this coast, and in a twelve-month period have reported only four humpbacks, of which two were probably south-bound. It therefore appears to be reasonably certain that the main group of humpbacks seen so frequently further south must leave the coast at a point somewhere near Jacksons Bay and then continue to the north or north-west in a line which takes them outside the waters traversed by coastal shipping. Along the west coast of the North Island (Fig. 1) sightings are almost certainly those of whales which came north through Cook Strait as described earlier. The migration through these waters is the most widely known feature of whale movements near New Zealand, and it has been known to whalers for nearly a century and a-half. The earliest catches in the vicinity were taken from whaling vessels, and the first shore station, established in Tory Channel in 1827, was the forerunner of a large number on either side of Cook Strait between 1830 and 1850. In Port Underwood (formerly termed Cloudy Bay) at least eight shore stations operated, while many whale ships worked in the area at the same time. Approximately five sites were used inside the entrance to Tory Channel (see Fig. 1, Nos. 24–36), and on the northern side of the Strait there were stations established at Te Korohiwa (south of Porirua Harbour), inside Porirua Harbour, on Mana Island and each of the three larger islets on the landward side of Kapiti Island, three on the eastern shores of Kapiti Island and one at the mouth of the Wanganui River (see Fig. 1, Nos. 103–112). No early logs specifically mentioning the species taken from the shore stations have been located and although it is clear from the amounts of whalebone exported that right whales were a major part of the catch, it is also clear from Townsend (1935) Chart D that American whaleships in the same waters were frequently taking humpbacks between May and August. Their catches of right whales on either side of Cook Strait also occurred in these months, being greatest in July, but catches continued three months later than for humpbacks. Contemporary data for humpbacks confirm that from the American whaleships, but also show that these whales tend to travel relatively close inshore at the southern portion of the North Island. Sightings from the Brothers lighthouse were: May (1), June (18), July (16), August (2), while from Stephens Island lighthouse, 40 miles to the north-west, there were only two sightings in May and one in August during the same period. Fishermen operating from Porirua Harbour frequently encounter humpbacks near Mana and Kapiti Islands during the above months, but apart from two humpback strandings in August near the mouth of the Manawatu River and two July sightings by Mr. F. Abernethy offshore from Wanganui, there is little specific data on the passage between Kapiti Island and Cape Egmont, and all returns from a lighthouse at the latter were negative. However, the principal keeper at Cape Egmont wrote saying that “owing to the lack of altitude and the general unfavourable outlook seaward, the chances of whales passing being sighted are very small” North of Cape Egmont the coastline curves east into the North Taranaki Bight and several fishermen from New Plymouth work in this area from shore to 20 miles seaward as far north as Kawhia. Two of these, Mr. R. C. Rutherford and Mr. D. J. Holmes, have reported sightings of south-bound whales, but no definite sightings of north-bound whales from May to August. Only one small shore station was established between Cape Egmont and the most northern portion of the North Island coast. It was situated near the Sugar Loaf Rocks (see Fig. 1, No. 113), New Plymouth, and operated in the 1840's. According to Weeke's Journal of 1841 (Rutherford & Skinner 1940), whales were not seen from this station until the end of June. He describes successful hunting by the whalers in July and August, but does not describe the species caught, and while he refers to the trying out of oil, he makes no mention of collecting whalebone which was quite often the only product saved by right whalers at shore stations.