These stations were established prior to 1840 and worked for an average of three seasons each, ranging from one to six. Catches in the opening season, as calculated from oil yields, ranged from about 10 to 25 whales per station, but diminished at each until the stations closed down in turn, and the total number of whales taken from all these stations was probably less than 300. As there is no mention of humpbacks in this catch it is presumed that all were right whales which evidently came closer inshore than do humpbacks. Even in the 15 to 20 miles offshore belt covered by trawlers, humpback sightings have been relatively few up to Otago Peninsula (Captain J. Black) except for the 1954 season. Between Otago and Banks Peninsula the only manned lighthouse is at Moeraki, but no humpbacks were seen inshore at this point during three and a-half years. Mr. F. Abernethy, who was on coastal vessels for seven years travelling south past Akaroa in a direct line for Otago Peninsula and then returning north inshore along the coast to Oamaru and Timaru stated that humpbacks were frequently sighted on the direct route—i e., travelling outside Canterbury Bight, but they were very seldom seen inshore along the coast of Canterbury Bight. In the nineteenth century the whaling station sites along this coast south of Akaroa were located at Taiaroa (this was in Otago Harbour, but there is some evidence that at least two, and probably three, “fisheries” operated in this harbour), Purakanui, Waikouaiti (now Karitane) and Onekaraka (near Moeraki) according to Shortland (1851), and at Patiti Point, Caroline Bay (Timaru), Goashore (Ohahoa), Ikarangi, Peraki and Island Bay with the four latter all situated on the south coast of Banks Peninsula. (See Fig. 1, Nos. 11–19.) Like the whalers further south, those from the above stations were catching chiefly right whales, which came closer inshore here also than do the humpbacks to-day. From the Taiaroa station about 300 right whales were taken in nine years, but at least 100 more were taken in the same area by visiting whaleships, while more than 300 (calculated from data in Shortland, 1851) were taken in a six-year period from Waikouaiti and Onekaraka, which are both situated west of the route followed by the humpbacks. From Peraki, humpbacks were occasionally seen as they were mentioned in Hemplemann's log

(Anson 1910), but apparently were not hunted at the time of this station's full scale operations 1837–1843.

There are two manned lighthouses on Banks Peninsula, one on its outer coast (Akaroa) and the other well inside Pegasus Bay at the entrance to Lyttelton Harbour (Godley Head). From the former one north-bound humpback was noted in May, twelve in June, and 37 in July, while none were seen from Godly Head. In the coastal waters up to 10 miles offshore from Banks Peninsula a number of fishing vessels operate, and from one of these Mr. L. M. Chapman has reported some of his own and his colleagues' observations. These include regular sightings of one to three per day of north-bound humpbacks along the outer coast during June and July with small numbers in August, and the latest sighting reported was August 12. Humpbacks were observed between 100 yards off the coast up to 10 miles east, which was as far out as the vessels travelled.

Between Banks Peninsula and Kaikoura there are no manned lighthouses, and there have been no records of close inshore whale sightings by coastal vessels. Mr. F. Abernethy states that on the course from Wellington or past Cape Campbell to Lyttelton, whales are rarely seen inshore to Pegasus Bay but further offshore in a line passing to the east of Banks Peninsula, humpbanks are encountered between May and August. There were former whaling stations for possibly only a season or so at Port Cooper (Lyttelton Harbout) and another for several seasons in the mid-1840's at Motunou Island in Pegasus Bay, but both were catching right whales.

In the Kaikoura region (Fig. 1, 22 and 23) whaling commenced in 1843 at Waiopuka on the Kaikoura Peninsula, and humpbacks formed the greater part of the catch in that year at least (Wade 1842–6). In the following year shore stations were started at South Bay (also on the Peninsula), at Waipapa to the north and at Amui to the South, while a site at O te Rangi Uni Wai (between Amuri and Kaikoura) was used later for a number of years (Watts 1930). No indication of the species caught from the latter sites has yet been obtained. At Kaikoura Peninsula and Goose Bay, 12 miles south-west, whaling was carried on into the 20th century. Ex-whalers state that humpbacks were the main catch at least between 1890 and the closing of the Kaikoura station in 1922. The only records of actual catches taken are for the years 1917–1922, when light launches harpooned 74 whales, of which 68 were humpbacks, five were right whales and one a sperm whale. Many more humpbacks were, and still are, sighted in the area, and the station was abandoned only because of lack of shelter for light chasers.

