New Zealand did not lack harpooners, sailors of all nationalities, deserters or others, who sought to be hired for the season, and who followed skilfully the trade of fishermen.

The busy period once over, they were paid, they were put on shore, and they waited till the whalers of the following year should come to claim their services again.

There was obtained by this method better work from the disposable sailors, and a much larger profit derived by their co-operation.
They had worked in this way on board the "Pilgrim." The schooner had just finished her season on the limit of the Antarctic Circle.

But she had not her full number of barrels of oil, of coarse whalebones nor of fine.

Even at that period, fishing was becoming difficult.