FISHERIES.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume I, Issue 15, 18 July 1840, Page 3

FISHERIES.

The southern whale fishery consists of three distinct branches; first, that of the spermaceti whale; second, that of the common black whale of the southern seas; and third, that of the sea elephant, or southern walrus. The spermaceti, and black whale, both frequent the coasts of New Zealand. An interesting statement of the extent to which the southern whale fishery has been earned on from the year 1800 to 1834, will be found in the " Supplement to Macculloch'a Commercial Dictionary, (December, 1836.) It appears that, in 1834, (a year below the average of preceding years,) there were 126 ships engaged in the trade, of an average tonnage of 390 tons, and with an average crew of thirty-six men to each ship. There were imported 6731 tons of sperm oil of the price of £65 per ton, and 2543 tons of common oil at £2.'} per ton, since which, prices have, we believe, considerably risen. The total value of these imports was <£496,0U4. It appears also from the work quoted that the Americans carry on the southern whale-fishery to a very considerable extent, having had no less than 273 ships engaged in it in the year 1534 The French also participate in this fishery in a less degree. — Ward's New Zealand.