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diff --git a/old/69504-h/69504-h.htm b/old/69504-h/69504-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index bdeb347..0000000 --- a/old/69504-h/69504-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6685 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html> -<html lang="en"> -<head> - <meta charset="UTF-8"> - <title> - The Northern Whale-Fishery, by Captain Scoresby—A Project Gutenberg eBook - </title> - <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> - <style> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - text-indent: 1em; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%;} - -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} -h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} - -.fs80 {font-size: 80%} -.fs130 {font-size: 130%} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} -table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; } - -.tdl {text-align: left;} -.tdr {text-align: right;} -.tdc {text-align: center; padding-left: 4em; text-indent: -3.5em; line-height: 2em;} - - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: small; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal; - font-variant: normal; - text-indent: 0; - color: #A9A9A9; -} /* page numbers */ - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} - - -/* Images */ - -img { - max-width: 100%; - height: auto; -} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; - page-break-inside: avoid; - max-width: 100%; -} - - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:small; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; -} - - </style> -</head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The northern whale-fishery, by William Scoresby</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The northern whale-fishery</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: William Scoresby</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: December 9, 2022 [eBook #69504]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: deaurider, Bob Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NORTHERN WHALE-FISHERY ***</div> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 35%"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Cover"> -</div> - - - -<h1>THE<br> -NORTHERN<br> -WHALE-FISHERY.</h1> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - - -<p class="center fs130">THE<br> -NORTHERN<br> -WHALE-FISHERY.</p> -<br> -<p class="center fs80">BY</p> -<p class="center">CAPTAIN SCORESBY, <span class="allsmcap">F.R.S.E.</span></p> -<br> -<p class="center fs130">LONDON:<br> -THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY:</p> -<p class="center"><em>Instituted 1799.</em><br> -</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="PREFACE">PREFACE.</h2> -</div> - - -<p>The following pages are an abridgment, with -some modifications and additions, of the second -volume of captain (now the rev. Dr.) -Scoresby’s work on the Arctic Regions and -Whale-fishery, Edinburgh, 1820; the substance -of the former volume having already -appeared in this Monthly Series. The second -chapter of the work, on the comparative view -of the whale-fisheries of different European -nations, has been entirely omitted, as less -interesting, it is supposed, to the general -reader, than the other chapters.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS.</h2> -</div> - -<hr class="r5"> - -<table class="autotable"> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2">CHAPTER I.</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"></td> -<td class="tdr">PAGE</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE NORTHERN WHALE-FISHERIES</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2">CHAPTER II.</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">SITUATION OF THE EARLY WHALE-FISHERY—THE -MANNER IN WHICH IT WAS CONDUCTED—AND THE ALTERATIONS WHICH -HAVE TAKEN PLACE</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2">CHAPTER III.</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">ACCOUNT OF THE MODERN WHALE-FISHERY, AS -CONDUCTED AT SPITZBERGEN</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2">CHAPTER IV.</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">ACCOUNT OF THE DAVIS’S STRAIT WHALE-FISHERY, -WITH STATEMENTS OF EXPENSES AND PROFITS OF A FISHING-SHIP</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2">CHAPTER V.</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">METHOD OF EXTRACTING OIL AND PREPARING WHALE-BONE, -WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THESE ARTICLES, AND REMARKS ON THE USES TO -WHICH THE SEVERAL PRODUCTS OF THE WHALE-FISHERY ARE APPLIED</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_157">157</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2">CHAPTER VI.</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">NARRATIVE OF PROCEEDINGS ON BOARD THE SHIP ESK, -DURING A WHALE-FISHING VOYAGE TO THE COAST OF SPITZBERGEN, -IN THE YEAR 1816; PARTICULARLY RELATING TO THE PRESERVATION -OF THE SHIP UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES OF PECULIAR DANGER</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td> -</tr> -</table> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span></p> - -<p class="center fs130">THE<br> -NORTHERN WHALE-FISHERY.</p> -</div> - -<hr class="r5"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE NORTHERN WHALE FISHERIES.</p> - - -<p>In the early ages of the world, when beasts of -prey began to multiply and annoy the vocations -of man, the personal dangers to which he must -have been occasionally exposed would oblige -him to contrive some means of defence. For -this end, he would naturally be induced, both -to prepare weapons, and also to preconceive -plans for resisting the disturbers of his peace. -His subsequent rencounters with beasts of prey -would, therefore, be more frequently successful, -not only in effectually repelling them when -they should attack him, but also, in some -instances, in accomplishing their destruction. -Hence, we can readily and satisfactorily -trace to the principles of necessity the adroitness<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span> -and courage evidenced by the unenlightened -nations of the world, in their successful -attacks on the most formidable of the brute -creation; and hence we can conceive that -necessity may impel the indolent to activity, -and the coward to actions which would not -disgrace the brave. For man to attempt to -subdue an animal whose powers and ferocity -he regarded with superstitious dread, and the -motion of which he conceived would produce a -vortex sufficient to swallow up his boat, or any -other vessel in which he might approach it—an -animal of at least six hundred times his own -bulk, a stroke of the tail of which might hurl -his boat into the air, or dash it and himself to -pieces—an animal inhabiting at the same time -an element in which he himself could not subsist; -for man to attempt to subdue such an -animal, under such circumstances, seems one of -the most hazardous enterprizes of which the -intercourse with the irrational world could possibly -admit. And yet this animal is successfully -attacked, and seldom escapes when once -he comes within reach of the darts of his -assailer.</p> - -<p>It seems to be the opinion of most writers on -the subject of the whale-fishery, that the Biscayans -were the first who succeeded in the -capture of the whale. This opinion, though -perhaps not correct, deserves to be mentioned in -the outset of an investigation into the probable -origin of this employment. A species of whale,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span> -probably the <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">Balæna rostrata</i>, was a frequent -visitor to the shores of France and Spain. In -pursuit of herrings and other small fishes, these -whales would produce a serious destruction -among the nets of the fishermen of Biscay and -Gascony. Concern for the preservation of their -nets, which probably constituted the whole of -their property, would naturally suggest the necessity -of driving these intruding monsters from -their coasts. With this view, arrows and spears, -and subsequently gunpowder, would be resorted -to. Finding the whales timid and inoffensive, -the fishers would be induced to approach some -individual of the species, and even to dart their -spears into its body. Afterwards they might -conceive the possibility of entangling some of -the species, by means of a cord attached to a -barbed arrow or spear. One of these animals -being captured, and its value ascertained, the -prospect of emolument would be sufficient to -establish a fishery of the cetaceous tribe, and -lead to all the beneficial effects which have -resulted in modern times.</p> - -<p>Those authorities, indeed, may be considered -as unquestionable, which inform us that the -Basques and Biscayans, so early as the year -1575, exposed themselves to the perils of a -distant navigation, with a view to measure -their strength with the whales, in the midst of -an element constituting the natural habitation -of these enormous animals; that the English, in -1594, fitted an expedition for Cape Breton,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span> -intended for the fishery of the whale and the -walrus, (sea-horse,) pursued the walrus-fishing -in succeeding years in high northern latitudes, -and, in 1611, first attacked the whale near the -shores of Spitzbergen; and that the Hollanders, -and subsequently other nations of Europe, participated -in the risk and advantages of these -northern expeditions. Some researches, however, -on the origin of this fishery, carried on in -the northern seas, will be sufficient to rectify -the error of these conclusions, by proving -that the whale-fishery by Europeans may -be traced as far back at least as the ninth -century.</p> - -<p>The earliest authenticated account of a -fishery for whales is probably that contained in -Ohthere’s voyage, by Alfred the Great. This -voyage was undertaken about 890, by Ohthere, -a native of Halgoland, in the diocese of Dronthein, -a person of considerable wealth in his -own country, from motives of mere curiosity, -at his own risk, and under his personal superintendence. -On this occasion, Ohthere -sailed to the northward, along the coast of -Norway, round the North Cape, to the entrance -of the White Sea. Three days after -leaving Dronthein, or Halgoland, “he was -come as far towards the north as commonly -the whale-hunters used to travel.” Here -Ohthere evidently alludes to the hunters of the -walrus, or sea-horse; but subsequently, he -speaks pointedly as to a fishery for some<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span> -species of cetaceous animals having been at that -period practised by the Norwegians. He told -the king, that with regard to the common kind -of whales, the place of most and best hunting for -them was in his own country, “whereof some -be forty-eight ells of length and some fifty,” -of which sort, he affirmed, that he himself was -one of the six who, in the space of three (two) -days, killed threescore.</p> - -<p>From this it would appear, that the whale-fishery -was not only prosecuted by the Norwegians -so early as the ninth century, but -that Ohthere himself had personal knowledge -of it. The voyage of Ohthere is a document -of much value in history, both in respect -to the matter of it, and the high character of -the author by whom it has been preserved. -By a slight alteration in the reading of the -Saxon manuscript, as suggested by Turner, in -his History of the Anglo-Saxons, it is possible -to suppose that the threescore animals slain by -Ohthere in two days were not whales but dolphins. -This supposition removes the improbability -of the exploit recorded, and does not -contradict or explain away the fact of larger -whales having been likewise hunted and captured.</p> - -<p>A Danish work, which there is reason to -believe is of a date much earlier than that -which we assign to the first fishery of the -Basques, declares that the Icelanders were in the -habit of pursuing the whales, which they killed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span> -on the shore, and that these islanders subsisted -on the flesh of some one of the species. And -Langebek does not hesitate to assert, that the -fishery of the whale (<em>hovlfangst</em>, by which he -probably means a species of <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">delphinus</i>,) was -practised in the most northern countries of -Europe in the ninth century.</p> - -<p>Under the date of 875, in a book entitled the -“Translation and Miracles of St. Vaast,” mention -is made of the whale-fishery on the French -coast. In the “Life of St. Arnould, bishop of -Soissons,” a work of the eleventh century, particular -mention is made of the fishery by the -harpoon, on the occasion of a miracle said -to have been performed by the saint. There -are also different authorities for supposing that -a whale-fishery was carried on near the coast -of Normandy and Flanders, from the eleventh -to the thirteenth century.</p> - -<p>The English, it is to be expected, did not -remain long behind their continental neighbours -in this lucrative pursuit. It is difficult -to determine whether the whales referred to in -the few early documents which we possess, were -such as were run on the English shore by accident, -or subdued by the English on the high sea. -By Acts of Parliament, <span class="allsmcap">A.D.</span> 1315 and 1324, -the wrecks of whales, cast by chance upon the -shore, or whales or great sturgeons <em>taken</em> in -the sea, were to belong to the king. Henry <span class="allsmcap">IV.</span> -gave, in 1415, to the church of Rochester, -the tithe of the whales taken along the shores<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span> -of that bishopric. In the sixteenth century, -the inhabitants of the shores of the Bay of -Biscay were the most distinguished whale-fishers. -At first, they confined their attacks -to those animals, probably the <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">Balæna rostrata</i> -of Linnæus, which used to present themselves -in the Bay of Biscay at a certain season -every year. Gradually becoming bolder, the -Biscayans advanced towards the coasts of -Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland, in the -pursuit. The Icelanders united their energies -with the Biscayans, and conducted the whale-fishery -on so extensive a scale, that, towards -the end of the sixteenth century, the number -of vessels annually employed by the united -nations amounted to a fleet of fifty or sixty -sail.</p> - -<p>The first attempt of the English to capture -the whale, of which we have any satisfactory -account, was made in the year 1594. Different -ships were fitted out for Cape Breton at the -entrance of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, part of -which were destined for the walrus-fishery, and -the remainder for the whale-fishery. The -Grace, of Bristol, one of these vessels, took -on board 700 or 800 whale-fins, or laminæ of -whalebone, which they found in the Bay of -St. George, where two large Biscayan fishermen -had been wrecked three years before. -This is the first notice I have met with of -the importation of this article into Great -Britain.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span></p> - -<p>However doubtful it might have appeared at -one time whether the English or the Dutch -first visited Spitzbergen, the claim of the -English to the discovery and first practice of -the whale-fishery on the coasts of these islands -stands undisputed, the Dutch themselves allowing -that the English preceded them four years. -The merchants of Hull, who were ever remarkable -for their assiduous and enterprizing spirit, -fitted out ships for the whale-fishery so early -as the year 1598, which they continued regularly -to prosecute on the coasts of Iceland and -near the North Cape for several years; and -after the re-discovery of Spitzbergen by Hudson, -in 1607, they were the first to push forward -to its coasts. Captain Jonas Poole was, -in the year 1610, sent out on a voyage of discovery -by the “Company for the Discovery of -unknown Countries,” the “Muscovy Company,” -or the “Russia Company,” as it was subsequently -denominated. On his return, the company -fitted out two ships for the fishery; the -Marie Margaret, of 160 tons, under the direction -of Thomas Edge, factor; and the Elizabeth, -of 60 tons, Jonas Poole, master. In this -voyage, both ships were lost, but the cargo was -brought home in a Hull ship.</p> - -<p>Such a novel enterprize as the capture of -whales, which was rendered practical, and even -easy, by the number in which they were found, -and the convenience of the situations in which -they occurred—an enterprize at the same time<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span> -calculated to enrich the adventurers far beyond -any other branch of trade then practised—created -a great agitation, and drew towards it -the attention of all the commercial people of -Europe. With that eagerness which men invariably -display in the advancement of their -worldly interests, but which is seldom directed -with equal vigour to objects of higher and -eternal importance, the mercantile spirit was -concentrated on this new quarter, and vessels -from various ports began to be fitted for the -fishery. In the next year, three foreign ships -made their appearance along with the two -belonging to the Russia Company. The English, -jealous of the interference of the Dutch, -would not allow them to fish, and obliged them -to return home. In the following year, the -English Russia Company obtained a royal -charter, excluding all others, both natives and -foreigners, from the fishery, and they equipped -seven armed vessels for the purpose of maintaining -their prerogative. In the course of the -season, the English attacked the foreign vessels, -and took from them the greater proportion of -the blubber, or oil, and whale-fins, which they -had procured, driving them, together with some -English ships fitted out by private individuals, -out of the country. In 1614, a company was -established in Amsterdam, and a charter obtained -for three years; ships of war were sent -out, and the Hollanders, in defiance of the -English, were able to fish without interruption.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span> -The English got but half-laden, and the Dutch -made but a poor fishing. After various disagreements, -and the arrival of the vessels of -other powers on the fishing-stations, which -tended to divide the quarrel, a conference for -the purpose of adjusting their differences ensued -between the captains of the rival nations, -and they agreed at length to a division of those -fine bays and commodious harbours with which -the whole coast of Spitzbergen abounded. The -English obtained the first choice, and a greater -number of bays and harbours than any of the -rest. After the English, the Dutch, Danes, -Hamburghers, and Biscayans, and, finally, the -Spaniards and French, took up their positions. -Thus we perceive the origin of the names of the -different places called English Bay, Hollanders’ -Bay, Danes’ Bay, etc.</p> - -<p>These arrangements having been adopted, -each nation prosecuted the fishery in its own -possession, or along the sea-coast, which was -free for all. It was understood, however, that -the ships of any nation might resort to any of -the bays or harbours whatever, for the convenience -of awaiting a favourable wind, taking -refuge from a storm, or any other emergency. -To prevent the prosecution of the fishery in -bays belonging to other nations, it was agreed -that whenever a boat was lowered in a strange -harbour, or happened to row into the same, -the harpoon was always to be removed from -its rest, so as not to be in readiness for use.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span></p> - -<p>All the early adventurers on the whale-fishery -were indebted to the Biscayans for -their superintendence and help. They were -the harpooners, and the coopers “skilful in -setting up the staved cask.” At this period, -each ship carried two principals; the commander, -who was a native, was properly the -navigator, as his chief charge consisted in conducting -the ship to and from Greenland; the -other, who was called by the Dutch, specksynder, -or cutter of the fat, as his name implies, -was a Biscayan, and had the unlimited -control of the people in the fishery, and, indeed, -every operation belonging to it was -entirely confided to him. When, however, the -fishery became better known, the commander -assumed the general superintendence, and the -specksynder, or specksioneer, is now the principal -harpooner, and has the “ordering of the -fat,” and the extracting or boiling of the oil of -the whale, but serves under the direction of -the commander.</p> - -<p>The Dutch pursued the whale-fishery with -more vigour than the English, and with still -better effect. It was no uncommon thing for -them to procure such vast quantities of oil that -empty ships were required to take home the -superabundant produce. In 1622, the charter -of the Amsterdam Company was renewed for -twelve years, and the charter of the Zealand -Society was extended about the same time, -whereby the latter were allowed to establish<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span> -themselves in Jan Mayen Island, and to erect -boiling-houses and cooperages in common with -their associates. The privileges of these companies, -occasioning the exclusion of all other -persons belonging to the United Provinces, -produced a considerable degree of discontent, -when the fishery, towards the expiration of these -last charters, was in its most flourishing state. -The states-general of Friesland were induced -to grant a charter to a company formed in that -province, which endowed them with similar -privileges to those of the other companies of -Holland. The Frieslanders, in the year 1634, -perceived the advantage of procuring the sanction -of the Zealand and Amsterdam companies -to their right to participate in the fishery, and -after negotiation, the three companies, according -to stipulated conditions, contracted a triple -union. The Dutch followed the whale-fishery -with perseverance and profit, and were successfully -imitated by the Hamburghers and other -fishermen of the Elbe, but the English made -only occasional voyages.</p> - -<p>It became apparent to the adventurers in -the whale-fishery, that considerable advantages -might be realized could Spitzbergen be resorted -to as a permanent residence, and they were -desirous of ascertaining the possibility of the -human species subsisting throughout the winter -in this inhospitable climate. The English merchants -offered considerable rewards, and the -Russia Company procured the reprieve of some<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span> -culprits who were convicted of capital offences, -to whom they promised pardon and a pecuniary -remuneration if they would remain a single -year in Spitzbergen. The fear of immediate -death induced them to comply; but when they -were carried out and showed the desolate, -frozen, and frightful country they were to -inhabit, they shrank back with horror, and -solicited to be returned home to suffer death -in preference to encountering such appalling -dangers. With this request the captain who -had them in charge humanely complied, and -on their return to England the company interceded -on their behalf, and procured pardon.</p> - -<p>Probably it was about the same time that -nine men, who were by accident separated from -one of the London fishing-ships, were left behind -in Spitzbergen; all of them perished in -the course of the winter, and their bodies were -found in the ensuing summer shockingly -mangled by beasts of prey. The same master -who abandoned these poor wretches to so miserable -a fate was obliged, by the drifting of the -ice towards the shore, to leave eight of his -crew, who were engaged in hunting reindeer -for provision for the passage home, in the year -1630. These men, like the former, were -abandoned to their fate; for on proceeding to -the usual places of resort and rendezvous, they -perceived with horror that their own, together -with all the other fishing-ships, had departed. -By means of the provisions procured by hunting,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span> -the fritters of the whale left in boiling the -blubber, and the accidental supplies of bears, -foxes, seals, and sea-horses, together with the -judicious application of the buildings which -were erected in Bell Sound, where they took up -their abode, they were enabled not only to support -life, but even to maintain their health -little impaired, until the arrival of the fleet in -the following year. It is surely permitted us to -hope, that amidst the retirement and dreariness -of these frozen regions, these hardy sailors -found opportunities for serious reflection and -prayer to the God of heaven, and that their -minds, with eternity so near to them, were sufficiently -acquainted with the one way of salvation -to yield themselves to Him who is able -to preserve his servants unto life eternal.</p> - -<p>The preservation of these men revived in -the Dutch the desire of establishing colonies, -and in consequence of certain encouragements -proclaimed throughout the fleet, seven men -volunteered their services, were landed at Amsterdam -Island, furnished with the needful -articles of provisions, etc., and were left by the -fleet on the 30th of August, 1633. About the -same time, another party, likewise consisting of -seven volunteers, were landed on Jan Mayen -Island, and left by their comrades to endure -the like painful service with the former. On -the return of the fleet in the succeeding year, -this last party were all found dead from the -effects of the scurvy; but the other, which was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span> -left in Spitzbergen, nine degrees further towards -the north, all survived. Other seven volunteers -proposed to repeat the experiment in Spitzbergen -during the ensuing winter, and were quitted -by their comrades on the 11th of September, -1634. They all fell victims to the scurvy.</p> - -<p>The Dutch, encouraged by the hope that the -profitable nature of the whale-fishery would continue -unabated, incurred very great expenses in -making secure, ample, and permanent erections, -which they gradually extended in such a degree -that at length they assumed the form of a respectable -village, to which, from the Dutch -words “smeer,” signifying fat, and “bergen,” -to put up, they gave the name of Smeerenberg. -Their expectations of continued success were -not, however, justified, and the fishery began to -decline so rapidly from the year 1636-7, to the -termination of the company’s charters, that their -losses are stated on some occasions to have exceeded -their former profits. On the expiration -of the charters, in the year 1642, their renewal -was refused by the states-general, and the trade -was laid entirely open to all adventurers. It -increased in consequence almost tenfold; and -on the dissolution of the monopoly, the shipping -in the whale-fishery commerce accumulated to -between two and three hundred sail. Prior to -the time when the trade was laid open, the Jan -Mayen whale-fishery, like that of Spitzbergen, -attained its maximum. The prodigious destruction -of whales occasioned their withdrawal,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span> -and the island was at length abandoned as a -whale-fishing station.