The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-09-09
The whaling Flee. and wh.,er., Bills.

Several weeks ago, when noticing the first news
received from the Kodiack, we ventured to pre-
diet that the whaling season at this port would
begin somewhat earlier than in former years.
Already fifteen vessels have arrived at this port
and Lahaina. The fact that the ships which
cruised last season on the New Zealand ground
did well, has had a tendency to hasten the de-
parture of some vessels from the Kodiack Sea as
soon as the whales became scarce, and NAV also
bring some from the Arctic. so that ships intend
ing to cruise on New Zealand may be able to
reach that ground in season, whales being most
abundant there from October to February.
The reports which we publish to-day from the
Arctic are very unsatisfactory, though early in
the season. The season in this sea is from July
to September 3Oth, and it is very likely that the
month of August may change the character of
the reports. Capt. Lowen's report shows a
larger number of vessels in that sea than was
generally supposed. As near as can be deter
mined from reports received, the northern fleet
has been dispersed as follows
On Kodiack Ground, about. 40 vessels.
In Bhering and Arctic Seas, about .......... .5 do.
in Ochotsk and neighboring Seas, about. ...... 100 do.
From the latter fleet no report has yet been
received, and we are justified in allowing the
above number to it. In another part of this
paper will be found a complete list Of the
North fleet of whalers expected here this fall,
numbering in all 233 vessels, including one
known to have been lost.
Up to the 9th inst, we have had fifteen arri-
walls from the North. The same number did not
arrive last year till the 9th of October, or one
month later. The first fifteen arrivals this season
report 7.450 bbls. this seasons catch, or an aver
age of 497 bbls. to each vessel. We give below
the average for the first fifteen whalers from the
Northern ground for the three previous years
ls57-lS vessels averaged. TO bills
is5o-io do do. do.
1s93-l5 do do do.
The early return of the Kodiack fleet in 1856,
which had done poorly, somewhat resembled this
seasons report. In 1857 and 1855, the early
arrival Of some large fares from the Arctic and
Ochotsk. makes the average given above appear
large. To say the least, the reports thus far this
year look atdiscouraging,a and we can only
hope that the next will be better.
In our reports of the Arctic feet, it will be
seen that some vessels are reported with "trip
and "muscle-diggers." These are the
same species as are found in Margarita Bay, and
are also called California greys.' They are a
small whale, and average about twenty-five bbls.
each. Their oil is said to be inferior to that of
the Arctic whale. The only vessel reported lost
thus far, is the French ship Napoleon, lost in
May, near the Bhering Straits. A number of
vessels have been damaged by the ice.
The report Of Russian interference with our
fleet again comes to us, but until we re-
ceive more definite information than has come to
hand, WI can place but little reliance on the
reports. Capt. Pontius, Of bark Caroline, from
informs us that the whaleship Contest
had been boarded by a Russian man-ofwar
steamer, (probably the Voaock, the same vessel
from which the story emanated last year. and
had been warned from trading with the natives
for furs, and from whaling within a distance of
threc leagues from the shore. The Captain of
The steamer inform captain Ludlow that the
Russians had quite q number of war vessels in the
Ochotsk Sea, and intended to prevent American
from catching whales in the hays ON
he Siberian coast- The steamer mentioned was
to the Ochotsk, and from thence inko,ths
Ocean, Had there been any decided i'm
e~rference with the mounnents Of American
Rhnlorn IN e;kh~ n khooo sa,s ~ uhn,,1I uk~%i