WHALING.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 31, 10 May 1845, Page 2

WHALING.

We were very much interested in perusing in a recent number of the Sydney Morning Herald, the Report of the Committee of the House of Congress on the American whale-fisheries. — From this document we learn that there are 650 American vessels* tonnaging 193,000 tons, and manned by 116^000 officers and men engaged in these fisheries, and of this number 360 are employed in the spermaceti, and the remaining 290 vessels, in the common whale-fishery. The bare enunciation of this fact would be sufficient to -convey an idea of the value and importance of the trade ; but the elaberate statements in* this report, of -the -cost of the outfit and equipment of these vessels on each voyage, tend more dearly to show how valuable and important such a trade is to a new country. The whole value of the ships and outfit, as they sail, is estimated at d 01.20 , 120,000. The proceeds or imports from the fishery in 1841 — of sperm oil, right whale oil, and whalebone,, were of the estimated value of d.7,359,022. The total value of the stores required for these vessels on each voyage, amount to d.10,610,060, and of this large sum only onefourth is expended on articles not the produce of the United States. To shew the particular interests affected by the fisheries, we enumerate a few_of the items t — Salt beef and pork, flour, corn, and beans, d. 1,94 1,675 ; potatoes, cheese, butter, and dried apples, d. 116,480; whaleboats and oars, d.221,000 ; cordage and whale lines, t0w,&c.,d.745,200; heavy sail-cloth, d.47 1,000; light do., d. 133,200; 1,300,000 brls. of ironhooped casks, d. 1,820,000. The first reflection which naturally suggests itself, is that this wealth of the waters in the pursuit of which the Americans have hitherto, of all other nations, been the most successful, lies at our own doors. Why should we not increase our- efforts to obtain as large a share as possible of this wealth ? It is true that the whale-fishery is successfully prosecuted on this coast by means of shore parties ; but we think it capable of much greater extension, and that the plan of whaling by means of fast-sailing vessels, of from 120 to 200 tons, built expressly for the trade, would be found to be at once the moot economical, and the most remunerating. In comparing our facilities for the trade with those of other nations, it is obvidus that English, French, or American whalers, must perform a tedious voyage of more than four months before they reach the whaling grounds, and after the vessel is full, the same time must be

c consumed on their return to their respective l- ports. A whaler of 300 tons is usually-manned i- % with thirty men, or double the usual crew of a c merchant vessel of the same tonnage. A o whaling voyage is supposed to last three years: For nine months then, or during one-fourth of the time these vessels are out of port, here is an expense incurred in provisions, stores, wages, wear and tear of vessels, insurance, &c, in which there would be a clear gain to us in carrying on the whale-fisheries in vessels fitted out from New Zealand ports. That this plan has not already been adopted here, may be chiefly accounted for from the harassing nature of the different questions connected with the occupation of the land, and our relations with the natives, the unsettled state of which grievously obstructs the settlers' progress, and impedes the advancement of the colony. Another reason may be found in the imbecility of our present Governor, and the sudden changes in the laws and regulations affecting commerce, whichhave been made by him, with a precipitation and recklessness only to be equalled by his profound ignorance of the subject, and his inability to foresee the consequences of his own acts. These causes combined'/ have produced an embarrassment felt by all classes, and fatal to the: successful prosecution of any new branch of commercial enterprize. To these may be added the fact, that the advantages of such a plan have never yet been distinctly explained, or urged upon the attention of the settlers with that weight the importance of the subject demands. Let us enumerate a few of them : — It often occurs that when a whale runs off to sea, to a greater distance than is considered prudent to follow in boats from a shore party, the pursuit is abandoned, and the fish is lost ; or even when the fish is killed some twenty miles from shore, and must be towed by the boats to the station, from heavy weather or other causes the fish is frequently lost ; but these accidents could not occur to fast-sailing vessels fitted for the whalefishery. Another advantage attending this plan would be, that as soon as the vessel engaged in fishing was full, she would Immediately return to port, unload, and again resume her station on the whaling grounds ; there would be but one loading and unloading of the oil at the shipping port, thereby saving the expense of the coasting vessels employed for this purpose, amounting to the same tonnage throughout the season as the whaling vessel. It is calculated by those conversant with the subject, that a whaler of the proposed tonnage, with three boats, should catch as much oil during the season as two of the best stations with four boats each. In confirmation of this statement, it may ]?e mentioned that two parties, who had previously whaled with nine boats at their stations to the southward for about eight or nine years, in 1842 commenced whaling with two small schooners, each with two boats, and though these vestels are not adapted for whaling on the coast, the owners find it so much more to their advantage, that they now take more oil with four boats than they formerly did with nine at their two stations, which they have in consequence abandoned. It should also be borne in mind, that the shore parties can only be carried on during six months in the year, but when the season for fishing the right whale is over, these vessels can be, employed in the sperm whale fisheries ; by this means the best crews would be secured, from the certainty of employment, and superior cnances of success. Another advantage belonging to this plan is to be found in the fact that the best ground for whaling is along the east coast of the Southern Island, from Stewart's Island to Cook's Straits, within fifty miles of the coast. An advantage peculiar to this plan is, that while the man of capital and large resources may embark singly, to any extent, in the trade, it is competent for persons of smaller means to unite, and by their joint efforts to fit out one or more vessels. This practice obtains in Van Dieman's Land, where the whale fishery is earned on in the manner we have described, it prevails extensively in the United States, and in other countries. M'Culloch informs us that formerly " the private ships sent by the Dutch to the whale fishery were fitted out on a principle that secured the utmost economy and vigilance on the part of every one connected with them. The hull of the vessel was furnished by an individual, who commonly took upon himself the office of captain; a sail-maker supplied the sails, a cooper the casks, &c. The parties engaged as adventurers in the Undertaking. The cargo being brought to Holland and disposed of, each person shared in the produce according to his proportion of the outfit. The crew was hired on the same principle ; so that every one had a motive to exert himself, to see that all unnecessary expenses were avoided, and that those that were necessary, were confined within the narrowest limits." What should prevent the settlers of New Zealand from engaging heartily in this pursuit ? The country offers alMae requisites for building and equipping a vessenS abundantly and as cheaply as any of the adjacent colonies. Several companies might be formed of persons who would agree together to equip one vessel, and entrust the management of the enterprize to some one of the number in whose prudence and capacity they could repose implicit confidence. This would excite a spirit of competition, which would cause' increased prudence in