</p> - -<p>The whale-fishery of the Dutch was somewhat -suspended by the war with England in -1653; but between the years 1660 and 1670, -four or five hundred sail of Dutch and Hamburgh -ships were yearly visitants to the coasts -of Spitzbergen, while the English sometimes did -not send a single ship. The British government -saw with regret such a profitable and -valuable speculation entirely laid aside. To -encourage, therefore, its renewal, an Act of -Parliament was passed in 1672, whereby the -rigours of the Navigation Act were dispensed -with, and its essential properties so modified for -the ten following years that a vessel for the -whale-fishery, being British-built, and having a -master and one-half of the crew British subjects, -might carry natives of Holland, or other expert -fishers, to the amount of the other half. In the -year 1693 was formed the “Company of Merchants -of London, trading to Greenland,” to -whom was granted an extension of the indulgences -allowed by this Act of Parliament. From -various losses, combined, probably, with unskilful -management, this company was so -unfortunate that, before the conclusion of their -term, their capital of £82,000 was entirely -expended. These circumstances tended much -to discourage the subjects of Great Britain from -making any vigorous attempt to renew the -fishery. The direct importation of Greenland<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span> -produce into England being inconsiderable, its -importation from Holland or other foreign -states was permitted; whalebone, however, was -required to be brought into the country in fins -only, and not cut, or in any way manufactured; -nor could it be landed before the duty chargeable -thereon was secured or paid, under penalty of -the forfeiture of the goods and double their -value. Immense sums were annually paid to -foreigners for whalebone at this period.</p> - -<p>It was not, it appears, until the whale-fishery -was on the decline at Spitzbergen, that the -Davis’s Strait fishery was resorted to. The -Dutch sent their first ships in the year 1719. -The shipping employed in the Greenland and -Davis’s Strait whale-fisheries, in 1721, by foreign -nations, amounted to three hundred and fifty-five -sail. When, by the lapse of some years, -the unfavourable impression produced on the -minds of speculative persons by the immense -losses suffered by English adventurers in the -whale-fishery had partly worn off, the propriety -of attempting this trade was suggested by -Henry Elking, and was proposed to the directors -of the well-known South Sea Company. -The British legislature, by exempting the produce -of the Greenland Seas from existing duties -on the condition of its being imported in British -ships, held out encouragements to the company -similar to those offered to former adventurers. -The South Sea Company caused a fleet of -twelve new ships, about 306 tons’ burden each,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span> -to be built in the river Thames, equipped each -vessel with the necessary supplies of cordage, -casks, and fishing instruments, and engaged for -their use the duke of Bedford’s wet-dock at -Deptford, where boiling-houses and other conveniences -were constructed. In the spring of -1725, the fleet being all in readiness, put to -sea, and returned safe with twenty-five and a -half whales. The proceeds of this voyage, -though scarcely sufficient to pay the expenses -incurred by the fitments and the hire of foreign -harpooners, were yet superior to those of any -succeeding year during the period in which the -company pursued the trade. For eight successive -years the company persevered in the whale-fishery, -with indifferent or bad success, and -after the season of 1732 were compelled to -abandon it. In 1736, a London ship, which -visited the whale-fishery, procured a cargo of -seven fish—a degree of success which was fortunately -different from that of most of the antecedent -English whalers. The English government -offered a bounty of twenty shillings per -ton on the burden or tonnage of all British -whale-fishing ships of 200 tons or upwards; -and this, in 1749, was increased to forty shillings -per ton.</p> - -<p>Gradually the British whale-fishery began to -assume a respectable and hopeful appearance. -The combined fleets of England and Scotland, -in the year 1752, amounted to forty sail; in -1753, to forty-nine; in 1754, to sixty-seven, in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span> -1755, to eighty-two; and in the year following, to -eighty-three sail—which was the greatest number -of ships employed in the trade for the twenty -years following; while the least number amounted -to forty sail during the same period. On the -establishment of the British whale-fishery, the -legislature directed its attention to the means for -securing the perpetuity of the trade, and the -economical application of the bounty. These -enactments were not carried in the House of -Commons without considerable debate. In 1768, -the king of Prussia, interesting himself in the -Greenland fishery, caused some ships to be -equipped from Emden; and in 1784, the king -of France attempted the revival of the whale-fishery, -by equipping, at his own expense, six -ships in the port of Dunkirk. In 1785, the -king of Denmark, in imitation of the English, -granted a bounty of about thirty shillings sterling -per ton, to all vessels in the Greenland and -Iceland fisheries, on the condition of the ships -being fitted out and their cargoes sold in a -Danish port.</p> - -<p>The Act of the British Parliament of 1786, -embodying several additional regulations on -the subject of the whale-fishery, and rehearsing -and revising former acts, has ever since been -considered the fundamental act on the subject -of the Greenland and Davis’s Strait whale-fishery. -By accounts laid upon the table of the -House of Commons during this session, it appeared -that the bounties granted for the encouragement<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span> -of the British whale-fisheries, carried -on in the Greenland Sea and Davis’s Strait, -from the year 1733, when bounties were first -given, to the end of 1785, had amounted -to £1,064,272. 18<em>s.</em> 2<em>d.</em> for England, and -£202,158. 16<em>s.</em> 11<em>d.</em> for Scotland. By a subsequent -act, the bounty was reduced to twenty-five -shillings per ton, from the 25th of December, -1792, to the 25th of December, -1795; and from this period until the expiration -of the act in 1798, to twenty shillings -per ton, at which latter rate it has continued -ever since. From a list, it appears, that in -1788, 255 British ships sailed for the whale-fishery, -of which 129 were of a burden under -300 tons; 97 of 300 to 350 tons; 16 of 350 to -400 tons; 11 of 400 to 500 tons; 1 of 565 -tons; and 1 of 987 tons. They were fitted out -from the ports of London, Hull, Liverpool, -Whitby, Newcastle, Yarmouth, Sunderland, -Lynn, Leith, Ipswich, Dunbar, Aberdeen, Bo’ness, -Glasgow, Montrose, Dundee, Exeter, -Whitehaven, Stockton, Greenock, Scarborough, -Grangemouth, and Queensferry.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</h2> -</div> - - - -<p class="center">SITUATION OF THE EARLY WHALE-FISHERY—THE MANNER -IN WHICH IT WAS CONDUCTED—AND THE ALTERATIONS -WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE.</p> - - - -<p>Immediately after the discovery of Spitzbergen -by Hudson, in the year 1607, the walrus-fishers, -who carried on an extensive and profitable -business at Cherie Island, finding the animals -of their pursuit become shy and less abundant, -extended their voyage to the northward, until -they fell in with Spitzbergen, the newly discovered -country, about the time when the Russian -Company equipped their first ships for the -Greenland whale-fishery. As the coast abounded -with whales and sea-horses, Cherie Island was -deserted, and Spitzbergen became the scene of -future enterprize. At this time, the mysticetus -was found in immense numbers throughout the -whole extent of the coast, and in the different -capacious bays with which it abounds. Never -having been disturbed, these animals were -unconscious of danger; they allowed themselves -to be so closely approached that they fell an -easy prey to the courageous fishermen. It was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span> -not necessary that the ships should cruise -abroad, throughout the extended regions of the -Polar Seas, as they do at the present time, for -the whales being abundant in the bays, the -ships were anchored in some convenient situation, -and generally remained at their moorings -until their cargoes were completed. Not only -did the coast of Spitzbergen abound with -whales, but the shore of Jan Mayen Island, in -proportion to its extent, afforded them in like -abundance.</p> - -<p>The method used for capturing whales, at -this period, was usually by means of the harpoon -and lance, though the Dutch inform us -that the English made use of nets made with -strong ropes for the purpose. The harpoon, -which was the instrument used in general practice -for effecting their entanglement, consisted, -as at present, of a barbed or arrow-shaped iron -dart, two or three feet in length, to which was -attached a wooden handle, for convenience in -striking or throwing it into the whale. Fastened -to the harpoon was a line or rope three -hundred fathoms in length; more than sufficient -to reach the bottom in the bays, where -the depth of the water seldom exceeds eighty -or one hundred fathoms; so that on a fish -descending after being struck, the end of the -line could always be detained in the boat. -The movements of this boat, of course, corresponded -with those of the whale; and so -closely pointed out its position, that, on its<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span> -reappearance at the surface, the other assisting -boats were usually very near the place. It was -then vigorously pursued, secured by a sufficient -number of harpoons, and lastly attacked repeatedly -with lances until it was killed.</p> - -<p>The lance in use was an iron spear with -a wooden handle, altogether ten or twelve feet -in length. The capture of the fish, in which, -owing to the particular excellence of the situation, -they seldom failed, being accomplished, it -was towed by the boats, rowing one before -another “like a team of horses,” to the ship’s -stern, where it lay untouched from one to two -or three days. The fat being then removed -was carried to the shore, where ample conveniences -being erected, it was afterwards subjected -to heat in a boiler, and the greater part -of the oil extracted.</p> - -<p>As the usual process of the early fishers for -extracting the oil may be interesting to some -readers, I shall attempt to describe it, following -the accounts by captains Anderson and Gray, -whose papers are preserved among the manuscripts -in the British Museum.</p> - -<p>The blubber being made fast to the shore, -a “waterside man,” standing in a pair of boots, -mid-leg in the sea, flayed off the fleshy parts, -and cut the blubber into pieces, of about two -hundred weight each. Two men, with a -barrow, then carried it, piece by piece, to a -stage or platform, erected by the side of the -works, where a man, denominated a “stage-cutter,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span> -armed with a long knife, sliced it into -pieces, one and a half inches thick, and about -a foot long, and then pushed it into an adjoining -receptacle, called a “slicing cooler.” Immediately -beyond this cooler, five or six choppers -were arranged in a line, with blocks of -whales’ tails before them; and adjoining these -blocks was another vessel, called a “chopping -cooler,” of two or three tons’ capacity. These -men, being situated between the two coolers, -took the sliced blubber from the slicing cooler, -and, after reducing it into little bits, scarcely -one-fourth of an inch thick, and an inch or two -long, pushed it into the chopping cooler. These -operations were carried on as near as convenient -to the place where the copper was -erected.</p> - -<p>The copper held only half a ton. It was -furnished with a furnace, and the requisite -appendages. A man, designated “tub-filler,” -with a ladle of copper, was employed in filling -a hogshead with chopped blubber, dragging it -to the copper, and emptying it in, until the -copper was full. A fire of wood was, in the -first instance, applied, but after a copper or -two had been boiled, the finks or fritters were -always sufficient to boil the remainder without -any other fuel. When the blubber was sufficiently -boiled, two men, called “copper men,” -with two long-handled copper ladles, took the -oil and finks out of the copper, and put it into -a “fritter barrow,” which, being furnished with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span> -a grating of wood in place of a bottom, drained -the oil from the fritters, from whence it ran -into a wooden tank or cooler, of about five tons’ -capacity. Three coolers were usually provided, -and placed some feet asunder, a little below -each other; a quantity of water was put into -each before the oil, and the oil, whenever it -came to a certain height in the first cooler, -escaped through a hole, by a spout, into the -second, the same way into the third, and from -thence, by a plug-hole, into the casks or butts -in readiness for its reception. When the oil in -these butts was thoroughly cold, whatever it -had contracted was filled up, and the casks -then rolled into the water, and, in rafts of -twenty together, were conveyed into the ship.</p> - -<p>The whalebone was separated from the gum, -or substance in which it is imbedded, rubbed -clean, packed in bundles, of sixty laminæ or -blades each, and taken to the ship in the longboat. -Thus prepared, the cargo was conveyed -home, either when a sufficiency was procured, -or the close of the season put an end to the -fishing occupations. While some of the people -belonging to the whale-ships were engaged in -boiling the blubber, the rest of the crew, it is -probable, were occasionally employed in the -capture of other whales. Besides the buildings -made use of in boiling the blubber, the whale-fishers -had other buildings on shore for lodging -the blubber-men in, and for the use of the -coopers employed in preparing the casks.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span></p> - -<p>So long as the whales remained in the immediate -vicinity of the fishing establishments, -the boats were sent out of the bay, the fish -captured at sea, towed into the harbour, stripped -of the fat, and the blubber boiled in the manner -described; but as the whales increased -their distance, this plan of procedure became -inconvenient, so that the ships began to cruise -about the sea, to kill the whales wherever they -found them, to take on board the blubber, and -only occasionally to enter a port. So far now -from having occasion for empty ships for carrying -away the superabundant produce, it was -a matter of difficulty and uncertainty to procure -a cargo at all; and, with the most prosperous -issue, there was not sufficient time for landing -the cargo and extracting the oil; the blubber -was therefore merely packed in casks and conveyed -home, where the remaining operations of -extracting the oil, and cleaning and preparing -the whalebone, were completed. Hence, the -various buildings, which had been erected at -a great expense, became perfectly useless; the -coppers, and other apparatus that were worth -the removal, were taken away, and the buildings -of all the different nations, both at Spitzbergen -and at Jan Mayen Island, were either -wantonly razed to the ground, or suffered to fall -into a state of decay.</p> - -<p>When the whales first approached the borders -of the ice, the fishers held the ice in such dread, -that whenever an entangled fish ran towards it,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span> -they immediately cut the line. Experience, -through time, inured them to it; occasionally -they ventured among the loose ice, and the -capture of small whales at fields was at length -attempted, and succeeded. Some adventurous -persons sailed to the east side of Spitzbergen, -where the current, it is believed, has a tendency -to turn the ice against the shore; yet -here, finding the sea, on some occasions, open, -they attempted to prosecute the fishery, and, it -seems, with some success, a great whale-fishery -having been made near Stansforeland, in the -year 1700. The retreat of the whales from the -bays to the sea-coast, thence to the banks at a -distance from land, thence to the borders of the -ice, and finally to the sheltered situations -afforded by the ice, appears to have been fully -accomplished about the year 1700, or from that -to 1720. The plan of prosecuting the fishery -now underwent a material change, especially in -reference to the construction of the ships, and -the quality and quantity of the fishing apparatus.</p> - -<p>When the fishery could be effected entirely -in the bay, or even along the sea-coast, any -vessels which were sea-worthy, however old or -tender, were deemed sufficient to proceed to -Spitzbergen, and were generally found adequate -to the purpose, especially as they did not -set out till the spring was far advanced, thereby -avoiding obstructions from the ice and from -sudden and destructive storms. When, however,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span> -the fishing had to be pursued in the open -sea, new, or at least very substantial ships, became -requisite, and even these it was found -necessary to strengthen on the bows and stern, -and on the sides, by additional planks. A -greater quantity of fishing-stores also became -needful. When fishing among the ice, the -whales, after having been struck, frequently -penetrated to a great distance out of the reach -of their assailants, dragging the line away, -until at length they found it necessary to cut -it to prevent further loss. Hence, by the frequency -of disasters among their ships, the increased -expense of their equipment, and the -liability of losing their fishing-materials, such -an additional expense was occasioned as required -the practice of the most rigid economy -to counterbalance it. The destruction of the -shipping by the ice, in the Dutch fleet alone, -was frequently near twenty sail in one year, -and on some occasions above that number. -The Greenland men of the present day being -mostly ice-fishers, an account of the improved -mode of fishing now practised will be sufficient -for the illustration of the method followed by -the Dutch and other nations at a more early -period, particularly as the way in which the -whale is pursued and killed is pretty nearly -the same at this time as it was a hundred years -ago.</p> - -<p>Davis’s Strait, or the sea lying between the -west side of Old Greenland and the east side of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span> -North America, and its most northern islands, -has generally, since the close of the seventeenth -century, been the scene of an advantageous -whale-fishery. This fishery was first attempted -by the Dutch, in 1719; after which period it -was usually resorted to by about three-tenths -of their whalers, while seven-tenths proceeded -to Spitzbergen. This fishery differs only from -that of Spitzbergen or Greenland, in the sea -being, in many districts, less incommoded with -ice, and in the climate being somewhat more -mild. The alterations which have taken place -in it are, in some measure, similar to those -which have occurred at Spitzbergen. The fish -which, half a century ago, appear to have resorted -to all parts of the western coast of Old -Greenland, in a few years retired to the northward, -but they still remained about the coast. -Of late, however, they have deserted some of -the bays which they formerly frequented, and -have been principally caught in icy situations -in a high latitude, or in the opening of Hudson’s -Strait, or at the borders of the western -ice, near the coast of Labrador.</p> - -<p>Baffin’s Bay was suggested as an excellent -fishing-station, by the voyager whose name it -bears, so early as the year 1616, when his memorable -navigation was performed. Baffin, in -a letter addressed to J. Wostenholm, esq., observes, -that great numbers of whales occur in -the bay, and that they are easy to be struck; -and, though ships cannot reach the proper<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span> -places until toward the middle of July, “yet -they may well tarry till the last of August, in -which space much business may be done, and -good store of oil made.” To this situation, -where the whales have never been molested -until recently, it appears they still resort in -the same manner, and in similar numbers, -as in the time of Baffin. In 1817, two or three -of the Davis’s Strait whalers proceeded through -the strait into Baffin’s Bay, to a much greater -length than they were in the habit of adventuring, -where, in the months of July and August, -they found the sea clear of ice, and in some -parts abounding with whales. A Leith ship, -which, it appears, advanced the furthest, made -a successful fishery in lat. 76°-77°, after the -season when it was usual for ships to depart. -This fact having become generally known, several -other ships followed the example, in the -season of 1818, and persevered through the -barrier of ice lying in 74°-75° towards the -north. After they had succeeded in passing this -barrier, they found, as in the preceding year, a -navigable sea, where several ships met with -considerable success in the fishery, at a very -advanced period of the season. This discovery -is likely to prove of great importance to the -fishery of Davis’s Strait. Ships, which fail of -success in the old stations, will still, in the new -fishery, have a reserve of the most promising -character. Hence, instead of this fishery being -necessarily closed in July, the period when the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span> -whales have usually made their final retreat -from the old fishing-stations, it will in future be -extended to the end of August at least; and it -may ultimately appear that there will be little -danger of ships being permanently frozen up, -unless previously beset in the ice during any -part of the month of September.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">ACCOUNT OF THE MODERN WHALE-FISHERY, AS CONDUCTED -AT SPITZBERGEN.</p> - - -<p>We commence this chapter with a description -of a well-adapted Greenland ship, and of the -manner in which it should be strengthened to -resist the concussions of the ice. A ship intended -for the Greenland or Davis’s Strait trade, -should be of three or four hundred tons’ admeasurement, -very substantially built, doubled, and -fortified; should have six or seven feet perpendicular -space between decks; should be furnished -with a description of sails which are -easily worked; and should possess the property -of fast sailing. The most appropriate dimensions -of a ship intended for the northern whale-fisheries, -seems to be that which is so large as -to be capable of deriving the greatest advantage -from the best opportunity, and no larger. A -vessel of 250 tons requires nearly the same -number of men, the same quantity of provisions -and stores, and the same expense of outfit, as a -ship of 350 tons’ burden; while the difference in -the cargoes of the two vessels when filled, is in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span> -one voyage more than a compensation for the -difference in the first expense. Besides, for -want of similar room and convenience, the -smaller ship has not always an equal chance of -succeeding in the fishery with the larger. And, -as ships of about 350 tons’ burden have been -occasionally filled, vessels of 250 tons are too -small for the fishery. Ships of 350 tons’ burden -have, we observe, been occasionally filled, but -we know of no instance in which a ship of 400 -tons, of the usual capacious build, has been deficient -in capacity for taking in as large a cargo -as of late years there has been any opportunity -of procuring. We therefore conclude, that an -increase of dimensions above 400 tons is an -actual disadvantage, and that a ship of intermediate -size, between 300 and 400 tons, is best -adapted for the fishery.</p> - -<p>Greenland ships, in the early ages of the -fishery, were very indifferent structures, and -even of late shipping of inferior quality were -generally deemed sufficient for the trade. At -present, however, when a good fishery is rarely -made without frequent exposure to the ice, -and sometimes in very critical situations, the -vessels require to be substantially built, for -the purpose of resisting the occasional pressure -of, and frequent blows from, the ice, to which -the ships of persevering fishermen must always -be more or less exposed. The requisites peculiar -to a Greenland ship, the intention of -which is to afford additional strength, consist<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span> -of doubling, and sometimes trebling, and fortifying. -The terms “doubling” and “trebling,” -are expressive of the number of layers of -planks, which are applied to the exterior of a -frame of timbers; hence, a ship which has one -additional series of planks, is said to be doubled, -and such ships as are furnished with two, or -part of two, additional layers of planks, are said -to be trebled. Doubling generally consists of -the application of two or two half inches oak -plank, near the bow, diminishing towards the -stern to perhaps half that thickness, and extending -in one direction from the lower part of -the main-wales, to within six feet perpendicular -of the keel forward, and to within eight or nine -feet abaft; and, in the other direction, that is, -fore and aft-wise, from the stem to the stern-post. -Doubling is used for producing an increase -of strength, and at the same time for -preserving the outside or main planks of the -ship from being injured by the friction of passing -ice. Trebling, which commonly consists of -one and a half to two inches oak plank, is generally -confined to the bows of the ship, and rarely -extends farther aft than the fore-chains or chesstree. -It is seldom applied but to second-rate -ships. Its principal use is to increase the -strength of the ship about the bows, but it also, -serves to preserve that part of the doubling -which it covers from being destroyed by the -ice.</p> - -<p>Fortifying is the operation of strengthening<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span> -a ship’s stern and bows by the application of -timber and iron plates to the exterior, and -a vast number of timbers and stanchions to the -interior. Four straight substantial oak timbers, -called ice-beams, about twelve inches square and -twenty-five feet in length, are placed beneath -the hold-beams, butting with their foremost -extremity against a strong fore-hook, and extending -nearly at right angles across three or -four of the hold-beams, into each of which they -are notched and secured, at the point of intersection, -by strong iron bolts, with the addition -of “cleats” on the aftermost-beams. The fore-part -of the ice-beams, which butt against the -hook, are placed at a small distance from each -other, from whence they diverge in such a -way that their other extremities divide the -aftermost beams under which they pass into -five equal parts. The next important part of -the fortification is the <em>pointers</em>, which consist of -four or more crooked timbers, fitting the curve -of the ship’s bow on each side; these are placed -below the hold-beams, against the inside of the -ceiling, nearly parallel with the direction of the -planks, some butting against the fore-hooks, -and others passing between them. Across these -pointers, four or five smaller timbers, called -“riders,” disposed at regular distances, are -placed at right angles, that is, in the same direction -as the ribs of the ship. Now, from each -of the points of intersection of the riders and -pointers, consisting of eighteen or twenty on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span> -each side of the ship, a stanchion, or shore, proceeds -to the edge of one of the two ice-beams, -placed on the same side, where it is secured in -a rabbet. The ice-beams are supported and -connected by several strong pieces of wood, -placed between each two, in different parts, -called “carlings,” whereby they are made to -bear as one. It is evident that a blow received -on the starboard-bow will be impressed on the -adjoining pointers, and the impression communicated, -through the medium of the lateral -timbers, or shores, to the two ice-beams on the -same side, thence by the carlings to the other -ice-beams, and then, by the shores on the -opposite side to the larboard-bow and annexed -pointers. A blow cannot be received on any -part of one bow, without being communicated -by the fortification to every part of the opposite -bow, while every part to and through which -the impression is communicated must tend to -support that place on which the blow is impressed.