Fishermen working off Kaikoura in 1954 sighted up to 30 humpbacks per day at the time when sightings of this order were being made from the Tory Channel lookout. From Kaikoura for some distance northwards towards Cape Campbell there are frequent reports from observers on coastal shipping, fishing vessels and aircraft, and nearly all the reports are of whales within a mile or so of the general trend of the coast. Near Cape Campbell, all the evidence available indicates that humpbacks move further out from the coast. The sightings from the Cape Campbell lighthouse during four years were negligible, and fishermen who trawl regularly nearby do not see humpbacks even on days when 20 or more are being sighted further north in Cook Strait. From the lookout at the entrance of Tory Channel the great majority of humpbacks are seen coming to Cook Strait from the south-east, and it is so exceptional to see one approaching along the coast from Cape Campbell and past Cloudy Bay that there can be no doubt that the stock which move up past Kaikoura detour away from the coast before entering Cook Strait. In this area, the total number of humpbacks recorded by the Tory Channel whalers during 36 seasons has been approximately 5,000.

In addition, a few right whales are still seen occasionally from the lookout, and it has been noted that these follow the coastline much more closely than do humpbacks, and they usually approach Cook Strait from along the coast of Cloudy Bay.

In the 1830's and 1840's intensive right whaling was carried on from vessels anchored in Cloudy Bay. At the same time other vessels operated in and about Port Underwood nearby, and the small bays within had up to eight shore parties engaged in catching right whales, while other parties from Tory Channel took part in the same coastal sector (see Fig. 1, Nos. 24–36). Whaling from Tory Channel has persisted until the present day, but before the end of the nineteenth century the decline in right whales had led to a change over to humpbacks.

The data from the east coast of the South Island indicates that humpbacks travel in a relatively straight line between headlands and only occasionally come close inshore into the bays and bights (Fig. 1). Very helpful co-operation from the Royal New Zealand Air Force provided some opportunities to investigate this question by taking the writer and another observer (B. M. Bary) on flights from Wigram Aerodrome (Christchurch) to Kaikoura in the north and Timaru in the south. For four days in mid-July, 1949, the navigational flights were arranged to traverse waters 20 to 50 miles from the coast, flying between 800 to 1,000 feet altitude at a speed of approximately 110 m.p.h. Under the dull lighting conditions of those days, it was not possible to see whales except at the surface, which reduced possible sightings to those of whales actually spouting at the time the plane was passing overhead. On July 17, two humpbacks were seen about 60 miles north-east of Banks Peninsula—i.e., about 50 miles east of the nearest coast. On July 18 two were seen 25 miles north-east of Banks Peninsula, so these two sets of observations showed that some whales, at least, were travelling north further offshore instead of turning west past Banks Peninsula to follow the coastline closely. No whales were observed during our flights offshore between Banks Peninsula and Timaru, but two interesting sightings in this area were reported by the R.N.Z.A.F. pilots in April, 1950. The first was on April 11, which was the earliest date recorded for a whale in that year and was over a month earlier than the first capture of a whale near Tory Channel, in 1950. The whale was sighted at 44° 50′ S./171° 40′ E., and was heading northwards, while on April 13 “2 or 3” were observed “4 miles S.E. of the Rakaia River mouth” and were also heading northwards. A school of approximately 20 was sighted further east on the same day, but these were probably sperm whales. Both the probable humpback records were inside the Canterbury Bight, and the second sighting was relatively close to shore in a position from which the whale would have to travel about 50 miles to the east in order to pass Banks Peninsula. These whales, at least, had tended to come in towards the coast even at a point which would necessitate a deviation to the east before the course northwards could be resumed further on.