the management, and more strenuous efforts to insure success, and the result would be, that the best manager would gradually find the greatest amount of means placed at his disposal It is only necessary to refer to the items extracted from the American report to show what a powerful stimulus, this branch of industry would offer to agricultural pursuits, but there are sorafe other considerations which should not be lost sight of. The first, the principal pursuit in a newly settled country like New Zealand is agriculture, manufactures can only follow after a long interval, when the country becomes thickly inhabited. Among a recent people, not hardened into manhood, where labour is dear, and capital deficient, the attempt to co»pete with the practised skill and experience of the mother country, with the abundant and cheap means of production caused by division of labour and command of capital would be hopeless. But some manufactures, peculiar to this country, would be fostered by the plan we have been, advocating, in which we may shortly hope to compete successfully with other countries. In the estimates from which we have quoted, we find the value of iron hooped casks equal to one-sixth, the . cordage, , whale fiAes,«|anvass,&c.to pne eighth the wholeamount of stores. The demand for casks, which has been very inadequately supplied from England, has already given active employment to the coopers in this settlement. As the demand increases, the trade will extend, competition will improve the article and reduce the price. The manufacture of lard as an export which, we have no doubt will be successfully and extensively carried on, will also give an additional impetus to this trade. But in the manufacture of whale lines, canvass, &c, we have a peculiar advantage. The flax is the indigenous product of this country, and it requires only a little more labour and experience on our part to render it one of our staple exports. We are satisfied that the discovery of the best and cheapest method of preparing flax will be made sooner by preparing it for manufacture here, than by sending it to England to be experimented upon. Let any one who doubts this, visit Mr. Clifford's manufactory for sacking and canvass, which gives constant employment to thirty persons. Let them examine the rude efforts of a first trial, and compare them with the more finished productions of a few months' experience, and then say if an increased demand, and increased competition will sot still further stimulate ingenuity in effecting improvements, and in perfecting the preparation of the raw material. From what has been stated, we have seen that the extension of the whale fisheries, by means of small vessels expressly built and fitted for the trade, will have the effect, not duly of greatly, benefiting the agricultural interest^ %M 2Ho l 'g?' developing the other resources of, this country. When we point to the example of America, we -do not vainly presume to equal her success. ' Many years of untiring energy, of unwearied devotion to this pursuit has raised her to her present proud pre-eminence. But emulous of her reputation, we may follow in her track. We must also remember that in prosecuting with ardour the whale fisheries, we shall obtain another incidental advantage. Port Nicholson would naturally become the resort of whalers of other nations, who would by preference frequent that port in New Zealand, from which the whale fisheries were carried on to the greatest extent, as that in which they were likely to obtain the necessary supplies at the most reasonable rate. For many of the practical suggestions we have offered we are indebted to Mr. Mathieson, and we are happy to acknowledge the obligation, as it gives us the opportunity of stating that we have not indulged in mere speculation, but have attempted to advance views which he is prepared to carry out, and his character and practical experience in ship building well entitle his suggestions to be received with attention. In fine, we do not know of any speculation which has so many advantages to recommend it, which is so calculated to advance the interests of the colony, or to which we more heartily wish success.