</p> - -<p>To preserve the stem from being shattered -or bruised by direct blows from the ice, it is -strengthened by an extra piece called the false, -or ice-stem. On the side of this are placed -the ice-knees, which are angular chocks, or -blocks of wood, filling the concavity formed by -the stem and bow planks, and extending from -about the eight feet mark to the loading mark. -In the best style, the ice-knees are twelve to -fifteen inches in thickness at the stem, diminishing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span> -to, perhaps, six or eight inches thick -at the distance of about eight feet from the -stem, from thence gradually becoming thinner, -until they fall into and incorporate with the -common doubling, below the fore-part of the -fore-chains. This makes a neat bow, and in -point of strength is much preferable to the -angular chocks or knees, which usually extend -about five or six feet from the stem, and then -terminate somewhat abruptly upon the doubling. -Ice-knees not only strengthen the front of the -bows, and prevent the main planks from being -bruised or shattered, as far as they extend, but -likewise protect the stem from the twisting -effect of a side blow. The stem and the small -part of the ice-knees adjoining, are still farther -defended by plates of half-inch iron, called ice-plates, -which are nailed upon the face of the -ice-stem, and partly on the ice-knees, to prevent -them being cut by the ice.</p> - -<p>For additional strength, as well as convenience, -the hold-beams of a Greenland ship should be -placed low, or at a greater distance from the -deck-beams than is usual in other merchantmen, -leaving a clear space of six or seven feet between -decks. The strength thus derived is principally -serviceable when the ship is squeezed between -two sheets of ice; because the nearer the pressure -acts on the extremities of the beams, the -greater is the resistance they are calculated to -offer. A large space between decks is found -also, for many reasons, to be most convenient.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span></p> - -<p>Hammocks, as receptacles for sailors’ beds, -being incommodious, the crew are lodged in -cabins or berths, erected in the half-deck; these -consist of twelve to twenty in number, each of -which is calculated to contain two or three -persons. When a ship is on fishing-stations, -the boats are required to be always ready -for use; as such they are suspended from -cranes, fixed on the sides of the ship, and are -usually so contrived that a boat can be lowered -down into the water, manned, and pushed off -from the ship, in the short space of a minute of -time. Prior to the year 1813, a ship having -seven boats carried one at each waist, that is, -between the main-mast and fore-mast, two at -each quarter, one above the other and one across -the stern. An improvement on this plan, -adopted in 1813, is to have the boats fixed in a -line of three lengths of boats on each side.</p> - -<p>The masts and sails of a Greenland vessel -are not without their peculiarities. As it is an -object of importance that a fishing-ship should -be easily navigated, under common circumstances, -by a boat’s crew of six or seven men, -it is usual to take down royal masts, and even -top-gallant masts, and sometimes to substitute -a long light pole in place of a mizen top-mast; -also, to adopt such sails as require the least management. -Courses set in the usual way require a -number of men to work them when the ship is -tacked; a course, therefore, made to diminish -as it descends, that is, narrowest at the foot or<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span> -lower part, and extended by a boom, or yard -below as well as above, and this boom fastened -by a tackle fixed at its centre to the deck, -swings with the yards, with little or no alteration, -and is found particularly convenient. Fore-sails, -on this principle, have been in use about -six or seven years. In 1816, I fitted a main-sail -or cross-jack, in the same way, the former -of which we found of admirable utility. Boom-courses -are not only convenient in tacking, but -are likewise a valuable acquisition when sailing -among crowded dangerous ice. As the safety -of the ship depends, next to the skilfulness of -the piloting officer, on a prompt management of -the yards and sails, boom-courses are strikingly -useful on account of the little attention they -require when any alteration in the position of -the sails becomes necessary; and when the -ship’s head-way is required to be suddenly -stopped in a situation where she cannot be -luffed into the wind, boom-courses swinging -simultaneously with the top-tails are backed -without any annoyance from tacks or sheets, -and of course assist materially in effecting the -intention. Such is the advantage of this description -of sails, that on one occasion, when all -the rest of my crew were engaged in the capture -of a whale, with the assistance of only two men, -neither of them sailors, I repeatedly tacked a -ship of 350 tons’ burden under three courses, -top-sails and top-gallant sails, together with jib -and mizen, in a strong breeze of wind. Gaf-sails<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span> -between the masts, in the place of stay-sails, -are likewise deservedly in much repute. To -the mizen and try-sail, or gaf main-sail, that -have been long in use, I have added a gaf fore-sail -of similar form, besides which, my father -has also adopted gaf top-sails between each -mast. These sails produce an admirable effect -when a ship is “on a wind,” which is the kind -of sailing most required among the ice.</p> - -<p>Having now described a Greenland ship, it is -time to detail the proceedings on board of her, -from putting to sea to her arrival on the coast -of Spitzbergen. When all necessary conditions -have been fulfilled, and the ship cleared out at -the custom-house, the first opportunity is embraced -for putting to sea. This is generally -accomplished in the course of the month of -March, or at least before the tenth of April. -The crew of a whale-ship usually consists of -forty to fifty men, comprising several classes of -officers, such as harpooners, boat-steerers, line-managers, -carpenters, coopers, etc., together -with fore-mast men, landmen, and apprentices. -As a stimulus to the crew in the fishery, every -individual, from the master down to the boys, -besides his monthly pay, receives a gratuity -for every size fish caught during the voyage, or -a certain sum for every tun of oil which the -cargo produces. Masters and harpooners, in -place of monthly wages, receive a small sum in -advance before sailing, and if they procure no -cargo whatever, they receive nothing more for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span> -their voyage; but in the event of a successful -fishing, their advantages are considerable. The -master usually receives three guineas for each -size fish, and as much for striking a size whale -or discovering a dead one, together with ten -shillings to twenty shillings per tun on oil, and -commonly a thirtieth, a twenty-fifth, or a twentieth -of the value of the cargo besides. He also -has about £5 per month for his attendance on -the ship while he remains on shore. Each -harpooner has usually 6<em>s.</em> per tun on oil, together -with half a guinea for every size fish he -may strike during the voyage. In addition to -which the chief-mate, who is generally also harpooner, -has commonly two guineas per month -when at sea, and a guinea for each size fish. -The specksioneer, or chief-harpooner, has also -half a guinea per fish, and sometimes a trifle -per tun of oil additional; and the second-mate, -and other officers who serve in a compound -capacity, have some additional monthly -wages. Boat-steerers, line-managers, and fore-mast-men, -commonly receive about 1<em>s.</em> 6<em>d.</em> per -tun each, besides their monthly pay, and landmen -either a trifle per tun on oil, or a few -shillings for each size fish.</p> - -<p>From the difference in the wages paid in different -ports, it is not easy to say what is the -amount received by each class of officers belonging -to the whale-ships. In the general, -however, it may be understood that, on a ship -with 200 tuns of oil, which is esteemed an excellent<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span> -cargo, the chief-mate receives about £95 -for his voyage, a harpooner about £70, and a -common sailor, or foremast-man, about £25. -including advance money and monthly pay. -As the master’s wages depend as much on the -value of the cargo as upon its quantity, it is -difficult to give an opinion as to the amount; -generally speaking, however, with a cargo of -200 tuns of oil, he will receive about £250 -or £300, when his pay is according to the -lowest scale; and perhaps £500 or £600, or -upwards, when he is paid after the highest -rate.</p> - -<p>In time of war, the <em>manning</em> of the whale-ships -at the ports where they were respectively -fitted out being sometimes impracticable, and -always a matter of difficulty, it was usual for -the owners and masters of such ships to avail -themselves of the privileges allowed by act of -parliament of completing their crews in Shetland -and Orkney. These islands were, therefore, -the frequent resort of most of the fishermen; -those bound for Spitzbergen commonly put into -Shetland, and those for Davis’s Strait into -Orkney. But in the present time of peace, -also, several ships, in consequence of the higher -wages demanded by the English seamen, have -availed themselves of a late extension of the act -for permitting a certain amount of extra men to -be taken on board in Shetland or Orkney, -during the continuance of the bounty system.</p> - -<p>In Shetland, it is usual for the fishermen to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span> -<em>trim</em> their ships, and complete their ballast, by -filling most of their empty casks with water, -where it has not previously been done, to replenish -their fresh water, to lay in stocks of -eggs, fish, fowls, sea-sand, etc., to divest the -ships of all elevated lumber and gaudy appendages -to the masts and rigging, by way of preparing -them for enduring the Polar storms with -greater safety and convenience, and lastly, to -fix a “crow’s nest” or “hurricane house,” on -the mast of each ship, and prepare a passage to -it as safe and convenient as possible.</p> - -<p>The “crow’s nest” is an apparatus placed on -the main top-mast, or top-gallant mast-head, as -a kind of watch-tower for the use of the master -or officer of the watch in the fishing-seas, for -sheltering him from the wind, when engaged in -piloting the ship through crowded ice, or for obtaining -a more extensive view of the sea around -when looking out for whales. When sailing -among much drift-ice, as seen from the deck, it -seems at a small distance impervious, although -it may happen that scarcely any two pieces are -connected; but from the mast-head, the relative -position of almost every piece may be distinctly -seen, and an opinion may be formed by the experienced -observer of the probable and actual -movements of such pieces as the ship is required -to pass. This is an object of the greatest importance, -because the varied movements of the -different pieces occasion such an alteration in -the channel pursued, that, were it not for a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span> -constant, attentive, and judicious watch by the -master or an able officer, a ship would not pass -through any crowded collection of drift-ice -without the imminent risk of being stove.</p> - -<p>In difficult situations, a master’s presence at -the mast-head is sometimes required for many -hours in succession, when the temperature of -the air is from 10° to 20° below the freezing -point, or more. It is therefore necessary for -the preservation of his health, as well as -for his comfort, that he should be sheltered -from the piercing gale. A piece of canvas tied -round the head of the main top-mast, and heel -of the top-gallant mast, extending only from the -cap to the cross-trees, or at best, a canvas -stretched round the base of the top-gallant -rigging, but open on the after-part, was the -most complete contrivance of a crow’s nest, until -a few years ago my father invented an apparatus, -having the appearance of a rostrum, -which afforded an admirable defence against -the wind. This contrivance, from the comfortable -shelter it affords to the navigator, having -come into very general use, it may not be improper -to describe it more particularly.</p> - -<p>The one most approved by the inventor is -about four and a half feet in length, and two and -a half in diameter. The form is cylindrical, -open above and close below. It is composed of -laths of wood, placed in a perpendicular position, -round the exterior edge of a strong wooden -hoop, forming the top, and round a plane of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span> -mahogany or other wood which forms the -bottom, and the whole circumference of the -cylinder is covered with canvas or leather. The -entrance is by a trap-hatch at the bottom. It -is fixed on the very summit of the main top-gallant -mast, from whence the prospect on -every side is unimpeded. On the after-side is -a seat, with a place beneath for a flag. In -other parts are receptacles for a speaking-trumpet, -telescope, and occasionally for a rifle-piece, -with utensils for loading. For the more -effectual shelter of the observer, when in an -erect posture, a movable screen is applied to -the top on the windward side, which increases -the height so much as effectually to shield his -head. When the ship is tacked, nothing more -is necessary for retaining the complete shelter -than shifting the screen to the opposite side, -which is done in an instant.</p> - -<p>The Greenland ships usually leave Shetland -towards the end of March, or the beginning of -April. From thence, if their view be to avail -themselves of the benefit of the seal-fishery, -they steer to the northward, on the meridian, -or a little to the westward, and commonly make -the ice in the latitude of 70° to 72° north. But -if the month of April be much advanced before -they leave Shetland, they generally steer -for the whaling-stations on a course to the east -of north, with the view of falling into that remarkable -indentation of the Polar ice, lying in -5° or 10° east longitude, which I have denominated<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span> -the “Whale-Fishers’ Bight.” It used to -be the practice to remain on sealing-stations -until the beginning of May, and not to enter -the ice until about the middle of the month; -but of late it has become usual to push into the -ice at a much earlier period, though the practice -is neither without its dangers nor disadvantages. -If a barrier of ice prevents the fisher -from reaching the usual fishing-station, he -sometimes perseveres in search of whales on the -southward margin of the ice, but more generally -endeavours to push through it into an -opening, which is usually formed on the west -side of Spitzbergen, in the month of May, -where he seldom fails of meeting with the objects -of his search. It is a common remark, -that the more difficulty there is attending the -passage through the ice, the better is the fishery -when that passage is accomplished. In close -seasons, very few ships pass the barrier before -the middle or end of May. Those which first -succeed immediately proceed along the edge of -the western ice to the latitude of 78° or 79°, -until they meet with whales. But in open -seasons, the most recommendable plan is to -sail direct to the latitude of 80°, when it can -be accomplished at a very early period, where -large whales are generally at this season to be -found.</p> - -<p>It is not yet ascertained what is the earliest -period of the year in which it is possible to fish -for whales. The danger attending the navigation<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span> -amidst massive drift-ice, in the obscurity -of night, is the most formidable objection -against attempting the fishery before the middle -of the month of April, when the sun, having -entered the northern tropic, begins to enlighten -the Polar regions throughout the twenty-four -hours. Some ships have sailed to the northward -of the 78th degree of latitude, before the -close of the month of March; but I am not -acquainted with a single instance where the -hardy fishers have, at this season, derived any -compensation for the extraordinary dangers to -which they were exposed. In the course of -the month of April, on certain occasions, considerable -progress has been made in the fishery, -notwithstanding the frequency of storms. At -the first stage of the business, in open seas, the -whales are usually found in most abundance on -the borders of the ice, near Hackluyt’s Headland, -in the latitude of 80°. A degree or two -further south they are sometimes seen, though -not in much plenty; but in the 76th degree -they sometimes occur in such numbers, as to -present a tolerable prospect of success in assailing -them.</p> - -<p>Some rare instances have occurred wherein -they have been seen on the edge of the ice, extending -from Cherie Island to Point Look-out, -in the early part of the season. Grown fish -are frequently found at the edge, or a little -within the edge, of the loose ice, in the 79th -degree of north latitude, in the month of May;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span> -and small whales, of different ages, at fields, -and sometimes in bays of the ice, in the 80th -degree. Usually the fish are most plentiful in -June, and, on some occasions, they are met -with in every degree of latitude from 75° to 80°. -In this month, the large whales are found in -every variety of situation; sometimes in open -water, at others in the loose ice, or at the edges -of fields and floes, near the main impervious -body of ice, extending towards the coast of -West Greenland. The smaller animals of the -species are, at the same time, found further to -the south than in the spring, at floes, fields, or -even among loose ice, but most plentifully -about fields or floes, at the border of the main -western ice, in the latitude of 78° or 78½°. In -July, the fishery generally terminates, sometimes -at the beginning of the month, at others, -though more rarely, it continues throughout -the greater part of it. Few small fish are seen -at this season.</p> - -<p>The parallel of 78° to 78½° is, on the whole, -the most productive fishing-station. The interval -between this parallel and 80°, or any -other situation more remote, is called the -“northward,” and any situation in a lower -latitude than 78° is called the “southward.” -Though the 79th degree affords whales in the -greatest abundance, yet the 76th degree affords -them, perhaps, more generally. In this latter -situation a very large kind of the mysticetus -is commonly to be found, throughout the season,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span> -from April to July inclusive. Their number, -however, is not often great; and as the situation -in which they occur is unsheltered, and, -consequently, exposed to heavy swells, the -southern fishery is not much frequented. The -parallel of 77° to 77½° is considered a “dead -latitude” by the fishers, but occasionally it -affords whales also.</p> - -<p>From an attentive observation of facts, it -would appear that various tribes of the mysticetus -inhabit different regions, and pursue -various routes on their removal from the -places where first seen. These tribes seem -to be distinguished by a difference of age or -manners, and, in some instances, apparently -by one of species or subspecies. The systematical -movements of the whales receive -illustration from many well-known facts. -Sometimes a large tribe, passing from one place -to another, which, under such circumstances, -is denominated a “run of fish,” has been traced -in its movements, in a direct line from the -south towards the north, along the seaward -edge of the western ice, through a space of two -or three degrees of latitude; then it has been -ascertained to have entered the ice, and penetrated -to the northward beyond the reach of the -fishers. In certain years, it is curious to observe, -that the whales commence a simultaneous -retreat throughout the whole fishing limits, and -all disappear within the space of a very few days.</p> - -<p>Having now mentioned, generally, the principal<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span> -places resorted to by the whales in the -Spitzbergen seas, it will, possibly, be interesting -to such as are in any way concerned in the -fishery, to notice more distinctly their favourite -haunts under particular circumstances.</p> - -<p>Experience proves that the whale has its -favourite places of resort, depending on a sufficiency -of food, particular circumstances of -weather, and particular portions and qualities -of the ice. Thus, though many whales may -have been seen in open water when the weather -was fine, after the occurrence of a storm perhaps -not one is to be seen; and, though fields -are sometimes the resort of hundreds of whales, -yet, whenever the loose ice around separates -entirely away, the whales quit them also. -Hence, fields seldom afford whales in much -abundance, excepting at the time when they -first “break out,” and become accessible; that -is, immediately after a vacancy is made on -some side by the separation of adjoining fields, -floes, or drift-ice. Whales are rarely seen in -abundance in the large open spaces of water -which sometimes occur amidst fields and floes, -nor are they commonly seen in a very open -pack, unless it be in the immediate neighbourhood -of the main western ice. They seem to -have a preference for close packs and patches -of ice, and for fields under certain circumstances; -for deep bays, or <em>bights</em>, and sometimes -for clear water situations; occasionally for detached -streams of drift-ice, and most generally<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span> -for extensive sheets of bay-ice. Bay-ice is a -favourite retreat of the whales, so long as it -continues sufficiently tender to be conveniently -broken for the purpose of respiration. In such -situations, whales may frequently be seen in -amazing numbers, elevating and breaking the -ice with their crowns, the eminences on their -heads in which their blow-holes are situated.</p> - -<p>The most favourable opportunity for prosecuting -the fishery commonly occurs with north, -north-west, or west winds. At such times, the -sea near the ice is almost always smooth, and -the atmosphere, though cloudy and dark, is -generally free from fog or thick snow. The -fishers prefer a cloudy to a clear sky, because, -in very bright weather, the sea becomes illuminated, -and the shadows of the whale-boats -are so deeply impressed in the water by the -beams of the sun, that the whales are very apt -to take the alarm, and evade the utmost care -and skill of their pursuers. South-east or east -winds, though disagreeable, cause a violent -agitation of the pieces of ice, and so annoy the -whales as to induce them to leave their retreat -and appear in the open sea. Although the -fishery requires a cloudy atmosphere, yet it -must be free from fog or continued snow; -smooth water, with a breeze of wind, and navigably -open, or perfectly solid ice.</p> - -<p>The boats and principal instruments employed -in the capture of the whale next claim -a description. Whale-boats are, of course,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span> -peculiarly adapted for the occupation they are -intended to be employed in. A well-constructed -Greenland boat possesses the following properties:—It -floats lightly and safely on the water, -is capable of being rowed with great speed, and -readily turned round; it is of such capacity, -that it carries six or seven men, seven or eight -hundred weight of whale-line, and various -other materials, and yet retains the necessary -properties of safety, buoyancy, and speed, -either in smooth water, or where it is exposed -to a considerable sea. Whale-boats, being very -liable to receive damage, both from whales and -ice, are always carver-built—a structure which -is easily repaired. They are usually of the -following dimensions. Those called six-oared -boats, adapted for carrying seven men, six of -whom, including the harpooner, are rowers, are -generally twenty-six to twenty-eight feet in -length, and about five feet nine inches in -breadth. Six-men boats, that is, with five -rowers and a steersman, are usually twenty-five -to twenty-six feet in length, and about five feet -three inches in breadth; and four-oared boats -are usually twenty-three to twenty-four feet in -length, and about five feet, three inches in -breadth. The main breadth of the two first -classes of boats is at about three-sevenths -of the length of the boat, reckoned from -the stern; but in the last class it is necessary -to have the main breadth within one-third -of the length of the boat from the stern.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span> -The object of this is to enable the smaller boat -to support, without being dragged under water, -as great a strain on the lines as those of a larger -class; otherwise, if such a boat were sent out by -itself, its lines would be always liable to be lost -before any assistance could reach it.</p> - -<p>The five-oared or six-men boat is that which -is in general use; though each fishing-ship generally -carries one or two of the largest class. -These boats are now commonly built of fir -boards, one-half or three-fourths of an inch -thick, with timbers, keel, gunwales, stern, and -stern-post of oak. An improvement in the -timbering of whale-boats has lately been made, -by sawing the timber out of very straight -grained oak, and bending them to the required -form after being made supple by the -application of steam, or immersion in boiling -water. This improvement, which renders the -timbers more elastic than when they are sawn -out of crooked oak, and at the same time -makes the boat stronger and lighter, was -suggested by Thomas Brodrick, esq., of Whitby, -ship-builder. Though the principle has long -been acted upon in clincher-built boats, with ash -timbers, the application to carver-built whale-boats -is, I believe, new. The bow and stern of -Greenland boats are both sharp, and in appearance -very similar, but the stern forms a -more acute angle than the bow. The keel has -some depression in the middle from which the -facility of turning is acquired.