Page:Reminiscences of Earliest Canterbury 1915.pdf/57

 godsend to the pioneers. They bartered with each other for mutual benefit, the whalers taking the produce of the settlers in exchange for stores, tobacco, and even (in the case of the American vessels), articles of furniture, clocks, etc. The barter was conducted by an estimate of equivalent values as the whaling vessels did not carry money. The prices, I remember, were exceedingly reasonable, and the articles good. For example, tobacco was sold at the rate of 11d. per lb., and spirits at 3s. per gallon. Besides the things already mentioned, the whalers supplied us with what are known at sea as “slops,” i.e., ready-made clothes, etc. What cheese and butter was not disposed of in this way to the whalers had to be sent to Wellington, which was the only other market for dairy produce at this time—towards the middle of the ’forties.

In Pigeon Bay I have seen as many as eight vessels (ships, barques, and brigs), at anchor at one time, all busy taking in wood, water, beef, potatoes, fresh vegetables, etc.

Mr. Joseph Price traded between Sydney and New Zealand for some years before permanently settling on the Peninsula. From the shore whaling stations, which then