The most striking feature of the humpback movement along the east coast of the South Island is the apparent increase in the number of whales sighted from Port Pegasus, Stewart Island, up to Cook Strait. As the west to east slope of this coast extends through nearly seven degrees of longitude, this increase could well be due to north-bound whales striking at various points up the coast and then being necessarily deflected along it where they join other whales which had originally been travelling some distance further east. On reaching Cook Strait the majority pass through to travel off the west coast of the North Island, but the further course of these whales will be discussed later.

Along the southern coast of the North Island few humpbacks are seen close inshore, and in the 36 and 43 monthly returns from the Pencarrow and Baring Head lighthouses respectively only one humpback (in July) was reported. Further offshore in this area they are seen, and the master of the inter-island ferry “Rangitira” has reported numerous sightings about six miles to the south-west of Baring Head—i.e., on the eastern approaches to Cook Strait, while several Wellington fishermen have reported a number of sightings to the south of Karori Rocks, which are still closer to the Strait. These whales were probably deflected to the west by the coastline and would also tend to pass through Cook Strait, where the local whalers sometimes see considerable numbers moving along the eastern side of the Strait.

From between Baring Head and Cape Palliser there is as yet no evidence as to whether humpbacks go west through Cook Strait or turn east to travel up the east coast of the North Island, and although some humpbacks were taken from a station in Palliser Bay in 1843 (Wade 1842–1846) there is no indication of their direction of travel. The sightings of north-bound humpbacks from Cape Palliser lighthouse are as follows:—June (6), July (2), August (1), while three Wellington trawlers which operate along this coast as far north as Castlepoint have reported seeing humpbacks regularly from one to five miles offshore, between May and August, but there were only two June sightings reported from Castlepoint lighthouse.

There are no manned lighthouses between Castlepoint and Portland Island; at the northern end of Hawke Bay, but several trawler masters have provided some data on this portion of the coast, and some whaling was carried on from Mahia Peninsula until 1922, so a number of ex-whalers in the area were interviewed. Between a point some miles to the south of Cape Kidnappers and Mahia Peninsula, Mr. J. O. Tait and Mr. H. W. Forrest have reported humpbacks moving north singly or in pairs during the winter months (May to August). South of Cape Kidnappers the whales generally keep between five and ten miles offshore, and they do not usually follow the coast into Hawke Bay but many do strike the coast at its northernmost portion immediately west of Mahia Peninsula. From Portland Island, which is at the southern end of the Peninsula, almost all the sightings by lighthouse keepers were of whales from half a mile to two miles west of the island. Those specifically reported were as follows: May (2), June (14), and July (7), but coastal craft and ex-whalers state that there were “many more”. Whales travelling to the west of Portland Island meet a cul-de-sac made by a low-lying sandspit joining Mahia Peninsula to the North Island, and it is probable that until relatively recent times whales could have passed through a channel separating the two pieces of land, but they now have to turn back about 20 miles due south before they can round the peninsula and continue north. Most of the whales taken were caught at the head of the bay between Waikokopu and Mahia, and numerous small shore stations were situated in bays along the west coast of the peninsula. The whaling sites in addition to Waikokopu and Mahia included the following on Mahia Peninsula: Kinikini, Moimotu, Te Hoe, Te Kereru, Tauranganui and Portland Island (see Fig. 2, Nos. 49–56), and there is considerable doubt as to whether any were situated along the eastern coast of the peninsula. While right whales were taken in the mid-nineteenth century, Mr. Ra. Bartlett, one of the surviving whalers, informed me that humpbacks were the main catch in the late 19th century and up to the cessation of whaling in 1922. According to Mr. Bartlett, whaling was carried on from May to September, and he says that humpbacks can still be seen there at this time of year.