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span></p> - -<p>The instruments of general use in the capture -of the whale are the harpoon and the -lance. The harpoon is an instrument of iron, of -about three feet in length. It consists of three -conjoined parts, called the “socket,” “shank,” -and “mouth,” the latter of which includes the -barbs or “withers.” This instrument, if we -except a small addition to the barbs and some -enlargement of dimensions, maintains the same -form in which it was originally used in the -fishery two centuries ago. At that time, the -mouth or barbed extremity was of a triangular -shape, united at the shank in the middle of one -of the sides, and this being scooped out on each -side of the shank formed two simple flat barbs. -In the course of last century, an improvement -was made by adding another small barb, resembling -the beard of a fishhook, within each of -the former withers in a reverse position. The -two principal withers in the present improved -harpoon measure about eight inches in length -and six in breadth, the shank is eighteen inches -to two feet in length, and four-tenths of an inch -in diameter, and the socket, which is hollow, -swells from the size of the shank to near two -inches diameter, and is about six inches in -length. Now, when the harpoon is forced by a -blow into the fat of the whale, and the line is -held tight, the principal withers seize the strong -ligamentous fibres of the blubber, and prevent it -from being withdrawn; and, in the event of its -being pulled out so far as to remain entangled<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span> -by one wither only, which is frequently the -case, then the little reversed barb, or “stop-wither,” -as it is called, collecting a number of -the same reticulated sinewy fibres, which are -very numerous near the skin, prevents the harpoon -from being shaken out by the ordinary -motions of the whale. The point and exterior -edges of the barbs of the harpoon are sharpened -to a rough edge by means of a file. This part -of the harpoon is not formed of steel, as it is -frequently represented, but of common soft iron, -so that when blunted it can be readily sharpened -by a file, or even by scraping it with a -knife.</p> - -<p>The most important part in the construction -of this instrument is the shank. As this part -is liable to be forcibly and suddenly extended, -twisted, and bent, it requires to be made of the -softest and most pliable iron. That kind which -is of the most approved tenacity is made of old -horse-shoe nails or <em>stubs</em>, which are formed into -small rods, and two or three of these welded -together, so that should a flaw happen to occur -in any one of the rods, the strength of the whole -might still be depended on. Some manufacturers -inclose a quantity of stub-iron in a -cylinder of best foreign iron, and form the -shank of the harpoon out of a single rod. A -test, sometimes used for trying the sufficiency -of a harpoon, is to wind its shank round a bolt -of inch-iron, in the form of a close spiral, then -to unwind it again, and put it into a straight<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span> -form. It bears this without injury in the -cold state, it is considered as excellent. The -breaking of a harpoon is of no less importance -than the value of a whale, which is sometimes -estimated at more than £1000 sterling. This -consideration has induced many ingenious persons -to turn their attention towards improving -the construction and security of this instrument, -but though various alterations have been suggested, -such as forming the shank of wire, -adding one or two lateral barbs, etc., etc., they -have all given place to the simplicity of the -ancient harpoon.</p> - -<p>Next in importance to the harpoon is the -lance, which is a spear of iron of the length of -six feet. It consists of a hollow socket, six -inches long, swelling from half an inch, the -size of the shank, to near two inches in diameter, -into which is fitted a four feet stock or -handle of fir; a shank, five feet long and half -an inch in diameter; and a mouth of steel, -which is made very thin, and exceedingly -sharp, seven or eight inches in length, and two -or two and a half in breadth. Besides these -instruments, there is also the harpoon gun. It -was invented in the year 1731, and used by -some individuals with success. Being however -difficult, and somewhat dangerous in its application, -it was laid aside for many years. In -1771 or 1772, a new one was produced to the -Society of Arts, and received as an original -invention. Between 1772 and 1792, the Society<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span> -expended large sums in premiums to whale-fishers -and to artisans for improvements in the -gun and harpoon. Since 1792, they have generally -been in the habit of offering a premium -of ten guineas to the harpooner who should -shoot the greatest number of whales in one -season, not being less than three. This premium, -however, though it has been frequently offered, -has been seldom claimed. In its present improved -form, as made by Mr. Wallis, gunsmith, -Hull, the harpoon-gun consists of a kind of -swivel, having a barrel of wrought-iron 24 or -26 inches in length, of 3 inches exterior diameter, -and 1⅞ inches bore. It is furnished with two -locks, which act simultaneously, for the purpose -of diminishing the liability of the gun missing -fire. The shank of the harpoon is double, -terminating in a cylindrical knob, fitting the -bore of the gun. Between the two parts of the -shank is a wire ring, to which is attached the -line. Now, when the harpoon is introduced -into the barrel of the gun, the ring with the -attached line remains on the outside near the -mouth of the harpoon, but the instant that it is -fired, the ring flies back against the cylindrical -knob. The harpoon-gun has been rendered -capable of throwing a harpoon near forty yards -with effect, yet, on account of the difficulty -in the management of it, it has not been very -generally adopted.</p> - -<p>In the course of the outward passage, the -different utensils are fitted for immediate use.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span> -One preparation is that which is known by the -name of “spanning harpoons.” A piece of rope, -of the best hemp, called a “fore-ganger,” about -two and a quarter inches in circumference, and -eight or nine yards in length, is spliced closely -round the shank of the harpoon, the swelled -socket of which prevents the eye of the <em>splice</em> -from being drawn off. A stock, or handle, six -or seven feet in length, is then fitted into the -socket, and fastened in its place through the -medium of the fore-ganger. The fastening of -the stock is sufficient only for retaining it firm -in its situation during the discharge of the weapon, -but is liable to be disengaged soon afterwards; -on which the harpoon, relieved from -the shake and twist of this no longer necessary -appendage, maintains its hold with better effect. -After the stock drops out, it is seldom lost, but -still hangs on the line by means of a loop of -cord, fixed openly round it, for the purpose of -preventing the stock from floating away. Every -harpoon is stamped with the name of the ship to -which it belongs; and when prepared for use, -a private mark, containing the name of the ship -and master, with the date of the year written -upon leather, is concealed beneath some rope-yarns, -wound round the socket of the instrument, -and the same is sometimes introduced -also into the fore-ganger. These marks serve -to identify the harpoons, when any dispute happens -to arise relative to the claims of different -ships to the same fish and have sometimes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span> -proved of essential service in deciding cases -which might otherwise have extended to vexatious -litigations.</p> - -<p>A harpoon thus prepared, with fore-ganger -and stock, is said to be “spanned in.” In this -state, the point or mouth, being very clean and -sharp, is preserved in the same condition by -a shield of oiled paper or canvas; and the instrument, -with its appendages, laid up in a -convenient place, ready for being attached to -the whale-line in a boat when wanted.</p> - -<p>The principal preparations for commencing the -fishery are included in the “fitting of the boats.” -In this work all the people belonging to the ship -are employed. The boats are first cleared of all -lumber, and then the whale-lines, each consisting -of 120 fathoms of rope, about two and a quarter -inches in circumference, are spliced to each -other, to the amount of about six to each boat, -the united length of which is about 720 fathoms, -or 4,320 feet; and the whole carefully and beautifully -coiled in compartments in the boat prepared -for the purpose. A portion of five or six -fathoms of the line first put into the boat, called -the “stray-line,” is left uncovered by that which -follows, and coiled by itself in a small compartment -at the stern of the boat: it is furnished -with a loop or “eye,” for the facility of connecting -the lines of one boat with those of another. -To the upper end of the line is spliced the fore-ganger -of a spanned harpoon, thus connecting -the harpoon with all the lines in the boat.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span></p> - -<p>Every boat completely fitted is furnished with -two harpoons (one spare,) six or eight lances, -and five to seven oars, together with the following -instruments and apparatus:—A “jack,” or -flag, fastened to a pole, intended to be displayed -as a signal, whenever a whale is harpooned; a -“tail-knife,” used for perforating the fins or tail -of a dead whale; a “mik,” or rest, made of -wood, for supporting the stock of the harpoon -when ready for instant service; an “axe,” for -cutting the line when necessary; a “pigging,” -or small bucket, for bailing the boat or wetting -the running lines; a “snatch-block;” a “grapnel;” -two “boat-hooks;” a “fid;” a wooden -“mallet,” and “snow-shovel;” also, a small -broom and a “swab,” together with spare tholes, -grommets, etc. In addition to these, the two -six-oared or other swiftest boats are likewise -furnished with an apparatus, called a “winch,” -for heaving the lines into the boat after the fish -is either killed or has made his escape; and in -some ships they also carry a harpoon-gun, and -apparatus for loading. The whole of the articles -above enumerated are disposed in convenient -places throughout the boat. The axe is -always placed within the reach of the harpooner, -who, in case of an accident, can cut the line in -an instant; the harpoon-gun is fixed by its -swivel to the boat’s stern; the lances are laid in -the sides of the boat, upon the thwarts; the -hand-harpoon is placed upon the mik, or rest, -with its stock, and on the bow of the boat<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span> -with its point, and the fore-ganger is clearly -coiled beneath it, so that the harpoon can be -taken up and discharged in a moment. An oar -is used for steering, in preference to a rudder, -in consequence of its possessing many advantages: -an oar does not retard the velocity of the -boat so much as a rudder; it is capable of turning -the boat when in a state of rest, and more -readily than a rudder when in motion; and it -can be used for propelling the boat in narrow -places of the ice, where the rowers cannot ply -their oars, by the process of sculling, and in -calms for approaching a whale without noise, -by the same operation.</p> - -<p>The crew of a whale-ship are separated into -divisions, equal in number to the number of -the boats. Each division, consisting of a harpooner, -a boat-steerer, and a line-manager, together -with three or four rowers, constitutes a -boat’s crew. The harpooner’s principal office -is, as his name implies, to strike the whale, also -to guide the line, or to kill an entangled whale -with his lances. When in pursuit he rows the -bow-oar. He has the command of the boat. -The boat-steerer ranks next to the harpooner; -he guides the course of the boat, watches the -motions of the whale pursued, intimates its -movements to the harpooner, and stimulates the -crew to exertion by encouraging exclamations. -The line-manager rows the “after-oar” in the -boat, and, conjointly with the boat-steerer, attends -to the lines when in the act of running<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span> -out or coiling in. The remainder of the crew -pull the oars. Besides these divisions of the -seamen of a whaler into boats’ crews, they are -classed on the passages, and when no whale-fishing -is going on, as in other vessels, into watches.</p> - -<p>On fishing-stations, when the weather is -such as to render the fishery practicable, the -boats are always ready for instant service, suspended -from davits, or cranes, by the sides of -the ship, and furnished with stores, as before -enumerated; two boats at least, the crews of -which are always in readiness, can in general -be manned and lowered into the water within -the space of one minute of time. “Wherever -there is a probability of seeing whales, when -the weather and situation are such as to present -a possibility of capturing them, the “crow’s -nest” is generally occupied by the master, or -some one of the officers, who, commanding -from thence an extensive prospect of the surrounding -sea, keeps an anxious watch for the -appearance of a whale. Assisted by a telescope, -he views the operations of any ship -which may be in sight at a distance; and -occasionally sweeps the horizon with his glass, -to extend the limited sphere of vision in which -he is able to discriminate a whale with the -naked eye to an area vastly greater. The -moment that a fish is seen, he gives notice to -the “watch upon deck,” part of whom leap into -a boat, are lowered down, and push off towards -the place. If the fish be large, a second<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span> -boat is immediately dispatched to the support -of the other. When the whale again appears, -two boats row towards it with their utmost -speed, and though they may be disappointed in -all their attempts, they generally continue the -pursuit until the fish either takes the alarm -and escapes, or they are recalled by a signal -to the ship. When two or more fishes appear -at the same time in different situations, the -number of boats sent in pursuit is commonly -increased. When the whole of the boats are -sent out, the ship is said to have “a loose fall.” -During fine weather, when there is great probability -of finding whales, a boat is generally -kept in readiness, manned and afloat, sometimes -towed by a rope astern, or, if the ship be -still, at a little distance. There are several -rules observed in approaching a whale, as precautions, -to prevent the animal from taking -the alarm. As the whale is dull of hearing, -but quick of sight, the boat-steerer always endeavours -to get behind it, and, in accomplishing -this, he sometimes takes a circuitous route. -In calm weather, when guns are not used, the -greatest caution is necessary before a whale -can be reached; smooth careful rowing is -always requisite, and sometimes sculling.</p> - -<p>When it is known that a whale seldom abides -longer on the surface of the water than two -minutes, that it generally remains from five to -ten or fifteen minutes under water, that in -this interval it sometimes moves through the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span> -space of half a mile or more, and that the -fisher has very rarely any certain intimation of -the place in which it will reappear—the difficulty -and address requisite to approach sufficiently -near, during its short stay on the surface, -to harpoon it, will be readily appreciated. -It is, therefore, a primary consideration with -the harpooner always to place his boat as near -as possible to the spot where he expects the -fish to rise; and he considers himself successful -in the attempt when the fish “comes up -within a start,” that is, within the distance of -about two hundred yards. A whale moving -forward, at a small distance beneath the surface -of the sea, leaves a sure indication of its situation -in what is called “an eddy,” having somewhat -the resemblance of “the wake,” or track -of a ship; and in fine calm weather, its change -of position is sometimes pointed out by the -birds, many of which closely follow it when at -the surface, and hover over it when below, -whose keener vision can discern it when it is -totally concealed from human eye. By these -indications many whales have been taken.</p> - -<p>The providence of God is manifested in the -tameness and timidity of many of the largest -inhabitants of the earth and sea, whereby they -fall victims to the prowess of man, and are -rendered subservient to his convenience in life. -And this was the design of the lower animals -in their creation, for God, when he made -man, gave him “dominion over the fish of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span> -the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over -the cattle, and over all the earth, and over -every creeping thing that creepeth upon the -earth.” The holy psalmist, when considering -the power and goodness of God in the creation, -exclaimed, “What is man, that thou art mindful -of him; and the son of man, that thou -visitest him?” And, in contemplation of the -glory and honour put upon man by the Almighty, -in the power given him over created -nature, he adds, “Thou madest him to have -dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast -put all things under his feet: ... the fowl of -the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever -passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord -our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the -earth!” Hence, while we admire the cool and -determined intrepidity of those who successfully -encounter the huge mysticetus, if we are led to -reflect on the source of the power by which -the strength of men is rendered effectual for -the mighty undertaking, our reflections must -lead us to the great First Cause as the only -source from whence such power could be derived. -If there be peril in the encounter between -man and God’s most powerful creatures, -how much more dangerous must be the struggle -between man and the Lord his Maker; and -how certain, if it be prolonged, the terrible -issue of such a contest! The power of the -mighty monster of the deep, or even of the -most glorious archangel, is as nothing in comparison<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span> -with Him to whom power belongeth, -and who will overwhelm his adversaries with a -fearful and final perdition. Now, however, -there is no fury in him, and he is as condescending -as he is powerful, entreating his rebellious -subjects to receive the peace of his -reconciliation, and to draw near to him with a -penitent and contrite heart, through the merit -and intercession of his Son, in whom he -assures us of a free and complete forgiveness.</p> - -<p>Whenever a whale lies on the surface of the -water, unconscious of the approach of its enemies, -the hardy fisher rows directly upon it; -and, an instant before the boat touches it, buries -his harpoon in its back; but if, while the boat -is at a little distance, the whale should indicate -its intention of diving, by lifting its head above -its common level, and then plunging it under -water, and raising its body till it appears like a -large segment of a sphere, the harpoon is thrown -from the hand, or fired from a gun, the former -of which methods, when skilfully practised, is -efficient at the distance of eight or ten yards, -and the latter at the distance of thirty yards, or -upward. The wounded whale, in the surprise -and agony of the moment, makes a convulsive -effort to escape. Then is the moment of danger. -The boat is subjected to the most violent blows -from its head or its fins, but particularly from -its ponderous tail, which sometimes sweeps the -air with such tremendous fury, that both boat<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span> -and men are exposed to one common destruction.</p> - -<p>The head of the whale is avoided, because it -cannot be penetrated with the harpoon; but -any part of the body between the head and the -tail will admit of the full length of the instrument, -without danger of obstruction. The moment -that the wounded whale disappears, or leaves -the boat, a jack or flag, elevated on a staff, is -displayed, on sight of which those on watch in -the ship give the alarm, by stamping on the -deck, accompanied by a simultaneous and continuous -shout of “a fall.” This word, derived -from the Dutch language, is expressive of the -conduct of the sailors in jumping, dropping, -falling to man the boats on an occasion requiring -extreme dispatch. At this sound, the sleeping -crew arouse, jump from their beds, rush upon -deck, with their clothes tied by a string in their -hands, and crowd into the boats. With a temperature -of zero, should a “fall” occur, the -crew would appear on deck, shielded only by -their drawers, stockings, and shirts, or other -habiliments in which they sleep. They generally -contrive to dress themselves in part, at -least, as the boats are lowered down, but sometimes -they push off in the state in which they -rise from their beds, row away towards the -“fast-boat,” and have no opportunity of clothing -themselves for a length of time afterwards. The -alarm of “a fall” has a singular effect on the -feelings of a sleeping person unaccustomed to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span> -the whale-fishing business. It has often been -mistaken as a cry of distress. A landsman in -a Hull ship, seeing the crew on an occasion of -a fall rush upon deck, with their clothes in -their hands, and leap into the boats, when there -was no appearance of danger, thought the men -were all mad; but with another individual the -effect was totally different. Alarmed with the -extraordinary noise, and still more so when he -reached the deck with the appearance of all the -crew seated in the boats in their shirts, he -imagined the ship was sinking. He therefore -endeavoured to get into a boat himself; but -every one of them being fully manned, he was -always repulsed. After several fruitless endeavours -to gain a place among his comrades, he -cried out, with feelings of evident distress, -“What shall I do?—will none of you take -me in?”</p> - -<p>The first effort of a “fast-fish,” or whale that -has been struck, is to escape from the boat by -sinking under water. After this, it pursues its -course directly downward, or reappears at a -little distance, and swims with great celerity -near the surface of the water towards any -neighbouring ice among which it may obtain an -imaginary shelter; or it returns instantly to -the surface, and gives evidence of its agony by -the most convulsive throes, in which its fins -and tail are alternately displayed in the air and -dashed into the water with tremendous violence. -The former behaviour, however, that is, to dive<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span> -towards the bottom of the sea, is so frequent in -comparison of any other, that it may be considered -as the general conduct of a “fast-fish.” -A whale, struck near the edge of any large sheet -of ice, and passing underneath it, will sometimes -run the whole of the line out of one boat in the -space of eight or ten minutes of time. To retard, -therefore, as much as possible, the flight -of the whale, and to secure the lines, it is usual -for the harpooner to cast one, two, or more -turns of the line round a kind of post, called a -<em>bollard</em>, which is fixed within ten or twelve -inches of the stern of the boat for the purpose. -Such is the friction of the line, when running -round the bollard, that it frequently envelopes -the harpooner in smoke; and if the wood were -not repeatedly wetted, would probably set fire -to the boat.</p> - -<p>During the capture of one whale, a groove is -sometimes cut in the bollard, near an inch in -depth, and were it not for a plate of brass, iron, -or a block of lignum vitæ, which covers the top -of the stern, where the line passes over, it is -apprehended that the action of the line on the -material of the boat would cut it down to the -water’s edge in the course of one season of successful -fishing. The approaching distress of a -boat for want of line is indicated by the elevation -of an oar in the way of a mast, to which is -added a second, a third, or even a fourth, in -proportion to the nature of the exigence. The -utmost care and attention are requisite on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span> -part of every person in the boat when the lines -are running out, fatal consequences having been -sometimes produced by the most trifling neglect. -On my first voyage to the whale-fishery, such -an accident occurred. A thousand fathoms of -line were already out, and the fast-boat was -forcibly pressed against the side of a piece of -ice. The harpooner, in his anxiety to retard -the flight of the whale, applied too many turns -of the line round the bollard, which, getting entangled, -drew the boat beneath the ice. Another -boat providentially was at hand, into -which the crew, including myself, who happened -to be present, had just time to escape. -The whale, with near two miles length of line, -was, in consequence of the accident, lost.</p> - -<p>When fish have been struck by myself, I -have, on different occasions, estimated their rate -of descent. For the first 300 fathoms, the average -velocity was usually after the rate of eight to -ten miles per hour. In one instance, the third -line of 120 fathoms was run out in sixty-one -seconds, that is, at the rate of 8·16 miles, or 7·18 -nautical miles, per hour. The average stay -under water of a wounded whale, which steadily -descends after being struck, according to the -most usual conduct of the animal, is about thirty -minutes. The longest stay I ever observed was -fifty-six minutes; but in shallow water I have -been informed it has sometimes been known to -remain an hour and a half at the bottom after -being struck, and yet has returned to the surface<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span> -alive. The greater the velocity, the more -considerable the distance to which it descends, -and the longer the time it remains under water, -so much greater in proportion is the extent of -exhaustion, and the consequent facility of accomplishing -its capture. Immediately that it -reappears, the assisting boats make for the -place with their utmost speed, and as they -reach it, each harpooner plunges his harpoon -into its back, to the amount of three, four, -or more, according to the size of the whale -and the nature of the situation. Most frequently, -however, it descends for a few minutes after receiving -the second harpoon, and obliges the -other boats to await its return to the surface -before any attack can be made. It is afterwards -actively plied with lances, which are -thrust into its body, aiming at its vitals. At -length, when exhausted by numerous wounds -and the loss of blood, which flows from the -huge animal in copious streams, it indicates -the approach of its dissolution by discharging -from its “blow-holes” a mixture of blood -along with the air and mucus which it usually -expires, and finally jets of blood. The sea to -a great extent around is dyed with its blood, -and the ice-boats and men are sometimes -drenched with the same. Its track is likewise -marked by a broad pellicle of oil, which exudes -from his wounds, and appears on the surface -of the sea. Its final capture is sometimes preceded -by a convulsive and energetic struggle,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span> -in which its tail, reared, whirled, and violently -jerked in the air, resounds to the distance of -miles. In dying, it turns on its back, or on its -side, which joyful circumstance is announced -by the capturers with the striking of their -flags, accompanied with three lively huzzas.