NEW ZEALAND WHALE FISHERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 962, 7 May 1870, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND WHALE FISHERY.

[SoiitJiland News. ) ! The comparative ecaroity of whales in I these seas, so famous but a few years ago as the resort of countless herds of those valuable animals, has been often the subject of remark. Their disappearance has been variously accounted for, although observers generally are agreed on one main pomt — viz., that in technical phrase, the whaling grounds have been over fished. The disturbance caused t>y steamers, and the failure of ".whale food " are also feasible theories, but their verification is confessedly difficult. The diminution of fish in a river is usually readily traceable, because the field of, observation is so limited as to allow of close investigation ; but when the falling off ocours in the ocean (albeit whales are not "fish" in a scientific sense, although commonly and conveniently so-called) its vastneas almost baffles research, or, at best, renders the process both tedious and laborious. The importance of the ,whale " fishery," from a New Zealand point of view, has, however, impelled some of our colonial savants to take up the subject, in order, if possible, to evolve some means of counteracting .the destructive agencies of which the effeots are so plainly manifest. The Otago Institute, for instance, recently drew up a series of questions— copies ofj which were sent to persons resident in different parts of the colony, understood to be in a position to collect replies from the many "old whalers " who, since the decline of their favourite industry, have Bottled down to other occupations The queries are — 1. What has caused the great disappearance of the whale from the New Zealand shores during the past few years ? Has it been due to its destruction whilst visiting the shores and bays during the breeding season? If this be the fact, could not something be done for the encouragement of whaling enterprise, by exacting that this season be a Btrictly " close " one, and that it be a penal offenoe to hunt or destroy the whale at this important time ? 2. At what time of the year do they visit the bays for this purpose ? 3. Do they visit the shores and bays for this purpose solely ? 4. Are th<-y accompanied at this time by the bulls? 5. How long do they remain in these beeding grounds with their calves before repairing to the deep _ waters? G. How long do the cows suckle their young ? In what proportion to each O .her were bull and cow whales caught during a successful season ? Mr Theophilus Daniel, M. P.0., an old resident at Riverton — a port formerly much frequented by whalers — to whom was entrusted the task of gleaning nformation on these points from experts located in that district, has courteously placed in our hands for perusal the evidence c succeeded in collecting ; and seeing hat from the geographical position of this province, whaling ought to hold a leading place among industrial enterprise, we ' need make no apology for placing before our readers such extracts as appear of interest. The witnesses examined were six in number — thorough veterans all — the youngest having began his whaling career some 30 years, and the oldest 53 years ago. Giving precedence to seniority, we shall .commence .; with that of Mr- John Lidiard, who started on his 1 first voyage out of London in the year 1817, in the employ of the Messrs. Enderby 8r05.., and subsequently (dovn to 1850) joined shore parties in he pursuit of black whales at different whaling stations, from Preservation Inlet to Banks Peninsula. He believes ' that over fishing drove ' away the whales j and in support of this view states that one season (183*>) no less than 22' boats used to go out of Otago 'each morning ; as many as 15 to 20 out of New River ; aa many more out of the Bluff ; from four to eight boats .out of other stations, and over 100 from Cloudy Bay and Queen Charlotte's Sound. Besides this extensive shore fishery, over 300, sail of shipping plied the whaling trade off the coast, chiefly Americans, w^th a sprinkling of English, French, and Sydney vessels. Their busy time began at the close of the bay season, and it is therefore not difficult to understand how whaled became scarce.' Their destruction was further accelerated by a peculiarity attaching to the fish about every alternate one struck sinking beyond hope of recovery when killed. Capt. John Howell, whose first experience of the New Zealand whale-fishery dates from 1831, gives evsn stronger testimony as to the enormoua force brought to bear on the doomed cetaceans, when he says :—": — " I, have known many 6f the ships to lose from 10 to 12 whales in' a day' by sinking." Messrs W. Thomas. T. Grey, T. Brown, and G.- -Davis* give very similar evidence.' The opinion' almost unanimously expressed is that • the .bay' fishery alone ' would not have exter-" initiated the fish. Mr Davis very pointedly ' says :—": — " If the bay fishing were to_ ceaae, it would only, be givina greater inducement, ito the .off-shore fishers, on whom it would be practioally impossible to enforce any restrictions." With regard to the habits of £he whale, the witnesses are agreed that in ,May, June, and July, the cows come inshore alone — that the calf is nursed by the cow until at least it is twelve months old — and lastly, that the number of cows was, at > least, threefold (some of the witnesses say tenfold) that of the males. On i the whple, therefore, the enquiry thus far . cannot be said to open up any means of - renewing the stock of whales, but leads Bimply to the ( conclusion that the exterminating process is likely to continue so long as it remains profitable. A temporary, abandonment of the "hunting grounds" would preserve • "the fish, '• but from their" slow rate of increase, years must elapso before they become as numerous aa of yore.