Inside and to the south of Hawke Bay there were nineteenth century whaling sites situated from south to north at the following: Tuingara (Pourere), Waimarama, Putotaranui, Rangaika (all south of Cape Kidnappers), Te Awanga, Clifton, Whakaari (near Tangoio Bluff), Moeangiangi, Mohaka, Whakamahia and Wairoa (all inside Hawke Bay), (see Fig. 1, Nos. 38–48). From the latter, right whales were the main catch, and this once again illustrates the manner in which this species penetrated close to shore along coastal indentations which tend to be by-passed by humpbacks.

Between Mahia Peninsula and Hicks Bay, the only manned lighthouse is at East Cape, but it does not face the open sea and is not satisfactory for whale observation. Mr. J. Bonica, who operates a trawler from Gisborne, has reported north-bound humpbacks along this whole coast in May and June. A number of observers have confirmed this and added sightings of humpbacks in July and August. Several exwhalers interviewed along this coast stated that humpbacks were taken as well as right whales from some, at least, of the abundant shore stations in this area during

the nineteenth century. Sites so far located from south to north are as follows: Turanganui, Waikahua, Papawharaiki, Tuahine Point (all Poverty Bay), Whangara, Pokatakino (south of Gable End Foreland), Tolaga Bay, Anaura, Te Mawhai, Tokomaru Bay, Waipiro Bay, Tuparoa, Port Awanui, Te Hekawa, Wharariki, Waipao (last three east of Te Araroa) and Matakaoa Point. (See Fig. 1, Nos. 57–73).

Once past East Cape and Hicks Bay, north-bound humpbacks which travelled due north would be at an increasing distance from land where sightings would be few, but a number must turn well to the west travelling offshore in the general trend of the coast as they have been seen from Cuvier Island lighthouse to the west of Bay of Plenty in May. A few only travel south-west for a sufficient distance to reach the head of the Bay of Plenty, and the numerous shore whaling stations in this area captured chiefly south-bound humpbacks later in the season.

According to Mr. Gilliver, who, when Inspector of Fisheries at Tauranga, patrolled the Bay of Plenty frequently, there is a regular stream of humpbacks which come round East Cape and pass inside White Island but outside Whale Island, and are therefore about five or more miles from the coast in water of 20 to 25. fathoms They pass close to the northern coast of Motiti Island and then on past Mayor Island and the Alderman Islands towards Cuvier Island and the Colville Channel. A similar course has been described independently by Messrs. Charles Mark, George Mark and W. Sampson, the masters of three trawlers which work in the area, and they all agree that humpbacks singly, in pairs or in a group of up to five per day are seen along this narrow strip of water but seldom any closer inshore and less frequently at greater distances outside than in the above route. For some years late in the nineteenth century, whaling occurred from sites near Mercury Bay, a little south of the Colville Channel. Mr. W. Wellington, who was fishing for several years north of Hauraki Gulf, states that he has observed humpbacks beyond the Colville Channel in June passing between the Barrier Islands travelling north-west towards Whangaruru and Cape Brett.

At Whangaruru whaling was carried on for a few seasons commencing in 1890 as well as at Whangamumu, about 15 miles further north. From the latter whaling continued until 1931, resulting in the catches as shown in Table I. The dates for whale sightings show that north-bound humpbacks pass these harbours mainly in June, July and August.

Former Whangamumu whalers informed me that whales approached from a south-easterly direction and usually neared the coast at or a little to the south of the station and then followed the coastline very closely. Advantage of this was taken in the period during which net whaling was carried out (1893–1910), by lashing together six wire nets, each 60 feet long, to extend across the channel between shore and a rock about 100 yards away. While the catch by this method seldom exceeded a dozen whales per season, it is of interest that nearly all the whales caught, according to a local whaler, were entangled in the net nearest shore and had thus funnelled into a channel of only 60 feet width. A log of the 1898 net whaling season was kept by the late Mr. George Cook, and his son, Mr. G. Cook, of Auckland, has kindly allowed me to examine it. It records sightings as well as captures, commencing on June 10 and ending on August 4, and during this period 117 humpbacks were seen from the coast. Of this number, 10 were travelling sufficiently near shore to foul the nets or be caught in them. From Net Rock and immediately beyond it the northward moving humpbacks veered out to Cape Brett, and while most travelled further offshore up the remaining portion of the North Island coast, humpbacks were taken from this coast until about 1904. There were stations operating with open boats from Matauri Bay and Cavalli Islands, Wainui Bay, Seasick Bay in Whangaroa Harbour and Stephensons Island at the entrance, Taupo, Waimahana and Taemaro Bays, Moturoa Island, Houhora, Parengarenga Harbour (in the 1850's), and at North Cape. (See Fig. 1, Nos. 91–102.) Fishermen and coastal vessels still frequently sight humpbacks along this coast.

