number of sheep in New South Wales alone was calculated in the last
census at 536,891 head. The ordinary profits on this kind of stock may
be extracted from the Table given in the Appendix to the first volume
of this work.

WHALE FISHERY.

Among the various speculations undertaken by the merchants of Sydney,
there is not one into which they have entered with so much spirit as in
the South Sea Fishery. The local situation of Port Jackson gives them
an advantage over the English and the American merchants, since the
distance of both these from the field of their gains, must necessarily
impede them greatly; whereas the ships that leave Sydney on a whaling
excursion, arrive without loss of time upon their ground, and return
either for fresh supplies or to repair damages with equal facility. The
spirit with which the colonial youth have engaged in this adventurous
and hardy service, is highly to their credit. The profits arising from
it may not be (indeed I have every reason to think are not) so great as
might be supposed, or such as might reasonably be expected; but the
extensive scale on which it is conducted, speaks equally for the energy
and perseverance of the parties concerned, in the prosecution of their
commercial enterprises. It has enabled them to equip a creditable
colonial marine, and given great importance to their mercantile
interests in the mother country.

In the year 1831, the quantity of sperm and black oil, the produce of
the fisheries exported from New South Wales, amounted to 2,307 tons,
and was estimated, together with skins and whalebone, to be worth
107,971 pounds sterling. The gross amount of all other exports during
that year, did not exceed 107,697 pounds sterling. Of these exports,
the following were the most considerable:

Timber 7,410 pounds
Butter and Cheese 2,376
Mimosa bark 40
Hides 7,333
Horses 7,302
Salt provisions 5,184
Wool 66,112

The above is exclusive of 61,000 pounds value of British manufactures
re-exported to the various ports and islands in the Southern Seas.

OTHER EXPORTS.

In this scale, moreover, tobacco is not mentioned; but that plant is
now raised for the supply of every private establishment, and will
assuredly form an article of export, as soon a