to September " ..45 to 55 N. M"ay to September *' . . JO to f>3 N. May to September '* . . 5b to 60 N. SOUTH ATLANTIC* 25 to 20 W 20 to 05 W 05 VV 10 R. August to Dec. (inclusive)... 35 to 40 S August to Dec. " ..35 to 40 S Sept. to Dec. " . . 35 to 40 S. * And in Be!» ing's Straits

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZ18520204.2.7

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 606, 4 February 1852, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,513

RIGHT WHALING GROUND: SOUTH PACIFIC. New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 606, 4 February 1852, Page 2

RIGHT WHALING GROUND: SOUTH PACIFIC. New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 606, 4 February 1852, Page 2

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