</p> - -<p>The remarkable exhaustion observed on the -first appearance of a wounded whale at the -surface, after a descent of 700 or 800 fathoms -perpendicular, does not depend on the nature -of the wound it has received, for a hundred -superficial wounds received from harpoons could -not have the effect of a single lance penetrating -the vitals, but is the effect of the almost incredible -pressure to which the animal must -have been exposed. The surface of the body -of a large whale may be considered as comprising -an area of 1,540 square feet. This, -under the common weight of the atmosphere -alone, must sustain a pressure of 3,104,640 lbs., -or 1,386 tons. But at the depth of 800 fathoms, -where there is a column of water equal in -weight to about 154 atmospheres, the pressure -on the animal must be equal to 211,200 tons. -This is a degree of pressure of which we can -have but an imperfect conception. It may -assist our comprehension, however, to be informed, -that it exceeds in weight sixty of the -largest ships of the British navy, when manned, -provisioned, and fitted for a six months’ cruise.</p> - -<p>By the motions of the fast-boat, the movements -of the whale are estimated. Every fast-boat<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span> -carries a flag, and the ship to which such -boats belong also wears a flag, until the whale -is either killed or makes its escape. These -signals serve to indicate to surrounding ships -the exclusive title of the fast-ship to the entangled -whale, and to prevent their interference, -excepting in the way of assistance in -the capture.</p> - -<p>With respect to the length of time requisite -for capturing a whale, it may be remarked -that this greatly depends on the activity of -the harpooners, the favourableness of situation -and weather, and on the peculiar conduct of -the whale attacked. I have myself witnessed -the capture of a large whale in twenty-eight -minutes, and have also been engaged with -another fish, which was lost, after it had been -entangled about sixteen hours. Under the -most favourable circumstances, the average -length of time occupied in the capture of a -whale may be stated as not exceeding an -hour, and the general average, including all -sizes of fish and all circumstances of capture, -may probably be two or three hours. The -mode described in the preceding pages of -conducting the fishery for whales under favourable -circumstances, may be considered as the -general plan pursued by the fishers of all -ports of Britain, as well as of those of other -nations who resort to Spitzbergen.</p> - -<p>The ease with which some whales are subdued, -and the slightness of the entanglement by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span> -which they are taken, are truly surprising; but, -with others, it is equally astonishing, that neither -line nor harpoon, nor any number of each, -is sufficiently strong to effect their capture. -Whales have even been taken in consequence -of the entanglement of a line, without any harpoon -at all; though, when such a case has -occurred, it has evidently been the result of accident. -A harpooner belonging to the Prince -of Brazils, of Hull, had struck a small fish. It -descended, and remained for some time quiet, -and at length appeared to be drowned. The -strain on the line being then considerable, it -was taken to the ship’s capstern, with a view -of heaving the fish up. The force requisite for -performing this operation was extremely various; -sometimes the line came in with ease, at -others, a quantity was withdrawn with great -force and rapidity. As such, it appeared evident -that the fish was yet alive. The heaving, -however, was persisted in, and after the greater -part of the lines had been drawn on board, a -dead fish appeared at the surface, secured by -several turns of the line round its body. It -was disentangled with difficulty, and was confidently -believed to be the whale that had been -struck. But when the line was cleared from -the fish, it proved to be merely the “bight,” -for the end still hung perpendicularly downward. -What was then the surprise to find -that it was still pulled away with considerable -force! The capstern was again resorted to, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span> -shortly afterwards they hove up, also dead, the -fish originally struck, with the harpoon still -fast. Hence, it appeared that the fish first -drawn up had got accidentally entangled with -the line, and, in its struggles to escape, had still -further involved itself, by winding the line repeatedly -round its body. The fish first entangled, -as was suspected, had long been dead, but -it was this interloper that occasioned the jerks -and other singular effects observed on the -line.</p> - -<p>The method already described is that which -is adopted for the capture of whales under the -most favourable circumstances, and is subject -to many alterations when the situation or circumstances -are peculiar. Hence arise various -modes of capturing the whale, which furnish -abundant opportunities for the exercise of ingenuity -and skill, and are attended by their -peculiar dangers. To an enumeration of these -various methods, according to local circumstances, -we now proceed to direct the reader’s -attention.</p> - -<p>1. <em>Pack-fishing.</em>—The borders of close packs -of drift-ice are frequently a favourite resort of -large whales. To attack them in such a situation -subjects the fisher to great risks in his -lines and boats, as well as uncertainty in effecting -their capture. When a considerable swell -prevails on the borders of the ice, the whales, -on being struck, will sometimes recede from the -pack, and become the prize of their assailers;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span> -but most generally they flee to it for shelter, -and frequently make their escape. To guard -against the loss of lines as much as possible, it -is usual either to strike two harpoons from -different boats at the same moment, or to -bridle the lines of a second boat upon those of -the boat from which the fish is struck. This -operation consists in fixing other lines to those -of the fast-boat, at some distance from the harpoon, -so that there is only one harpoon and one -line immediately attached to the fish, but the -double strength of a line from the place of their -junction to the boats. Hence, should the fish -flee directly into the ice, and proceed to an inaccessible -distance, the two boats bearing an -equal strain on each of their lines can at pleasure -draw the harpoon, or break the single part -of the line immediately connected with it, and -in either case secure themselves against any -considerable loss.</p> - -<p>When a pack, from its closeness, prevents -boats from penetrating, the men travel over the -ice, leaping from piece to piece, in pursuit -of the entangled whale. In this pursuit they -carry lances with them, and sometimes harpoons, -with which, whenever they can approach -the fish, they attack it; and if they succeed in -killing it, they drag it towards the exterior -margin of the ice, by means of the line fastened -to the harpoon with which it was originally -struck. In such cases, it is generally an object -of importance to sink it beneath the ice; for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span> -effecting which purpose, each lobe of the tail is -divided from the body, excepting a small portion -of the edge, from which it hangs pendulous -in the water. If it still floats, bags of sand, -kedges, or small cannon, are suspended by a -block on the bight of the line, wherewith the -buoyancy of the dead whale is usually overcome. -It then sinks, and is easily hauled out -by the line into the open sea.</p> - -<p>To particularize all the variety of pack-fishing, -arising from wind and weather, size of -the fish, state and peculiarities of the ice, etc., -would require more space than the interest of -the subject to general readers would justify. I -shall therefore only remark, that pack-fishing -is, on the whole, the most troublesome and dangerous -of all others; that instances have occurred -of fish having been entangled during -forty or fifty hours, and escaped after all; and -that other instances are remembered, of ships -having lost the greater part of their stock -of lines, several of their boats, and sometimes, -though happily less commonly, some individuals -of their crews.</p> - -<p>2. <em>Field-fishing.</em>—The fishery for whales, -when conducted at the margin of those wonderful -sheets of solid ice, called fields, is, when -the weather is fine, and the refuge for ships -secure, the most agreeable, and sometimes the -most productive of all situations which the -fishery of Greenland presents. A fish struck -at the margin of a large field of ice generally<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span> -descends obliquely beneath it, takes four or -eight lines from the fast-boat, and then returns -exhausted to the edge. It is then attacked in -the usual way with harpoons and lances, and is -easily killed. There is one evident advantage -in field-fishing, which is this: when the fast-boat -lies at the edge of a firm unbroken field, -and the line proceeds in an angle beneath the -ice, the fish must necessarily arise somewhere -in a semicircle described from the fast-boat as -a centre, with a sweep not exceeding the length -of the lines out; but most generally it appears -in a line extending along the margin of the ice, -so that the boats, when dispersed along the -edge of the field, are as effectual and as ready -for promoting the capture as twice the number -of boats or more when fishing in open situations; -because, in open situations, the whale -may arise anywhere within a circle, instead of -a semicircle, described by the length of the -lines withdrawn from the fast-boat, whence it -frequently happens that all the attendant boats -are disposed in a wrong direction, and the fish -recovers its breath, breaks loose, and escapes -before any of them can secure it with a second -harpoon. Hence, when a ship fishes at a field -with an ordinary crew and six or seven boats, -two of the largest fish may be struck at the -same time with every prospect of success; -while the same force attempting the capture of -two at once in an open situation, will not unfrequently -occasion the loss of both. There have,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span> -indeed, been many instances of a ship’s crew, -with seven boats, striking at a field six fish at -the same time, and succeeding in killing the -whole; generally speaking, six boats at a field -are capable of performing the same execution -as near twice that number in open situations. -Besides, fields sometimes afford an opportunity -of fishing, when in any other situation there can -be little or no probability of success, or, indeed, -when to fish elsewhere is utterly impracticable. -Thus, calms, storms, and fogs, are great annoyances -in the fishery in general, and frequently -prevent it altogether, but at fields the fishery -goes on under any of these disadvantages. As -there are several important advantages attending -the fishery at fields, so likewise there are -some serious disadvantages, chiefly relating to -the safety of the ships engaged in the occupation. -The motions of fields are rapid, various, -and unaccountable, and the power with which -they approach each other, and squeeze every -resisting object, immense; hence occasionally -vast mischief is produced, which it is not -always in the power of the most skilful and -attentive master to foresee or prevent.</p> - -<p>Such are the principal advantages and disadvantages -of fields of ice to the whale-fishery. -The advantages, however, as above enumerated, -though they extend to large floes, do not -extend to small floes, or to such fields, how -large soever they may be, as contain cracks or -holes, or are filled up with thin ice in the interior.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span> -Large and firm fields are the most convenient, -and likewise the most advantageous -for the fishery; the most convenient, because -the whales, unable to breathe beneath a close -extensive field of ice, are obliged to make their -appearance again above water among the boats -on the look out; and they are the most advantageous, -because not only the most fish commonly -resort to them, but a greater number -can be killed with less force, and in a shorter -space of time, than in any other situation. -Thin fields, or fields full of holes, being by no -means advantageous to fish by, are usually -avoided, because a “fast fish” retreating under -such a field, can respire through the holes in -the centre as conveniently as on the exterior; -and a large fish usually proceeds from one hole -to another, and if determined to advance, cannot -possibly be stopped. In this case, all that -can be done is, to break the line or draw the -harpoon out. But when the fish can be -observed blowing in any of the holes in a field, -the men travel over the ice, and attack it with -lances, pricking it over the nose to endeavour -to turn it back. This scheme, however, does -not always answer the expectations of the -fishers, as frequently the fear of his enemies -acts so powerfully on the whale that he pushes -forward towards the interior to his dying -moment. When killed, the same means are -used as in pack-fishing to sink it, but they -do not always succeed; for the harpoon is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span> -frequently drawn out, or the line broken in the -effort. If, therefore, no attempt to sink the -fish avails, there is scarcely any other practicable -method of making a prize of it, (unless -when the ice happens to be so thin that it can -be broken with a boat, or a channel readily -cut in it with an ice-saw,) than cutting the -blubber away, and dragging it piece by piece -across the ice to the vessel, which requires immense -labour, and is attended with vast loss of -time. Hence we have a sufficient reason for -avoiding such situations, whenever fish can be -found elsewhere.</p> - -<p>As connected with this subject, I cannot pass -over a circumstance which occurred within my -own observation, and which excited my highest -admiration. On the 8th July, 1813, the ship Esk -lay by the edge of a thin sheet of ice, in which -were several thin parts and some holes. Here a -fish being heard blowing, a harpoon, having a -line connected with it, was conveyed across the -ice by a boat on guard, and the harpooner succeeded -in striking the whale, at the distance of -350 yards from the verge. It dragged out ten -lines, (2,400 yards,) and was supposed to be seen -blowing in different holes in the ice. After -some time, it happened to make its appearance -on the exterior, when a harpoon was struck at -the moment it was on the point of proceeding -again beneath. About a hundred yards -from the edge, it broke the ice where it was a -foot in thickness with its crown, and respired<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span> -through the opening. It then determinately -pushed forward, breaking the ice as it advanced, -in spite of the lances continually directed against -it. It reached at length a kind of basin in the -field, where it floated on the surface of the -water without any encumbrance from ice. Its -back being fairly exposed, the harpoon struck -from the boat was observed to be so slightly -entangled that it was ready to drop out. Some -of the officers lamented this circumstance, and -expressed a wish that the harpoon were better -fast, observing at the same time that if it -should slip out, the fish would either be lost, or -they would be under the necessity of flensing it -where it lay, and of dragging the pieces of -blubber over the ice to the ship, a kind and -degree of labour every one was anxious to -avoid. No sooner was the wish expressed, and -its importance made known, than one of the -sailors, a smart and enterprising fellow, stepped -forward and volunteered his services to strike -it better in. Not at all intimidated by the -surprise which was manifested in every countenance -by such a bold proposal, he pulled out -his pocket-knife, leapt upon the back of the -living whale, and immediately cut the harpoon -out. Stimulated by this courageous example, -two of his companions proceeded to his assistance. -While one of them hauled upon the line, -and held it in his hands, the other set his -shoulder against the extremity of the harpoon, -and, though it was without a stock, he contrived<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span> -to strike it again into the fish more -effectually than it was at first. The fish was -in motion before this was finished. After they -got off its back, it advanced a considerable -distance, breaking the ice all the way, and survived -this uncommon treatment ten or fifteen -minutes. This admirable act was an essential -benefit. The fish sunk spontaneously after -being killed, on which it was hauled out to -the edge of the ice by the line, and secured -without further trouble. It proved a stout -whale, and a very acceptable prize.</p> - -<p>When a ship approaches a considerable field -of ice, and finds whales, it is usual to moor to -the leeward side of it, from which the adjoining -ice generally first separates. Boats are then -placed on watch on each side of the ship, and -stationed at intervals of one hundred or one -hundred and fifty yards along the edge of the -ice. Hence, if a fish arises anywhere between -the extreme boats, it seldom escapes -unhurt. It is not uncommon for a great -number of ships to moor to the same sheet -of ice. When the whale-fishery of the -Hollanders was in a flourishing state, above -one hundred sail of ships might sometimes be -seen moored to the same field of ice, each -having two or more boats on watch. The field -would in consequence, be so nearly surrounded -with boats, that it was almost impossible for a -fish to rise near the verge of the ice without -being within the limits of a start of some of them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span></p> - -<p>3. <em>Fishing in crowded ice or in open packs.</em>—In -navigable open drift-ice, or amongst small -detached streams and patches, either of which -serve in a degree to break the force of the sea, -and to prevent any considerable swell from -arising, we have a situation which is considered -as one of the best possible for conducting the -fishery in; consequently, it comes under the -same denomination as those favourable situations -in which I have first attempted to -describe the proceedings of the fishers in killing -the whale. But the situation I now mean to -refer to is when the ice is crowded and nearly -close, so close, indeed, that it scarcely affords -room for boats to pass through it, and by no -means sufficient space for a ship to be navigated -among it. This kind of situation occurs -in somewhat open packs, or in large patches of -crowded ice, and affords a fair probability of -capturing a whale, though it is seldom accomplished -without a considerable deal of trouble. -When the ice is very crowded, and the ship -cannot sail into it with propriety, it is usual, -especially with foreigners, to seek out for a mooring -to some mass of ice, if such can be found, extending -two or three fathoms or more under -water. A piece of ice of this kind is capable not -only of holding the ship “head to wind,” but also -to windward of the smaller ice. The boats then -set out in chase of any fish which may be seen, -and when one happens to be struck, they proceed -in the capture in a similar manner as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span> -when under more favourable circumstances, -excepting so far as the obstruction which the -quality and arrangement of the ice may offer -to the regular system of proceeding. Among -crowded ice, for instance, the precise direction -pursued by the fish is not easily ascertained, -nor can the fish itself be readily discovered on -its first arrival at the surface after being struck, -on account of the elevation of the intervening -masses of ice, and the great quantity of line it -frequently takes from the fast-boat. Success -in such a situation depends on the boats being -spread widely abroad, and on a judicious arrangement -of each boat; on a keen look out on -the part of the harpooners in the boats, and on -their occasionally taking the benefit of a hummock -of ice, from the elevation of which the -fish may sometimes be seen blowing in the interstices -of the ice; on pushing or rowing the -boats with the greatest imaginable celerity -towards the place where the fish may have -been seen; and lastly, on the exercise of the -highest degree of activity and dispatch in every -proceeding.</p> - -<p>If these be neglected, the fish will generally -have taken breath, recovered its strength, and -removed to some other quarter, before the arrival -of the boats; and it is often remarked, -that if there be one part of the ice more -crowded or more difficult of access than -another, it commonly retreats thither for refuge. -In such cases, the sailors find much<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span> -difficulty in getting to it with their boats, -having to separate many pieces of ice before -they can pass through between them. But -when it is not practicable to move the pieces, -and when they cannot travel over them, they -must either drag the boats across the intermediate -ice, or perform an extensive circuit -before they can reach the opposite side of the -close ice, into which the whale has retreated.</p> - -<p>A second harpoon in this case, as indeed in -all others, is a material point. They proceed -to lance whenever the second harpoon is struck, -and strike more harpoons as the auxiliary -boats progressively arrive at the place. When -the fish is killed, it is often at a distance from -the ship, and so circumstanced that the ship -cannot get near it. In such cases, the fish must -be towed by the boats to the ship; an operation -which, among crowded ice, is most troublesome -and laborious.</p> - -<p>4. <em>Bay-ice fishing.</em>—Bay-ice constitutes a -situation which, though not particularly dangerous, -is yet, on the whole, one of the most -troublesome in which whales are killed. In -sheets of bay-ice, the whales find a very effectual -shelter; for so long as the ice will not -carry a man, they cannot be approached with a -boat without producing such a noise as must -certainly warn them of the intended assault; -and if a whale, by some favourable accident, -were struck, the difficulties of completing the -capture are always numerous, and sometimes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span> -prove insurmountable. The whale having free -locomotion beneath the ice, the fishers pursue it -under great disadvantage. The fishers cannot -push their boats toward it but with extreme -difficulty, while the whale, invariably warned -by the noise of their approach, possesses every -facility for avoiding its enemies.</p> - -<p>In the year 1813, I adopted a new plan of -fishing in bay-ice, which was attended with the -most successful result. The ship under my -command, the Esk, of Whitby, was frozen into -a sheet of bay-ice, included in a triangular -space, formed by several massive fields and -floes. Here a number of small whales were -seen sporting around us in every little hole or -space in the bay-ice, and occasionally they were -observed to break through it for the purpose of -breathing. In various little openings free of -ice near the ship, few of which were twenty -yards in diameter, we placed boats, each equipped -with a harpoon and lines, and directed by -two or three men. They had orders to place -themselves in such a situation that if a fish -appeared in the same opening they could -scarcely fail of striking it. Previous to this, I -supplied myself with a pair of ice-shoes, consisting -of two pieces of thin deal, six feet in -length, and seven inches in breadth. They were -made very thin at both ends, and in the centre -of each was a hollow place, exactly adapted for -the reception of the sole of my boot, with a -loop of leather for confining the toes. I was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span> -thus enabled to retain the ice-shoes pretty -firmly to my feet when required, or, when I -wished it, to disengage them in a moment. -Where the ice was smooth, it was easy to move -in a straight line, but in turning I found a -considerable difficulty, and required some practice -before I could effect it without falling. I -advanced with tolerable speed, where the ice -was level on the surface, by sliding the shoes -alternately forward, but when I met with rough -hilly places I experienced great inconvenience. -When, however, the rough places happened to -consist of strong ice, which generally was the -case, I stept out of my ice-shoes until I reached -a weaker part. Equipped with this apparatus, -I travelled safely over ice which had not been -frozen above twenty-four hours, and which was -incapable of supporting the weight of the -smallest boy in the ship.</p> - -<p>Whenever a fish was struck, I gave orders to -the harpooner, in running the line, to use every -means of drowning it; the trouble of hauling it -up, under the circumstances in which the ship -was placed, being a matter of no consideration. -This was attempted by holding a steady tight -strain on the line, without slacking it or jerking -it unnecessarily, and by forbearing to haul the -line when the fish stopped. By this measure, -one fish, the stoutest of the three which we got, -was drowned. When others were struck, and -the attempt to drown them failed, I provided -myself with a harpoon, and observing the direction<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span> -of the line, travelled towards the place -where I expected the fish to rise. A small boat -was launched, more leisurely, in the same direction -for my support; and whenever the ice -in my track was capable of supporting a man, -assistance was afforded me in dragging the line. -When the wounded fish appeared, I struck my -harpoon through the ice, and then, with some -occasional assistance, proceeded to lance it, until -it was killed. At different times, the fish rose -beneath my feet, and broke the ice on which I -stood; on one occasion, where the ice was happily -more than usually strong, I was obliged to -leave my ice shoes, and skip off. In this way -we captured three fish, and took their produce -on board, while several ships near us made not -the least progress in the fishery. After they -were killed, we had much trouble in getting -them to the ship, but as we could not employ -ourselves to advantage in any other way, we -were well satisfied with the issue. This part of -the business I could not effect alone, and all -hands, who were occasionally employed in it, -broke through the ice. Some individuals broke -in two or three times, but no serious accident -ensued. As a precaution, we extended a rope -from man to man, which was held in the hands -of each in their progress across the ice, and -which served for drawing those out of the water -who happened to break through. Sometimes -ten or a dozen of them would break in at once, -but so far was such an occurrence from exciting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span> -distress, that each of their companions indulged -a laugh at their expense, notwithstanding they -probably shared the same fate a minute or two -afterwards.</p> - -<p>5. <em>Fishing in storms.</em>—Excepting in situations -sheltered from the ice, it would be alike useless -and presumptuous to attempt to kill whales during -a storm. Instances, however, occur, wherein -fish that were struck during fine weather, or in -winds which do not prevent the boats from plying -about, remain entangled, but unsubdued, after -the commencement of a storm. Sometimes the -capture is completed, at others the fishers are -under the necessity of cutting the lines, and -allowing the whale to escape. Sometimes, when -they have succeeded in killing it, and in securing -it during the gale with a hawser to the ship, -they are enabled to make a prize of it on the -return of moderate weather; at others, after -having it to appearance secured by means of a -sufficient rope, the dangerous proximity of an ice-pack -constrains them to cut it adrift and abandon -it for the preservation of their vessel. After -thus being abandoned, it becomes the prize of -the first who gets possession of it, though it be -in the face of the original capturers. A storm -commencing while the boats are engaged with -an entangled fish, sometimes occasions serious -disasters. Generally, however, though they -suffer the loss of the fish, and perhaps some of -their boats and materials, yet the men escape -with their lives.