CO885-(23-24) — Page 278

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

mwi mhimiCO. 885

23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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for sperm whales. Again some difficulty was experienced in locating the and feeding grounds. On the whole, however, the operations may be considered as having been fairly successful, 98 Sperm whales, of which 70 were males and 28 females, being captured to the end of December.

The total take of oil during the season amounted to 7,800 barrels (1 barrel-4 gallons, 6 barrels reckoned equal to 1 ton of 2,240lbs.) of an approximate value of £22,000. In addition to this a small parcel of ambergris was obtained from one or two of the sperm whales, but I am not in a position to give the value of this. The value of the whaling fleet is estimated at £80,000, and during the season on an aver- age 115 men were employed.

As you are aware, under the terms of exclusive whaling licences as granted in this State it becomes necessary for those concerned to, within a certain period, erect a station or stations for the treatment of the carcasses-after the blubber has been removed of the whales taken, and, as far as practicable, the products of such treat- ment, such as fertiliser, bonemeal, etc., are to be disposed of within the State. When we take into consideration the fact that each carcass will, roughly, produce (4) four tons of excellent fertiliser, worth about £7 per ton, and during one successful season's fishing about 300 whales would be taken, it is obvious that once these stations become established, not only the company but the State is likely to reap considerable benefit from this industry. Whilst I do not profess to be au fait with the requirements of the agriculturists, orchardists, etc., as far as assistance to the soil is concerned, I am of opinion that, particularly in the heavier and moister soils of the South-West, the whale fertiliser or guano will prove of considerable value.

In the light of recent operations with modern appliances, it is of considerable interest to read extracts dealing with whale fishing operations, taken from the news- napers of the early days of the State-as far back as the year 1837, when hand appliances and rowing boats were almost exclusively used. By the courtesy of Mr. J. J. East, I am in a position to place the following extracts, with the dates of the papers from which they were taken, before you :—

Whaling Notes.

Extracted from the Perth newspapers of the early days of the Colony. 1837-Perth Gazette, 13th August:-

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First whale caught in Cockburn Sound on Saturday, 10th June; yielded The carcase was brought up to the jetty and four tons of oil and whalebone.

cut up by the two companies concerned in the capture.' 1837-Perth Gazette, 12th August:

"A whale killed a man just outside Arthur Head at Fremantle while engaged in killing the animal."

1841-Inquirer, 1st September:-

"First whale of this season caught a few hundred yards from Fremantle on Monday, 30th August, by the crew of the Government schooner Napoleon.'" 1842-Inquirer, 3rd August :-

Ex

Whaling at Augusta.-A correspondent furnishes report of the doings of whalers in this favourite ground of 'bay-fishing' for this season up to end of June."

Date

February 10

April 28

April 23

May 2 to June 7

June 7

May 28

May 12

Results.

Ship.

Captain.

Tonnage

Oil Barrels.

Sperm Barrels.

"Iris "

"Chelsea"

"Montezuma

"Gold Hunter "

"Frederick Huth

Woods Toby

345

Arrived from Cape Town)

"Adeline"

Gray

Douglas

250

Potta...

896

850 Blk. Oil

Baker

424

1,500

"

"Connectiout"

Crocker

"Mentor "'*

Chester

William Baker

GiBord

"Julius Cæsar"

Gibson

"Camilla "

Gardner

"Addison"

West ...

May 19

June 5

May-June

May 28 June 29

* Came into the Bay with two pintles broken; repaired them and caught all her catch inside the

Bay itself.

898

1,190 11

200

460

2,100

"1

220

100

960

1,175 Blk. Oil

260

(From Hobart)

GO

426

500

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"Nearly the whole of these valuable cargoes were procured in the Bay itself, and Augusta Bay is only one of the many Western Australian bays fre- quented and exploited by the Americans. All the foregoing ships, save two, came from America. Our correspondent further states that--1839: Two United States whalers took 30 whales in Augusta Bay. 1840: (Winter) whalers from Hobart and Ann took 31 whales in Augusta Bay. 1841 Camilla Perry from United States killed 27 within the bay and chased many more outside the bay in open ocean waters.

This season has been equally successful at King George's Sound, Two People Bay, and Vasse.

At least 50 American whalers are on this coast for every one of our own nation. In fact there have been but three English whalers at Fremantle for the past two years.

“Each whaling ship at Augusta took on an average two tons of vegetables locally grown, besides milk and butter, and fresh meat; though the population is but one family and their descendants.

"This season has been unusually stormy, with much rain and hail." 1843-Inquirer, 30th August :-

"The Fremantle Whaling Company killed three whales during last week. Two of them they towed in and the third was recovered dead on the North Beach next day.

1844-Inquirer, 15th May:

L

Whaling at Vasse.-The Charles Edward' and the Halcyon' have come in to arrange winter quarters. The latter vessel has already 800 barrels

of right-whale oil and the 'Charles Edward' has 1,300 barrels.'

1844-Inquirer, 26th June:-

"London prices by mail: Southern black oil, £26 to £37 per ton; sperm,

£76 to £78; whalebone, £240."

1844 Inquirer, 6th November

41

Whaling on South coast.-A Tasmanian brig has taken 1,000 barrels from Two People Bay."

1845-Inquirer, 13th September

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Heavy snow on Albany road at Kojonup on 19th August; took two days

to melt.'

1845-Inquirer, 13th September :-

Whaling at Fremantle.-Mr. Curtis' party captured another whale on Monday last, realising now altogether 30 tons of oil and a considerable quantity of whalebone. Other parties have so far failed this season, but there is still time to catch up before the season ends."

1845-Inquirer, 20th September :-

Two whales and two calves (last year calves) were caught in Gage Roads

on 17th. The two cows gave nine tons and the calves two tons of oil each, or a total value of £600."

1846-Inquirer, 8th August:-

"Third whale caught at Fremantle this season. has still two months to run."

1846-Perth Gazette, 22nd August:-

The season for whales

"200 sperm whales in one school entered Geographe Bay on 14th August. Sperm whales in soundings is an occurrence seldom seen. 21 of them were cap- tured and three others killed. They were all small but worth in all some £3,500.

"On 16th August a large right-whale was caught at Bunbury and on the 18th a humpback at Fremantle. A shark and a thresher ate most of the hump off while the whale was being towed in. Mr. Bateman killed the shark, which was 16ft. in length.

"The estimated return for this season is 200 tons.'

20th November, 1913.

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FRED ALDRICH,

Chief Inspector of Fisheries.