Offshore to the north-east of North Cape, Townsend (1935) shows a concentration of humpback catches made during July, August and September by American whalemen. The catches in this area presumably represent those from the last northbound humpbacks to pass along the east coast of the North Island, but it is possible that humpbacks seen from Cape Reinga lighthouse in July had come west from North Cape.

During the months in which some north-bound humpbacks are following the course described above, others pass along parts of the west coast of the South Island and may possibly be joined by those which pass through Cook Strait to travel offshore to the west of the North Island (Fig. 1). The furthest south New Zealand locality from which data have been provided is Centre Island, situated near Riverton on a line running due north from the west coast of Stewart Island. There are no data available from this uninhabited coast of Stewart Island, but the fact that there have been numerous humpback sitings from Centre Island lighthouse and only one from Dog Island and other parts of Foveaux Strait at the same time of year strongly indicates that the whales near Centre Island must have approached from along the western coast of Stewart Island. Sightings recorded were as follows: May (70), June (104), July (38), August (6). These whales have to travel almost due west for about 60 miles before rounding Puysegur Point to continue northwards. From the lighthouse there, north-bound whales have been recorded in May (unspecified number), June (23), July (16), August (4), but it is clear from from returns from fishermen passing the area that many more humpbacks migrate past a few miles offshore beyond the range of visibility of the lighthouse keepers. Some of the whales even enter the southern fiords and travel well up Preservation Inlet and Dusky Sound before returning to continue north.

A shore station was started in Preservation Inlet (see Fig. 1, No. 1) in 1829 and for the years 1835 and 1836, 46 and 45 whales were taken respectively (Shortland 1851). Oil returns for the earlier seasons indicate that catches for these seasons were slightly less, but although the species are not named, descriptions of “treating whalebone” show that right whales were the main objective.

Large numbers of humpbacks were noted two miles outside Dusky Sound in mid-June, 1953, by Mr. J. Warcup, of Dunedin, and a number of observers from fishing vessels have noted humpbacks past Milford Sound and as far north as Jacksons Bay. Captain P. E. Charles has reported humpbacks in groups of up to a dozen at a time moving past Cascades and into Jacksons Bay, where he has observed them waving flippers out of the water and cruising about slowly for days on end. While he states that this has been noted regularly during his eight years travelling past this coast, he reports that humpbacks are very seldom seen north of Jacksons Bay.

I have obtained little positive data from along the remaining portion of the west coast. All 35 monthly returns from Kahurangi Point lighthouse near the northern end of this coast were negative, but the lighthouse is manned only part-time. The only other lighthouse is on Farewell Spit, but the lighthouse is situated at the end of an easterly directed sand spit which brings it far away from the probable course of any humpbacks which might pass along the northern portion of the west coast and all 43 monthly returns reported “no sightings”.

There have been no shore whaling stations established on this coast north of Preservation Inlet and the catches from American whaleships plotted by Townsend (1935) show no humpbacks taken along this coast, although a few right whales were taken as far north as Greymouth, including some in May. These captures, together with some sperm whales taken offshore as far north as Westport during April and May, show that some whaleships were operating in the area at a time when north-bound humpbacks could be expected.

The masters and crew of three vessels which traversed these waters regularly (Hauiti, Kokiri, Karamu) have all agreed on the rarity of whale sightings along

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.