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span></p> - -<p>6. <em>Fishing in foggy weather.</em>—The fishery -in storms can never be voluntary; but in foggy -weather, though occasionally attended with -hazard, the fishery is not altogether impracticable. -The fogs which occur in the icy -regions in June and July are generally dense -and lasting: they are so thick, that objects -cannot be distinguished at the distance of 100 -or 150 yards, and frequently continue for -several days without attenuation. To fish with -safety and success, during a thick fog, is, therefore, -a matter of difficulty, and of still greater -uncertainty. When it happens that a fish -conducts itself favourably, that is, descends -almost perpendicularly, and, on its return to -the surface, remains nearly stationary, or moves -round in a small circle, the capture is usually -accomplished without hazard or particular -difficulty; but when, on the contrary, it proceeds -with any considerable velocity in a horizontal -direction, or obliquely downwards, it -soon drags the boats out of sight of the ship, -and shortly so confounds the fishers in the intensity -of the mist, that they lose all traces of -the situation of their vessel. If the fish, in its -flight, draws them beyond the reach of the -sound of a bell, or a horn, their personal safety -becomes endangered; and if they are removed -beyond the sound of cannon, their situation -becomes extremely hazardous, especially if no -other ships happen to be in the immediate -vicinity. Meanwhile, whatever may be their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span> -imaginary or real danger, the mind of their -commander must be kept in the most anxious -suspense until they are found; and whether -they may be in safety or near perishing with -fatigue, hunger, and cold, so long as he is uncertain -of their fate, his anxiety must be the -same.</p> - -<p>Before entering on the subsequent operations -of the whalers, connected with a successful -fishery, I shall give a few examples of remarkable -strength, activity, or other peculiarity, in -the behaviour of whales after they have been -struck, being a few of the curious circumstances -connected with the fishery which I have myself -observed, or have received from unquestionable -authority. On the 25th June, 1812, one of -the harpooners belonging to the Resolution, of -Whitby, under my command, struck a whale -by the edge of a small floe of ice; assistance -being promptly afforded, a second boat’s lines -were attached to those of the fast-boat in a few -minutes after the harpoon was discharged; -the remainder of the boats proceeded to some -distance in the direction which the fish seemed -to have taken. In about a quarter of an hour, -the fast-boat, to my surprise, again made a -signal for lines. As the ship was then within -five minutes’ sail, we instantly steered towards -the boat, with the view of affording assistance -by means of a spare boat we still retained on -board. Before we reached the place, however, -we observed four oars displayed in signal order,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span> -which, by their number, indicated a most -urgent necessity for assistance. Two or three -men were at the same time seen seated close by -the stern, which was considerably elevated, for -the purpose of keeping it down, while the bow -of the boat, by the force of the line, was drawn -down to the level of the sea, and the harpooner, -by the friction of the line round the -bollard, was enveloped in smoky obscurity. -At length, when the ship was scarcely one -hundred yards distant, we perceived preparations -for quitting the boat. The sailors’ pea -jackets were cast upon the adjoining ice; the -oars were thrown down; the crew leaped overboard; -the bow of the boat was buried in the -water; the stern rose perpendicularly, and -then majestically disappeared. The harpooner -having caused the end of the line to be fastened -to the iron ring at the boat’s stern was the -means of its loss; and a <em>tongue</em> of the ice, on -which was a depth of several feet of water, -kept the boat, by the pressure of the line -against it, at such a considerable distance as -prevented the crew from leaping upon the floe. -Some of them were, therefore, put to the necessity -of swimming for their preservation, but -all of them succeeded in scrambling upon the -ice, and were taken on board the ship in a few -minutes. It may be here observed, that it is an -uncommon circumstance for a fish to require -more than two boats’ lines in such a situation; -none of our harpooners, therefore, had any<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span> -scruple in leaving the fast-boat, never suspecting, -after it had received the assistance of one -boat with six lines, or upward, that it would -need any more.</p> - -<p>Several ships being about us, there was a -possibility that some person might attack and -make a prize of the whale, when it had so far -escaped us that we no longer retained any hold -of it; as such, we set all sail the ship could -safely sustain, and worked through several -narrow and intricate channels in the ice in the -direction I observed the fish had retreated. -After a little time, it was descried by the people -in the boats at a considerable distance to the -eastward; a general chase immediately commenced, -and within the space of an hour three -harpoons were struck. We now imagined -that the fish was secure, but our expectations -were premature. The whale resolutely pushed -beneath a large floe that had been recently -broken to pieces by the swell, and soon drew -all the lines out of the second fast-boat, the -officer of which, not being able to get any assistance, -tied the end of his line to a hummock of -ice and broke it. Soon afterwards, the other -two boats, still <em>fast</em>, were dragged against the -broken floe, when one of the harpoons drew -out. The lines of only one boat, therefore -remained fast to the fish, and this, with six or -eight lines out, was dragged forward into the -shattered floe with astonishing force; pieces of -ice, each of which were sufficiently large to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span> -have answered the purpose of a mooring for the -ship, were wheeled about by the strength of the -whale; and such was the tension and elasticity -of the line that, whenever it slipped clear of -any mass of ice, after turning it round into the -space between any two adjoining pieces, the -boat and its crew flew forward through the -crack with the velocity of an arrow, and never -failed to launch several feet upon the first mass -of ice that it encountered.</p> - -<p>While we scoured the sea around the broken -floe of the ship, and while the ice was attempted -in vain by the boats, the whale continued to -press forward in an easterly direction towards -the sea. At length, when fourteen lines, about -1,680 fathoms, were drawn from the fourth fast-boat, -a slight entanglement of the line broke it -at the stern. The fish again made its escape, -taking along with it a boat and twenty-eight -lines. The united length of the lines was 6,720 -yards, or upwards of three English miles and -three-quarters; value with the boat above £150 -sterling. The obstruction of the sunken boat to -the progress of the fish must have been immense, -and that of the lines likewise considerable, -the weight of the lines alone being thirty-five -hundred weight. So long as the fourth fast-boat, -through the medium of its lines, retained -its hold of the fish, we searched the adjoining -sea with the ship in vain, but in a short time -after the line was divided we got sight of the -object of pursuit at the distance of near two<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span> -miles to the eastward of the ice and boats, in -the open sea. One boat only with lines, and -two empty boats, were reserved by the ship. -Having, however, happily fine weather and a -breeze of wind, we immediately gave chase -under all sails, though it must be confessed -with the insignificant force by us, the distance -of the fish, and the rapidity of its flight considered, -we had but very small hopes of success. -At length, after pursuing it five or six miles, -being at least nine miles from the place where -it was struck, we came up with it, and it -seemed inclined to rest after its extraordinary -exertion. The two dismantled or empty boats -having been furnished with two lines each, (a -very inadequate supply,) they, together with -the one in good state of equipment, now made -an attack upon the whale. One of the harpooners -made a blunder; the fish saw the boat, -took the alarm, and again fled. I now supposed -it would be seen no more; nevertheless, we -chased nearly a mile in the direction I imagined -it had taken, and placed the boats to the -best of my judgment in the most advantageous -situations. In this instance we were extremely -successful. The fish rose near one of -the boats, and was immediately harpooned. In -a few minutes, two more harpoons entered its -back, and lances were plied against it with -vigour and success. Exhausted by its amazing -exertions to escape, it yielded itself at length to -its fate, received the piercing wounds of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span> -lances without resistance, and finally died without -a struggle. After all, it may seem surprising -that it was not a particularly large individual, -the largest lamina of whalebone only measuring -nine feet six inches, while those affording -twelve feet bone are not uncommon. The -quantity of line withdrawn from the different -boats engaged in the capture was singularly -great. It amounted altogether to 10,440 yards, -or nearly six English miles. Of these, thirteen -new lines were lost, together with the sunken -boat, the harpoon connecting them with the fish -having dropped out before the whale was killed. -Thus terminated with success an attack upon a -whale, which exhibited the most uncommon -determination to escape from its pursuers, -seconded by the most amazing strength, of any -individual whose capture I ever witnessed.</p> - -<p>When engaged in the pursuit of a large -whale, it is a necessary precaution for two -boats at all times to proceed in company, that -the one may be able to assist the other on any -emergency. With this principle in view, two -boats from the Esk were sent out in chase of -some large whales, on the 13th of June, 1814. -No ice was within sight, the boats had proceeded -some time together, when they separated in -pursuit of two whales, not far distant from -each other, when, by a singular coincidence, the -harpooners each struck his fish at the same -moment. They were a mile from the ship. -Urgent signals for assistance were immediately<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span> -displayed by each boat, and, in a few minutes, -one of the harpooners was under the necessity -of slipping the end of his line. Happily, the -other fish did not descend so deep, and the -lines in the boat proved adequate to the occasion. -One of the fish being then supposed -to be lost, five of the boats, out of seven, attended -on the fish which yet remained entangled, -and speedily killed it. A short time -afterwards, the other fish supposed to be irrecoverably -lost, was descried at a little distance -from the place where it was struck; three boats -proceeded against it; it was immediately struck, -and in twenty minutes also killed. Thus were -successfully captured two whales, both of which -had been despaired of. They produced us near -forty tuns of oil, value at that time £1,400. -The lines attached to the fish last killed were -recovered in a remarkable manner. The harpooners -were busily engaged in attempting to -secure them, when the harpoon, by which alone -they were prevented from sinking, slipped out; -but as it descended in the water, it luckily -hooked the line belonging to another boat, by -which both harpoon and lines were preserved.</p> - -<p>It is very generally believed by the whalers, -that fish have occasionally been struck, which, -by sudden extension or heave of the body, -have instantly disengaged themselves from the -harpoon. This usually happens when the -whale is struck “with a slack back,” as that -position of the fish is denominated, in which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span> -the back being depressed the flesh is relaxed. -A harpoon then struck occasions an uncommon -wound. Hence, if the fish suddenly extends itself -and elevates its back, the wound appears of twice -the size of the harpoon, and consequently the -weapon is capable of being thrown out by the -jerk of the body. Under such circumstances -as these, a large whale was struck by a harpooner -belonging to the ship Howe, of Shields. -The fish extending and lifting its back with -uncommon violence, the harpoon was disengaged -and projected high into the air, when, at the same -moment, the fish rolled over upon its back, and -received the point of the falling weapon in its -belly, whereby it was captured and caught. -This circumstance, romantic as it may appear, -is so well authenticated by the person who -struck the fish, together with others who were -in the boat at the same time, and were witnesses -of the fact, that I have no scruple in -introducing it here.</p> - -<p>On the 28th of May, 1817, the Royal Bounty, -of Leith, captain Drysdale, fell in with a great -number of whales, in the lat. 77° 25′ north, and -long. 5° or 6° east. Neither ice nor land was in -sight, nor was there supposed to be either the -one or the other within fifty or sixty miles. -A brisk breeze of wind prevailed, and the -weather was clear. The boats were, therefore, -manned and sent in pursuit. After a chase -of about five hours, the harpooner, commanding -a boat, who, with another in company, had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span> -rowed out of sight of the ship, struck one of the -whales. This was about four <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, of the 29th. -The captain, supposing from the long absence of -the two most distant boats that a fish had been -struck, directed the course of the ship towards -the place where he had last seen them, and -about eight <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> he got sight of a boat which -displayed the signal for being <em>fast</em>. Some time -afterwards, he observed the other boat approach -the fish, a second harpoon struck, and the usual -signal displayed. As, however, the fish dragged -the two boats away with considerable speed, it -was midday before any assistance could reach -them. Two more harpoons were then struck, -but such was the vigour of the whale that, -although it constantly dragged through the -water four to six boats, together with a length -of 1,600 fathoms of line which it had drawn -out of the different boats, yet it pursued its -flight nearly as fast as a boat could row and -such was the terror that it manifested on the -approach of its enemies, that, whenever a boat -passed beyond its tail, it invariably dived. All -their endeavours to lance it were, therefore, in -vain.</p> - -<p>The crews of the loose boats being unable to -keep pace with the fish, caught hold of and -moored themselves to the fast-boats; and for -some hours afterwards, all hands were constrained -to sit in idle impatience, waiting for some -relaxation in the speed of the whale. Its most -general course had hitherto been to windward,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span> -but a favourable change taking place, enabled -the ship, which had previously been at a great -distance, to join the boats at eight <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> They -succeeded in tacking one of the lines to the -ship which was fast to the fish, with a view of -retarding its flight. They then furled the top-gallant -sails, and lowered the top sails; but -after supporting the ship a few minutes head to -wind, the wither of the harpoon upset or twisted -aside, and the instrument was disengaged from -its grasp. The whale immediately set off to -windward with increased speed, and it required -an interval of three hours before the ship could -again approach it. Another line was then -taken on board, which immediately broke. A -fifth harpoon had previously been struck, to -replace the one which had been pulled out, but -the line attached to it was soon afterwards cut. -They then instituted various schemes for arresting -the speed of the fish, which occupied -their close attention nearly two hours. But its -velocity was yet such that the master, who had -himself proceeded to the attack, was unable to -approach sufficiently near to strike a harpoon. -After a long chase, however, he succeeded in -getting hold of one of the lines which the fish -dragged after it, and in fastening another line -to it. The fish then happily turned towards -the ship, which was a considerable distance to -leeward.</p> - -<p>At four <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> of the 30th, thirty-six hours after -the fish had been struck, the ship again joined<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span> -the boats, when, by a successful manœuvre, they -secured two of the fast lines on board. The -wind blowing a moderately brisk breeze, the -top-gallant sails were taken in, the courses -hauled up, and the top sails clewed down, but, -notwithstanding the resistance a ship thus situated -must necessarily offer, she was towed by the -fish directly to windward with the velocity of at -least one-half to two knots during an hour and -a half; and then, though the whale must have -been greatly exhausted, it beat the water with -its fins and tail in so tremendous a way, that the -sea around was in a continual foam, and the -most hardy of the sailors scarcely dared to approach -it. At length, about eight <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, after forty -hours of almost incessant, and for the most -part fruitless exertion, this formidable and astonishing -animal was killed. The capture and -the flensing occupied forty-eight hours. The -fish was eleven feet four inches in bone, (the -length of the longest lamina of whalebone,) and -its produce filled forty-seven butts, or twenty-three -and a half tun casks, with blubber.</p> - -<p>I proceed now to enumerate the proceedings -of the fishers after a whale is killed. Some -preliminary measures are requisite before a -whale can be flensed. The first operation performed -on a dead whale is to lash it with a -rope, passed several times through two holes -pierced through the tail to the bow of the boat. -The more difficult operation of freeing the -whale from the entanglement of the line is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span> -then attempted. As the whale, when dead, always -lies on its back or on its side, the lines -and harpoons are generally far under water. -When they are seen passing obliquely downwards, -they are hooked with a grapnel, pulled -to the surface, and cut. But, when they hang -perpendicular, or when they cannot be seen, -they are discovered by a process called “sweeping -a fish.” This is performed by taking a -part of a whale-line in two different boats, ten -or fifteen fathoms asunder, and while one boat -lies at rest, supporting the end of a line, the -other is rowed round the fish, and the bight or -intermediate part of the line allowed to sink -below the fish as it proceeds, until each of the -parts held in the two boats are again brought -together. Hence, when one part of the line -has made a circuit of the fish, it must evidently -inclose every other line or appendage affixed -to it. Thus inclosed, they are pulled up to -the surface of the water, and each of them cut -at the splice of the fore-ganger, leaving the -harpoon sticking in the fish, with its fore-ganger -attached, and allowing the end of the -line to sink, and be hauled on board of the boat -from whence it was withdrawn at the convenience -of the crew. While this is in progress, -the men of other boats, having first lashed the -tail to a boat, are employed in lashing the fins -together across the belly of the whale.</p> - -<p>On one occasion I was myself engaged in the -capture of a fish, upon which, when to appearance<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span> -dead, I leaped, cut holes in the fins, and -was in the act of “reeving” a rope through -them to lash them together, when the fish sank -beneath my feet. As soon as I observed that -the water had risen above my knees, I made a -spring towards a boat, at the distance of three -or four yards from me, and caught hold of the -gunwale. Scarcely was I helped on board, -before the fish began to move forward, turn -from its back upon its belly, reared its tail aloft, -and began to shake it with such prodigious -violence, as to resound through the air to the -distance of two or three miles. In the meanwhile -all the sailors very properly kept aloof, -and beheld its extraordinary power with the -greatest astonishment. After two or three minutes -of this violent exercise, it ceased, rolled -upon its side, and died.</p> - -<p>A fish being properly secured, is then “taken -in tow;” that is, all the boats form themselves -in a line, by ropes always carried for the purpose, -and unite their efforts in rowing towards -the ship. Towing a fish is usually considered -a cheerful though laborious operation, and is -generally performed with great expressions of -joy. A large whale, by means of six boats, can -be towed at a rate of nearly a mile per hour. -The fish having reached the ship, is taken to -the larboard side, arranged and secured for -flensing. For the performance of this operation, -a variety of knives and other instruments are -requisite. Towards the stern of the ship the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span> -head of the fish is directed, and the tail, which -is first cut off, rests abreast of the fore-chains; -the smallest or posterior part of the whale’s -body, where the tail is united, is called the -rump, and the extremity or anterior part of the -head, the nose or nose-end. The rump, then, -supported by a tackle, is drawn forward by -means of a stout rope, called the rump-rope; -and the head is drawn in an opposite direction, -by means of the “nose-tackle.” Hence the -body of the fish is forcibly extended. The -right-side fin, being next the ship, is lashed -upwards towards the gunwale. A band of -blubber, two or three feet in width, encircling -the fish’s body, and lying between the fins and -the head, being the fat of the neck, or what -corresponds in other animals with the neck, is -called the kent, because by means of it the fish -is turned over, or kented. Now, to the commencement -of this imaginary band of fat, or -kent, is fixed the lower extremity of a combination -of powerful blocks, called the kent-purchase. -Its upper extremity is fixed round the -head of the main-mast, and its fall or rope is -applied to the windlass, drawn tight, and the -upper surface of the fish raised several inches -above the water. The enormous weight of a -whale prevents the possibility of raising it more -than one-fourth or one-fifth part out of the -water, except indeed when it has been some -days dead, in which case it swells, in consequence -of air generated by putrefaction, until<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span> -one-third of its bulk appears above the surface. -The fish then lying belly upward, extended, -and well secured, is ready for commencing the -operation of flensing. In this state a suspension -of labour is generally allowed, in which the -crew refresh themselves and prepare for the -ensuing duties.</p> - -<p>An unhappy circumstance once occurred in -an interval of this kind. At that period of the -fishery, (forty or fifty years ago,) when a single -stout whale was sufficient to remunerate the -owners of a ship for the expenses of the voyage, -great joy was exhibited on the capture of a -whale by the fishers. They not only had -a dram of spirits, but were sometimes provided -with some favourite “mess,” on which -to regale themselves before they commenced -the arduous task of flensing. At such a period, -the crew of an English vessel had captured their -first whale. It was taken to the ship, placed on -the lee-side, and though the wind blew a strong -breeze, it was fastened only by a small rope -attached to the fin. In this state of supposed -security, all hands retired to regale themselves, -the captain himself not excepted. The ship -being at a distance from any ice, and the fish -believed to be secure, they made no great haste -in their enjoyment. At length, the specksioneer, -having spent sufficient time in indulgence and -equipment, with an air of importance and self-confidence, -proceeded on deck, and naturally -turned to look on the whale. To his astonishment<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span> -it was not there. In some alarm, he looked -astern, ahead, on the other side, but his search -was useless; the ship drifting fast had pressed -forcibly upon the whale, the rope broke, the -fish sank, and was lost. The mortification of -this event may be conceived, but the termination -of their vexation will not easily be imagined, -when it is known that no other opportunity -of procuring a whale occurred during -the voyage. The ship returned home clean. -The blessings of Divine Providence, of a temporal -and also of a spiritual kind, are bestowed -and continued in union with the activity and -watchfulness of those who receive them, and it -is a law of the earthly, and also of the heavenly -treasure, that “whosoever hath, to him shall -be given; and whosoever hath not, from him -shall be taken even that which he seemeth to -have.”</p> - -<p>After the whale is properly secured, and the -men are sufficiently refreshed, the harpooners, -having their feet armed with “spurs,” to prevent -them from slipping, descend upon the fish. -Two boats, each of which is under the guidance -of one or two boys, attend upon them, and -serve to hold all their knives and other apparatus. -Thus provided, the harpooners, directed -by the specksioneer, divide the fat into oblong -pieces, or “slips,” by means of “blubber-spades” -and “blubber-knives;” then affixing a -“speck-tackle” to each slip, progressively flay -it off as it is drawn upward. The speck-tackles,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span> -which are two or three in number, are rendered -effective by capsterns, winches, or other mechanical -powers. Each of them consists of a -simple combination of two single blocks, one of -which is securely fixed in a strong rope, extended -between the main-top and the fore-top, -called a guy, and the other is attached by a -strap to the blubber of the whale. The flensers -commence with the belly and under-jaw, being -the only part then above water. The blubber, -in pieces of half a ton to a ton each, is -received upon deck by the boat-steerers and -line-managers, the former with “strand-knives” -divide it into portable, cubical, or oblong -pieces, containing near a solid foot of fat, -while the latter, furnished with “pick-haaks,” -pass it between decks, down a hole in the main-hatches. -It is then received by two men styled -kings, who pack it in a receptacle provided for -it in the hold, or other suitable place, called the -flense-gut, where it remains until further convenience.</p> - -<p>All the fat being taken away from the -belly, and the right fin removed, the fish is -then turned on its side, by means of the kent, -which, by the power of the windlass, readily -performs this office. The upper surface of fat -is again removed, together with the left fin, and -after a second kenting one of the “lips” is -taken away, by which the whale-bone of one -side of the head, now lying nearly horizontal, -is exposed. The fish being a little further<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span> -turned, the whalebone of the left side is dislodged -by the use of the “bone hand-spikes,” -“bone-knives,” and “bone-spades.” Four instruments, -which, when combined, constitute -what is called the bone-geer, are used, with the -assistance of two speck-tackles, for taking up -the whalebone in one mass. On its arrival on -deck, it is split with “bone-wedges” and “junks,” -containing from five to ten blades each, and -stowed away. A further kenting brings the -fish’s back upward, and the next exposes the -second side of bone. As the fish is turned or -kented round, every part of the blubber becomes -progressively uppermost and is removed. -At length, when the whole of the blubber, -whalebone, and jawbones have been taken on -board, the kent, which now appears a slip of -perhaps thirty feet in length, is also separated, -together with the rump-rope and nose-tackle, -on which the carcase being at liberty, generally -sinks in the water and disappears. When it -floats, however, it becomes food for bears, -sharks, and various kinds of birds, all of which -attack it with the most voracious earnestness. -It is known by the name of the kreng.</p> - -<p>When sharks are present, they generally -take the liberty of helping themselves very -bountifully during the progress of the flensing, -but they often pay for their temerity with their -lives. Fulmars pay close attendance in immense -numbers. They seize the fragments -occasionally disengaged by the knife while<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span> -they are swimming in the water, but most of -the other gulls who attend on the occasion take -their share on the wing. The burgomaster is -decidedly the master of the feast. Hence, every -other bird is obliged to relinquish the most delicious -morsel when the burgomaster descends -to claim it. Bears seldom approach so near -the ship as to become partakers of the banquet. -When dispatch is seconded by ability, the operation -of flensing can be accomplished on a fish -affording from twenty to thirty tons of blubber in -the space of three or four hours, and, probably, -the average time with British fishers but little -exceeds four hours.</p> - -<p>Some years ago, I was witness of a circumstance -in which a harpooner was exposed to the -most imminent risk of his life, at the conclusion -of a flensing process, by a very curious accident. -This harpooner stood on one of the jaw-bones -of a fish with a boat by his side. In this -situation, while he was in the act of cutting the -kreng adrift, a boy inadvertently struck the -point of the boat-hook, with which he usually -held the boat, through the ring of the harpooner’s -spur, and in the same act seized the -jawbone of the fish with the hook of the same -instrument. Before this was discovered, the -kreng was set at liberty, and began instantly to -sink. The harpooner then threw himself towards -the boat, but being firmly entangled by -the foot, he fell into the water. Providentially -he caught the gunwale of the boat with his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span> -hands, but, overpowered by the force of the -sinking kreng, he was on the point of relinquishing -his grasp when some of his companions -got hold of his hands, while others threw a rope -round his body. The carcase of the fish was -suspended entirely by the poor fellow’s body, -which was, consequently, so dreadfully extended -that there was some danger of his -being drawn asunder. But such was his terror -of being taken under water, and not, indeed, -without cause, for he could never have risen -again, that, notwithstanding the excruciating -pain he suffered, he constantly cried out to his -companions to “haul away the rope.” He remained -in that dreadful state until means were -adopted for hooking the kreng with the grapnel, -and bringing it back to the surface of the water. -Had he not caught hold of the boat as he was -sinking and met with such prompt assistance, -he must infallibly have perished.</p> - -<p>Next to the process of flensing is that of -making-off. When the flens-gut is filled with -blubber, or when, no fish being seen, a favourable -opportunity of leisure is presented, the operation -of making-off is generally commenced. -This consists of freeing the fat from all extraneous -substances, especially the muscular parts -and the skin, then cutting it into small pieces, -and putting it into cask through the bung-holes. -In the first instance, the ship must be moored -to a convenient piece of ice, or placed in an -open situation, and the sails so reduced as to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span> -require no further attention in the event of bad -weather occurring. The hold of the ship must -be cleared of its superstructure of casks, until -the “ground tier,” or lowest stratum of casks is -exposed, and the ballast-water must be “started,” -or pumped out of all the casks that are removed -upon deck, as well as out of those on the ground -tier, which are first prepared for the reception -of the blubber. In “breaking out the hold,” it -is not necessary to lay open more of the ground -tier at a time than three or four casks extend in -length.</p> - -<p>While the line-managers, together with the -“skee-man,” (the officer who has the direction -of operations in the hold,) the cooper, -and perhaps a few others, are employed in -breaking out the hold, the rest of the crew on -the deck arrange all the variety of apparatus -used for the preparation of the blubber before -it is put into the casks. Of this apparatus, the -most considerable part is the “speck-trough,” -with its appendages. It consists of a kind of -oblong box or chest, about twelve feet in length, -one and three quarters feet in breadth, and one -and a half feet in depth. The speck-trough is -fixed upon the deck, as nearly as possible over -the place where the casks are to be filled in the -hold. A square hole made in its bottom is -placed either over the nearest hatchway to the -scene of operations, or upon a corresponding -hole cut in the deck. The speck-trough is then -secured, and its lid turned backwards into an<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span> -horizontal position. The surface of the lid, -forming a level table, is then covered with -blocks of whale’s-tail from end to end. This -substance makes an excellent chopping-block, -and preserves the chopping-knives from injury -when used for dividing the blubber upon it. -Into the square hole in the bottom of the speck-trough -is fitted an iron frame, to which is suspended -a canvas tube, or “hose,” denominated -a “lull.” The lull is open at both ends. Its -diameter is about a foot, and its length sufficient -to reach from the deck to the bottom of -the hold. To the middle, or towards the upper -part of the lull, is attached a “pair of nippers,” -consisting of two sticks fastened together by a -kind of hinge at one end, and capable of being -pressed together at the other. The nippers -being passed across the body of the lull, and -their detached extremities brought together, -they embrace it so closely that nothing can pass -downward while they remain in this position; -but when, on the other hand, the nippers are -extended, the lull forms a free channel of communication -between the speck-trough and the -hold.</p> - -<p>Everything being in readiness, the blubber, -as it is now thrown out of the flens-gut -by the kings, undergoes the following -several operations. It is received upon deck by -the “krengers,” whose office is to remove all -the muscular parts, together with such spongy -or fibrous fat as is known by experience to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span> -produce very little oil. When these substances, -which go under the general denomination of -kreng, are included among the blubber in the -casks, they pass through a kind of fermentation, -and generate such a quantity of gas as sometimes -to burst the containing vessels, and occasion the -loss of their contents. From the krengers -the blubber passes to the harpooners. Each -of these officers, provided with a blubber-knife, -or a strand-knife, places himself by the side of -the “closh,” fixed in the deck. An attendant, -by means of a pair of “hand-hooks,” or a -“pick-haak,” then mounts a piece of blubber -upon the spikes of the closh, and the harpooner -slices off the skin. From the skinners, the -blubber passes into an open space, called the -bank, prepared as a depository in front of the -speck-trough, and it is then laid upon the chopping-blocks -as wanted. It now falls under the -hands of the boat-steerers, who, armed with -chopping-knives, are arranged in a line by -the side of the chopping-blocks with the speck-trough -before them. Thus prepared, they divide -the blubber, as it is placed on their blocks, -into oblong pieces, not exceeding four inches in -diameter, and push it into the speck-trough -intended for its reception. And finally, the -blubber falls under the direction of the line-managers, -stationed in the hold, who receive it -into tubs through the lull, and pass it with -their hands into the casks, through their bung-holes. -When a cask is nearly filled, the packing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span> -is completed by the use of a “pricker,” one -piece after another being thrust in by this instrument -until it can contain no more. It is -then securely bunged up.</p> - -<p>When the ground-tier casks, as far as they -have been exposed are filled, the second-tier of -casks is stowed upon it, and likewise filled with -blubber, together with the third-tier casks when -necessary. When fish can be had in sufficiency, -the hold is filled and likewise the space between -decks. When a ship is deficient in casks, -vacancies adapted for the reception of the cargo -are filled with blubber in bulk. The operation -of making off was in the early ages of the -fishery performed on shore, and even so late as -the middle of the last century, it was customary -for ships to proceed into a harbour, and remain -while this process was going on.</p> - -<p>In the Greenland whale-fishery, the importance -of a code of laws was at a very early period -apparent. A fish struck by the people of two -different ships became an object of dispute, the -first striker claiming the whole, and the second -demanding a share for his assistance. Stores -saved from wrecked vessels, and especially the -cargoes of wrecks, being objects of much moment, -were also liable to occasion disputes in a -still higher degree. Hence, about the year -1677, the Dutch issued a code of regulations, -founded on equitable principles, for the prevention -of quarrels and litigation among the fishers. -As these were found to be insufficient, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span> -States-General of Holland and West Friesland, -in the year 1696, approved and confirmed the -general regulations with respect to the saving -of the crews and stores of vessels wrecked in -the ice, the right to whales under peculiar circumstances, -and other matters connected with -the fishery. They consisted of twelve articles, -and every captain, specksioneer, and officer concerned -in the fishery, was obliged to subscribe -them. After being duly announced, these articles -were enforced by commissioners, chosen -from among the principal Greenland owners of -Holland, for conducting and carrying into effect -this and other matters connected with the prosperity -and regulation of the fishery.</p> - -<p>Among the British whale-fishers, it does not -appear that any particular laws were ever expressly -laid down for the adjusting of differences; -yet custom has established certain -principles as constituting the rule of right, the -legality of which is sufficiently acknowledged -by their being universally respected. The fundamental -articles are two. First, that a fast -fish, or a fish in any way in possession, whether -alive or dead, is the sole and unquestionable -property of the persons so maintaining the -connection or possession; and secondly, that a -loose fish, alive or dead, is fair game. The -first of these regulations can need no modification, -but the second can only be recommended -for its simplicity and tendency to prevent litigation, -since circumstances may, and do, sometimes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span> -occur, in which its application is liable to -some objection. In this, as in other departments -of human conduct, it is impossible by any -strict regulations to prevent all kinds of injustice. -The highest code of human morals enjoins -on men what they shall be, as well as what -they shall do, and provides for them the one -golden precept, “Whatsoever ye would that -men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” -Conduct, which it is impossible to punish by -appeal to any human tribunal, is often most -fearfully in violation of this law, and must -await the decisions of that day, when God -shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.</p> - -<p>The following circumstance, which occurred -a good many years ago, has a tendency to -illustrate the existing Greenland laws, and to -set them in a prominent light. During a -storm of wind and snow, several ships were -beating to windward, under easy sail, along the -edge of a pack. When the storm abated and -the weather cleared, the ships steered towards -the ice. Two of the fleet approached it about -a mile asunder, abreast of each other, when the -crews of each ship accidentally got sight of a dead -fish at a little distance, within some loose ice. -Each ship now made sail to endeavour to reach -the fish before the other, which fish, being loose, -would be the prize of the first that should get -possession of it. Neither ship could outsail the -other, but each continued to press forward toward -the prize. The little advantage one of them<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span> -had in distance, the other compensated with -velocity. On each bow of the two ships was -stationed a principal officer, armed with a harpoon, -in readiness to discharge. But it so -happened that the ships came in contact with -each other, when within a few yards of the fish, -and in consequence of the shock with which -their bows met, they rebounded to a considerable -distance. The officers at the same moment -discharged their harpoons, but all of -them fell short of the fish. A hardy fellow, -who was second-mate of the leeward ship, -immediately leaped overboard, and with great -dexterity swam to the whale, seized it by the -fin, and proclaimed it his prize. It was, however, -so swollen, that he was unable to climb -upon it, but was obliged to remain shivering in -the water until assistance should be sent. His -captain, elated with his good luck, forgot, or at -least neglected, his brave second-mate, and -before he thought of sending a boat to release -him from his disagreeable situation, prepared -to moor his ship to an adjoining piece of ice. -Meanwhile, the other ship tacked, and the -master himself stepped into a boat, pushed off, -and rowed deliberately towards the dead fish. -Observing the trembling seaman still in the -water, holding by the fin, he addressed him -with, “Well, my lad, you’ve got a fine fish -here,” to which, after a natural reply in the -affirmative, he added, “But don’t you find it -very cold?” “Yes,” replied the shivering<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span> -sailor, “I’m almost starved; I wish you would -allow me to come into your boat until ours -arrive.” This favour needed no second solicitation; -the boat approached the man, and he -was assisted into it. The fish being again -loose and out of possession, the captain instantly -struck his harpoon into it, hoisted his flag, and -claimed his prize. Mortified and displeased as -the other master felt at this trick, for so it certainly -was, he had nevertheless no redress, but -was obliged to permit the fish to be taken on -board of his competitor’s ship, and to content -himself with abusing the mate for his want of -discretion, and with condemning himself for -not having more compassion on the poor fellow’s -feelings, which would have prevented the disagreeable -misadventure.</p> - -<p>Success in the whale-fishery has been very -generally supposed to depend, not upon the -exercise of talent and industry on the part of -the masters and crews of the fishing-ships, but -solely upon the freaks of fortune. That the -fishery, however, is altogether a chain of casualties, -is as false as it is derogatory to the credit -of the persons employed in the enterprise. -The most skilful, from adventitious and unavoidable -circumstances, may occasionally fail, and -the unskilful may be successful; but if we mark -the average of a number of years, that is, where -the means are equal, a tolerable estimate may be -formed of the adventurer’s ability, and his fitness -for the undertaking in which he is engaged.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span></p> - -<p>The great variety of success, which is observed -to result from the exertions of the different -Greenland commanders, when the average -of several voyages is taken, confirmed the -above position, and the circumstance of some -masters, in whatever ship they may sail, almost -always succeeding, whilst others, however favourably -circumstanced, seldom or ever procure -a whole cargo, warrants this conclusion, -that, most generally, successful fishery depends -on the experience, determined perseverance, -and personal talent of the master of the vessel, -supported by a necessary degree of skill among -the people composing his crew. There are -occasions, however, especially in those seasons -when the Greenland Seas are open, or in some -measure free from ice, in which personal talent -becomes of comparative little avail. This was -strikingly the case in the year 1817, and in some -degree in 1818. In the former season, the ice lay -at a distance so remote from Spitzbergen, that -a space of about two thousand square miles of -the surface of the sea, which is usually covered -with ice, was wholly void of it. Whatever decisions -the judicious fisher was led by experience -to form and act upon proved fallacious, and -tended only to embarrass him in all his proceedings. -The only indication which could be -of the least service to the fisher to assist him -in the choice of a situation, was the colour of -the sea. In places where the water was transparent, -and blue, or greenish blue, it was in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span> -vain to look for whales, but in a certain stream -of cloudy water, of a deep olive-green colour, all -the whales which were seen throughout the -season, or at least nine-tenths of them, occurred, -and the chief part of those which were caught -were found in the same stream of water. This -kind of sea-water is the favourite resort of -whales during the fishing season, evidently -because it abounds with various descriptions of -<i lang="la" xml:lang="la">actiniæ</i>, <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">sepiæ</i>, <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">medusæ</i>, and <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">cancri</i>, which constitute -the chief, if not the sole nourishment of -the whale.</p> - -<p>Success in the fishery is more certain in -close than in open seasons, and has some -dependence on the suitable equipment of the -ships employed in the trade, on a sufficient -apparatus, and frequently in no inconsiderable -degree on that valuable property of the ship -called fast-sailing. When any opening occurs -in the ice of a tempting appearance, it frequently -happens that a number of ships enter -it together. The fastest sailers lead the way, -and often procure a whale or two or more before -the heavy sailing ships can perform a navigation, -and by the time the latter accomplish -it, the run of fish is frequently over. Not a -little depends in the fishery on the confidence -the sailors have in the skill of their captain, -and the efficiency of the personal talents and -exertions of their officers. If the officers are -generally unsuccessful, they are apt to lose confidence -in them, and proceed, even when good<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span> -opportunities occur, without spirit to the attack. -The greater their spirits and confidence are, -the greater is the probability of their success. -Hence, the crew of a ship which has met with -success can generally fish better, and more -advantageously under the same circumstances, -than the people of a clean ship. For the regulation -of the ship’s movements, for the choice of -a situation, for direction in difficulties, for a -stimulus when discouraged, for encouragement -when weary, and for a variety of other important -matters, the master alone must be looked -to, on whom, indeed, almost every considerable -effort of judgment or forethought devolves.</p> - -<p>I now subjoin a few instances of the dangers -which accompany the whale-fishery, most of -which presented themselves within the sphere -of my own observation. Those employed in the -occupation of killing whales are, when actually -engaged, exposed to danger from three -sources, namely, from the ice, from the climate, -and from the whales themselves. Of -these, the casualties on the ice are the most -uncommon, and the least fatal; those from -the climate the most fatal, but not the most -frequent; and the whale itself is the source -of a great proportion of the accidents which -occur.</p> - -<p>The following instance illustrates the danger -from overhanging masses of ice falling on the -boats. The crew of one of the Hull whalers, -having killed a fish by the side of an iceberg<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span> -in Davis’s Strait, the fins were lashed together, -and the tail secured to a boat in the usual -way, but by the efforts only of one boat’s -crew, all the other boats belonging to the -same ship being engaged in the capture of -two more whales, neither of which were yet -subdued. This circumstance occasioned some -altercation among the crew of the boat, as to -the propriety of their remaining by the dead -whale, or of quitting it, and proceeding in an -empty boat which was at hand to the assistance -of their companions. The latter measure -was carried, but as it was deemed expedient -that one man should remain in the boat, to -which none of them would consent, they were -under the necessity of either remaining in -idleness by the fish, or leaving the fish and -the boat by themselves. But every one being -anxious to participate in the more active exercises -of the fishery, they at length agreed -unanimously to quit the boat connected with -the dead fish, and to proceed to the aid of their -comrades. The arrangements were just accomplished -in time, for they had not rowed many -fathoms from the place before a tremendous -crash of the berg ensued, an immense mass of -ice fell upon the boat they had just quitted, -and neither it nor the fish was ever seen afterwards.</p> - -<p>Another danger arises from ice when boats -are inclosed and beset, and their crews prevented -from joining their ships. On June 17th,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span> -1813, several Greenland fishing-ships penetrated -the ice into an enticing opening, in which a -number of whales were sporting in fancied security. -The John, of Greenock, Neptune, of -Aberdeen, Earl Percy, of Kirkcaldy, were immediately, -to appearance, successful. The crew -of the John in a short time killed several fish; -the people of the Neptune killed one, and struck -a second; and the crew of the Earl Percy -struck one also. Things were in this state -when I arrived in the same situation with the -Esk. My harpooners, happily as it proved, did -not succeed in any measure. The sea was as -smooth as the surface of a pond, but the ice I -observed was in a strange state of disturbance. -Some floes, and some large pieces, moved with -a velocity of three to four miles per hour, while -other similar masses were at rest. The John, -which, on her first arrival in this situation, had -navigated an open lake some leagues in circumference, -was in the space of a few hours closely -beset. The captain of the Neptune, alarmed by -the danger to which his men and boats were exposed, -left his ship to the care of his second-mate, -with eleven or twelve men, and proceeded -himself in a boat, making the fifth, to their assistance. -In a few minutes, these five boats, -together with two belonging to the Earl Percy, -were closely fixed in the ice. The ships were -forced to a distance; the ice in the course of the -following morning spread to the width of seven -or eight miles, and shortly afterwards the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span> -people in the boats and those in the corresponding -ships lost sight of each other.</p> - -<p>My father, who at this time commanded the -John, had anticipated the consequences of the -ice closing, and found refuge in a cove in an adjoining -field filled with bay-ice, into which he -thrust his ship, and obtained shelter for himself -and his comrades who were thus beset. After -three days, the ice slackened, and the Neptune -boats, together with those belonging to the Earl -Percy, left the John, although neither the sea -nor their ships were visible. In this adventure -they proved successful. When they had rowed -many hours to the south-eastward, they discovered -a ship, on their approach to which they -were invited on board, and received some -refreshment. After this, having received information -of the relative situation of their ships, -they put off, and soon after had the happiness -of regaining their respective vessels. This circumstance, -which was the occasion of so much -anxiety, danger, and loss of time to the crews -of the Neptune and Earl Percy, proved the contrary -to the people of the John, as they added -to her cargo seventeen whales, within the -space of five days, and on the sixth, the ice -having again slackened, they made their escape -into a place of safety.</p> - -<p>The climate of the Polar regions becomes a -source of danger to the whale-fishers when -boats are separated from the ship to which they -belong, in foggy weather when they are overtaken<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span> -by a storm and prevented from joining -their ship, and when the people in the boats -are long exposed to inclement winds.</p> - -<p>On the commencement of a heavy gale of -wind, May 11th, 1813, fourteen men put off in -a boat from the Volunteer, of Whitby, with the -view of setting an anchor in a large piece of -ice, to which it was their intention to moor the -ship. The ship approached; on a signal being -made the sails were clewed up, and a rope -fixed to the anchor, but the ice shivering with -the violence of the strain, when the ship fell -astern the anchor flew out, and the ship went -adrift. The sails being again set, the ship was -reached to the eastward, (wind at north,) the -distance of about two miles, but in attempting -to wear and return, the ship, instead of performing -the evolution, scudded a considerable -distance to leeward, and was then reached out -to sea, thus leaving fourteen of her crew to a -fate most dreadful, the fulfilment of which -seemed inevitable. The temperature of the air -was 15° or 16° of Fahrenheit, when these poor -men were left upon a detached piece of ice, -without food, without shelter from the inclement -storm, and deprived of every means of -refuge, except in a single boat, which, on account -of the number of men, and violence of the -storm, was incapable of conveying them to -their ship. Death stared them in the face -whichever way they turned, and a division in -opinion ensued.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span></p> - -<p>Some were wishful to remain by the ice, -but the ice could afford them no shelter from -the piercing wind, and would probably be soon -broken to pieces by the increasing swell; others -were anxious to attempt to join their ship, -while she was yet in sight, but the force of the -wind, the violence of the sea, and the smallness -of the boat in comparison of the number of men -to be conveyed, were objections which would -have appeared utterly insurmountable to any -persons but men in a state of despair. Judging -that by remaining on the ice death was but retarded -for a few hours, as the extreme cold -must eventually benumb their faculties, and -invite a sleep which would overcome the remains -of animation, they determined on making the -attempt to row to their ship. Poor creatures! -what must have been their sensations at this -moment, when the spark of hope yet remaining -was so feeble that a premature death even to -themselves seemed inevitable. They made the -daring experiment, when a few minutes’ trial -convinced them that the attempt was utterly -impracticable. They then, with longing eyes, -turned their efforts towards recovering the ice -they had left, but their utmost exertions were -unavailing. Every one now viewed his situation -as desperate, and anticipated as certain -the fatal event that was to put a period to his -life. How great must have been their delight, -and how overpowering their sensations, when, -at this most critical juncture, a ship appeared in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span> -sight! She was advancing directly towards -them; their voices were extended, and their flag -displayed. But although it was impossible they -should be heard, it was not impossible they -should be seen. Their flag was descried by -the people on board the ship, their courses -were so directed as to form the speediest union, -and in a few minutes they found themselves on -the deck of the Lively, of Whitby, under circumstances -of safety. They received from their -townsmen the warmest congratulations, and -while each individual was forward in contributing -his assistance towards the restoration of -their benumbed bodies, each of the rescued -appeared sensible that their narrow escape from -death was highly providential.</p> - -<p>The forbearance of God is wonderful. Perhaps -these very men a few hours before were -impiously invoking their own destruction, or -venting imprecations upon their fellow-beings. -True it is, the goodness of the Almighty extendeth -over all his works, and that while -“he delighteth in mercy” he is “slow to -anger.” It is no exaggeration to affirm, that -every guilty soul of man unpardoned and -uncleansed through the blood of the Mediator, -is exposed to a peril equally portentous with -that which threatened these fishermen. God -has, however, provided an ark of mercy, floating -on the billows of life’s tempestuous, dangerous -ocean, within which every soul may find -perfect and permanent peace. That ark is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span> -even now present, and entrance to it may be -instantly secured. To delay is to increase the -peril, perhaps beyond the possibility of future -relief. “Behold, now is the accepted time; -behold, now is the day of salvation.” Reader, -enter into this ark of mercy by faith in the -Lord Jesus!</p> - -<p>One of the most calamitous events which in -modern times has occurred in the fishery, was -that which happened to the crew of the Ipswich, -captain Gordon, about fifteen years ago. A -whale was struck and killed by the Ipswich’s -people early in the spring of the year, a season -in which the weather is most uncertain. A -storm commenced, accompanied with snow, -before the capture was completed, but nevertheless -the fish was taken to the ship, and -having shelter from the ice it was flensed. -Meanwhile, four boats’ crews were employed on -a piece of ice, in hauling in the lines of the fast-boats, -etc., during the performance of which -duties the ship drifted out of sight of them. -Every effort was then made by the captain for -discovering these unhappy men, who, being -above twenty in number, constituted nearly -half of his crew. But the weather continuing -thick and stormy, and the frost most intense, -it is probable that they all perished before the -conclusion of the gale; at least none of them -were saved, nor can I learn that any of their -bodies were ever found.</p> - -<p>The remarkable property of oil in smoothing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span> -the surface of the sea when considerably -agitated, and of preventing breakers in the -main ocean, was sometimes resorted to by the -ancient whale-fishers for their preservation, -when overtaken by storms at sea. It was not -unusual, I believe, a century ago, for every -whale-boat to carry along with it a keg of oil -for this very purpose; which oil, being slowly -poured overboard in a storm, afforded a sort of -defence to the boat as it drifted to leeward. -The height of the waves, it is true, is not -affected by the action of the oil, but as it intercepts -the attraction which dry air possesses for -water, it prevents the immediate action of the -wind, quells the ruffled surface of the waves, -and in a great degree prevents the tendency to -breakers, which constitutes the principal danger -in a storm.</p> - -<p>The most extensive source of danger to the -whale-fisher, when actively engaged in his occupation, -arises from the object of his pursuit. -The fisher is liable to receive contusions from -oars forcibly struck by the fish, or from direct -blows from its fins or tail; he is liable to accidents -from getting entangled by the lines, or -from the boat being drawn under water by the -fish through the medium of the lines; and he -is in danger of being thrown overboard by the -heeling or jerking of the boat, or more particularly -from the boat being stove, upset, sunk, or -projected into the air, by the force of a blow -from the whale.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span></p> - -<p>One of the crew of the John, of Greenock, -who was in a fast-boat in the fishery of 1818, -unfortunately slipped his foot through a coil of -line in the act of running out, which drew him -forward to the boat’s stern, and separated his -foot by the ancle. He was conveyed by the -first boat to the ship, where the assistance of -several surgeons being procured, the lower part -of the leg was cut off. After this, the poor -fellow, having received the most unremitting -attention from captain Jackson, with the best -sustenance and accommodation the ship could -afford, was restored to health, and his wound -nearly healed before the conclusion of the -voyage. It is worthy of being remarked, -that the captain and crew of the John subscribed -upwards of £24 for his relief, which -was increased by the owners of the ship and -others, on arrival, to about £37. This sum -was placed in the “Provident Bank,” at -Greenock, from whence he was permitted to -draw it, after the rate of 7<em>s.</em> per week.</p> - -<p>A harpooner, belonging to the Henrietta, of -Whitby, when engaged in lancing a whale, into -which he had previously struck a harpoon, -incautiously cast a little line under his feet that -he had just hauled into the boat, after it had -been drawn out by the fish. A painful stroke -of his lance induced the whale to dart suddenly -downward, his line began to run out from -beneath his feet, and in an instant caught him -by a turn round his body. He had but just<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span> -time to call out, “Clear away the line!”—“Oh -dear!” when he was almost cut asunder, -dragged overboard, and drowned. The line -was cut at the moment, but without avail. -The fish descended a considerable depth and -died, from whence it was drawn to the surface -by the lines connected with it, and secured.</p> - -<p>On the 3rd of June, 1811, a boat from the -ship Resolution, commanded at the time by -myself, put off in pursuit of a whale, and was -rowed upon its back. At the moment that it -was harpooned, it struck the side of the boat a -violent blow with its tail, the shock of which -threw the boat-steerer to some distance into the -water. A repetition of the blow projected the -harpooner and line-manager in a similar way, -and completely drenched the part of the crew -remaining in the boat with the sprays. One of -the men regained the boat, but, as the fish -immediately sank and drew the boat away -from the place, his two companions in misfortune -were soon left far beyond the reach of -assistance. The harpooner, though a practised -swimmer, felt himself so bruised and enervated -by a blow he had received on the chest, that he -was totally incapacitated from giving the least -support to his fellow-sufferer. The ship being -happily near, a boat, which had been lowered -on the first alarm, arrived to their succour at -the moment when the line-manager, who was -unacquainted with the art of swimming, was on -the point of sinking to rise no more. Both the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span> -line-manager and harpooner were preserved; -and the fish, after a few hours’ close pursuit, -was subdued.</p> - -<p>While the same ship navigated an open lake -of water in the 81° north lat., during a keen -frost and strong north wind, on the 2nd of -June, 1806, a whale appeared, and a boat put -off in pursuit. On its second visit to the surface -of the sea it was harpooned. A convulsive -heave of the tail which succeeded the wound -struck the boat at the stern, and, by its reaction, -projected the boat-steerer overboard. -As the line in a moment dragged the boat -beyond his reach, the crew threw some of -their oars towards him for his support, one of -which he happily seized. The ships and boats -being at a considerable distance, and the fast-boat -being rapidly drawn away from him, the -harpooner cut the line, with the view of rescuing -him from his dangerous situation. But no -sooner was this act performed than, to their -extreme mortification, they discovered, in consequence -of some oars being thrown towards -their floating comrades, and others being broken -or unshipped by the blow from the fish, one -oar only remained, with which, owing to the -force of the wind, they tried in vain to approach -him. A considerable period elapsed before any -boat from the ship could afford him assistance, -though the men strained every nerve for the -purpose. At length, when they reached him, -he was found with his arms stretched over an<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span> -oar, almost deprived of sensation. On his -arrival at the ship he was in a deplorable condition. -His clothes were frozen like mail, -and his hair constituted a helmet of ice. He -was immediately conveyed into the cabin, -his clothes taken off, his limbs and body -dried and well rubbed, and a cordial administered -to him. A dry shirt and stockings -were then put upon him, and he was laid in -the captain’s bed. After a few hours’ sleep, he -awoke, and appeared considerably relieved. -He complained of a painful sensation of cold. -He was therefore removed to his own berth, -and one of his messmates ordered to lie on each -side of him, whereby the diminished circulation -of the blood was accelerated, and the animal -heat restored. The shock on his constitution, -however, was greater than was anticipated. He -recovered in the course of a few days so as to -be able to engage in his ordinary pursuits, but -many months elapsed before his countenance -exhibited its wonted appearance of health.</p> - -<p>A remarkable instance of the power which -the whale possesses in its tail was exhibited -within my own observation, in the year 1807. -On the 29th of May, a whale was harpooned -by an officer belonging to the Resolution. It -descended a considerable depth, and on its reappearance -evidenced an uncommon degree of -irritation. It made such a display of its fins -and tail, that few of the crew were hardy enough -to approach it. The captain, (my father,)<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span> -observing their timidity, called a boat, and -himself struck the second harpoon. Another -boat immediately followed, and, unhappily, advanced -too far. The tail was again reared -into the air in a terrific attitude. The impending -blow was evident. The harpooner, -who was directly underneath, leaped overboard. -At the next moment, the threatened stroke was -impressed on the centre of the boat, which -buried it in the water. Happily no one was -injured. The harpooner, who leaped overboard, -escaped certain death by the act, the tail having -struck the very spot on which he stood. The -effects of the blow were astonishing. The keel -was broken, the gunwales and every plank, -excepting two, were cut through, and it was -evident the boat would have been completely -divided had not the tail struck directly upon -a coil of lines. The boat was rendered useless.</p> - -<p>The Dutch ship, Gort-Moolen, commanded -by Cornelius Gerard Ouwekaas, with a cargo -of seven fish, was anchored in Greenland, in -the year 1660. The captain, perceiving a -whale ahead of his ship, beckoned his attendants, -and threw himself into a boat. He was -the first to approach the whale, and succeeded -in harpooning it before the arrival of -the second boat, which was on the advance. -Jacques Vienkes, who had the direction of it, -joined his captain immediately afterwards, and -prepared to make a second attack on the fish -when it should remount to the surface. At<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span> -the moment of its ascension, the boat of Vienkes -happening unhappily to be perpendicularly -above it, was so suddenly and forcibly lifted up -by a stroke of the head of the whale, that it -was dashed to pieces before the harpooner could -discharge his weapon. Vienkes flew along -with the pieces of the boat, and fell upon the -back of the animal. This intrepid seaman, -who still retained his weapon in his grasp, -harpooned the whale on which he stood, and by -means of the harpoon and the line, which he -never abandoned, he steadied himself firmly -upon the fish, notwithstanding his hazardous -situation, and regardless of a considerable -wound that he received in his leg, in his fall -along with the fragments of the boat. All the -efforts of the other boats to approach the whale -and deliver the harpooner were futile. The -captain, not seeing any other method of -saving his companion, who was in some -way entangled with the line, called to him to -cut it with his knife, and betake himself to -swimming. Vienkes, embarrassed and disconcerted -as he was, tried in vain to follow this -counsel. His knife was in the pocket of his -drawers, and, being unable to support himself -with one hand, he could not get it out. The -whale meanwhile continued advancing along -the surface of the water with great rapidity, -but happily never attempted to dive. While -his comrades despaired of his life, the harpoon -by which he held at length disengaged itself<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span> -from the body of the whale. Vienkes, being -then liberated, did not fail to take advantage of -this circumstance. He cast himself into the -sea, and, by swimming, endeavoured to regain -the boats which continued the pursuit of the -whale. When his shipmates perceived him -struggling with the waves, they redoubled their -exertions. They reached him just as his -strength was exhausted, and had the happiness -of rescuing this adventurous harpooner from -his perilous situation.</p> - -<p>In one of my earliest voyages to the whale-fishery, -I observed a circumstance which excited -my highest astonishment. One of our harpooners -had struck a whale; it dived, and all -the assisting boats had collected round the fast-boat -before it rose to the surface. The first -boat which approached it advanced incautiously -upon it. It rose with unexpected violence -beneath the boat, and projected it and all -its crew to the height of some yards in the air. -It fell on its side, upset, and cast all the men -into the water. One man received a severe -blow in his fall, and appeared to be dangerously -injured; but, soon after his arrival on board of -the ship, he recovered from the effects of the -accident. The rest of the boat’s crew escaped -without any hurt.</p> - -<p>Captain Lyons, of the Raith, of Leith, while -prosecuting the whale-fishery on the Labrador -coast, in the season of 1802, discovered a large -whale at a short distance from the ship. Four<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span> -boats were dispatched in pursuit, and two of -them succeeded in approaching it so closely together, -that two harpoons were struck at the -same moment. The fish descended a few fathoms -in the direction of another of the boats, -which was on the advance, rose accidentally -beneath it, struck it with its head, and threw -the boat, men, and apparatus, about fifteen feet -into the air. It was inverted by the stroke, -and fell into the water with its keel upwards. -All the people were picked up alive by the -fourth boat, which was just at hand, excepting -one man, who, having got entangled in the boat, -fell beneath it, and was drowned. The fish was -soon afterwards killed.</p> - -<p>When a ship has on board an ample cargo, -or when the fogs set in, and the whales totally -disappear, so as to put a period to the fishery -for that season, there remains no sufficient motive -to induce further stay in the country; the -course of each ship is therefore directed -immediately homeward. On the arrival of -a fishing-ship at the port from whence she -sailed, the mustering-officer of the customs repairs -on board, receives the manifest of the -cargo, (which is a kind of schedule in writing, -containing all particulars respecting it,) with a -true copy thereof, examines into the identity -and number of the crew, by the usual form of -mustering, and places an officer or two on -board, to take charge of the cargo on the part -of the revenue. The duty of these officers is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span> -to take account of every cask or other article of -which the cargo consists, as it is discharged -from the ship, and one of them accompanies -the same to its destination, carrying an account -thereof in writing, and not quitting the lighter, -wherein it is contained, until he is relieved by -another officer, who is placed in the capacity of -landing-waiter on the premises where the -blubber is warehoused or boiled.</p> - -<p>Within twenty-four hours after the ship arrives -in port, the master is required, under the -penalty of one hundred pounds, to attend at -the custom-house to make his report; that is, -to make affidavit of the built, burden, and -cargo of the ship he commands; on which occasion -he must deliver his manifest to the collector -or other chief officer, (if it has not before -been demanded of him,) under the penalty of -two hundred pounds. At the same time, the -log-book must be produced, and its contents, as -required by law, verified on the oath of the -master and mate, and affidavit also made by the -same persons of their faithful dealings according -to the requirements of the law during the voyage. -After these things are accomplished, the -mustering-officer’s certificate and schedule of -the crew, the commissioners’ license, and the -affidavits of master and mate are transmitted to -the commissioners, who, being satisfied of the -faithfulness of all the proceedings, are required -to order payment of the bounty on demand.</p> - -<p>Previous to the cargo being admitted to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span> -entry, free from the duties imposed on the -produce of foreign fishery, the owner, importer, -or consignee of the cargo, together with the -master or commander of the vessel, must severally -make oath, each to the best of his knowledge -and belief, that the said cargo was the -produce of fish, etc., actually caught by the -crew of a British-built vessel, wholly owned by -her Majesty’s subjects, usually residing in Great -Britain, etc., registered and navigated according -to law. The importer or consignee of any goods -imported into Britain is required, within twenty -days after the master should have made his -report, under certain penalties, to make a due -entry with the collector or other chief officer of -the customs, at the port where the ship shall -arrive, of all the goods by him imported therein, -and pay the full duties thereon.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">ACCOUNT OF THE DAVIS’S STRAIT WHALE-FISHERY, WITH -STATEMENTS OF EXPENSES AND PROFITS OF A FISHING-SHIP.</p> - -<p>Ships intended for Davis’s Strait commonly put -to sea a little earlier than the Greenland ships. -Some years ago, they were in the habit of -sailing in the latter part of February, but at -present they seldom leave their ports before the -beginning or middle of March. On their passage -outward, the Davis’s Strait fishers usually -touch at Orkney or Shetland, for the purpose -of procuring men, and such trifling stores as -are furnished at a cheap rate in these islands, -together with a view of trimming and preparing -their vessels for accomplishing the passage across -the Atlantic. In consequence of the frequent -storms and high seas which prevail in the spring -of the year, the passage across the Atlantic is -often attended with difficulty. The whalers are -constantly liable to meet with icebergs, after passing -the meridian of Cape Farewell, up to their -arrival at the face of the ice connected with the -shore of Labrador. In the night, or in thick -weather, they are particularly hazardous, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span> -especially in storms. In moderate winds, indeed, -such an intimation of their proximity is -to be obtained, either from their natural effulgence -in some states of the atmosphere, or from -their intense blackness in others, that they can -be generally avoided. But in storms, when -the ship ceases to be under command, they become -one of the most appalling dangers which -can be presented to the navigator.</p> - -<p>Two most fatal shipwrecks occurred in -the Davis’s Strait fleets; the Royalist, captain -Edmonds, and the London, captain Matthews, -were lost, with all hands; the former -among icebergs, in 1814, and the latter, as -it is supposed, in a similar way, in 1817. -Captain Bennet, of the Venerable, was in -company with the Royalist immediately before -she was wrecked. They fell in with -drift-ice at eight <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, April the 14th, when a -heavy gale of wind commenced, and continued -twelve hours, after which the wind abated, but -suddenly veering to the north-west, a tremendous -storm arose, which, accompanied with sleet -and snow, continued without intermission during -twenty hours. Before dark of the 15th, -(nautical day,) captain Bennet saw several icebergs, -at which time he believed the Royalist -was lying to windward of an extensive chain of -these islands of ice, among which she was -wrecked in the course of the same night. The -crew probably perished immediately, as the sea -was uncommonly high. In the case both of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span> -the Royalist and the London subscriptions were -generously opened at Hull, by the owners of -the whalers, for the relief of the bereaved relatives -of the crew.</p> - -<p>The fishery on the coast of Labrador commences -occasionally in the month of March. -On this station, which is inhabited by a large -description of whales, some fishers have persevered -altogether, and have sometimes procured -great cargoes. It is, however, a dangerous -fishery. The nights being long and dark on -their first arrival, they are obliged to use lanterns -in their boats, when fish happen to be -struck, or to remain unsubdued at close of day, -for the purpose of keeping the ships and boats -together; on which occasions the stormy weather -that frequently occurs at this season exposes -them to continued danger. Those who -prosecute the northern fishery, after making -the ice at the “south-west,” as the neighbourhood -of the Labrador coast is usually denominated, -proceed almost immediately up Davis’s -Strait towards Baffin’s Bay. If in the month -of April or beginning of May they commence -this navigation, and sail along the edge of the -western ice to the northward, they often find it -joining the ice connected with the west coast of -Greenland, in the latitude 66½° or 67°, and -meet with a considerable barrier of it in 68°, -immediately beyond which, a few leagues from -land, is a good fishing-station. As the ice -opens to the northward, the whales retreat in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span> -that direction, and the fishers follow as promptly -as possible. The whalers often reach Disko -early in May, but it is generally the latter end -of this month, or the beginning of June, before -they can pass the second barrier of ice, lying -about Hare Island, in the 71st degree of latitude, -and enter the northern inlets frequented -by the whales. The three inlets called the -South-east Bay, Jacob’s Bight, and the North-east -Bay, were most productive fishing-stations -some years ago, but of late they have afforded -but few whales. From hence, if no fish are -found, the whalers proceed to the western part -of the strait, towards Cumberland Island, or -persevere along the east side of Davis’s Strait -towards Baffin’s Bay, to the eastern parts of -which the fish appear to retreat as the season -advances, and as the ice clears away from the -northern and eastern shores.</p> - -<p>In Baffin’s Bay, and in the inlets of West -Greenland, the fishery is conducted under the -most favourable circumstances. The water -being shallow in many situations, the boats require -only a small quantity of line, and the -weather being warm, the sailors perform their -operations, if not with pleasure, at least with -comfort to themselves. But at the south-west, -each operation of the fishery is performed under -rather unpleasant and even dangerous circumstances. -Darkness of night, exposure to storms, -and frequency of swells, are all unfavourable to -the fishers. The flensing of a whale at the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span> -south-west is usually more troublesome and -more hazardous than elsewhere, owing to the -prevalent swell, which rarely altogether subsides.</p> - -<p>Davis’s Strait fishers, within the present -century, after making a successful fishery at a -distance from land, have been in the habit of -resorting to the bays, there mooring in safety, -until the troublesome process of making-off was -accomplished. On the passage homewards, the -ships usually steer down the middle of the -strait, and proceed sufficiently far south for -avoiding the “Cape-ice,” before they haul up to -the eastward. From thence, the prevalence of -westerly winds in the summer season generally -affords them an easy passage across the Atlantic. -The legislative regulations on the importation -of Davis’s Strait produce are the same as on -cargoes obtained in the Greenland fishery.</p> - -<p>Among the Dutch fishers, we find that, -during a period of a hundred and seven years, -included between 1669 and 1778, each ship in -a fleet of a hundred and thirty-two sail, which -proceeded annually to Greenland, afforded to -the owners, on an average, a profit of 3,126 -florins; and that, in a period of sixty years, -ending with 1778, a fleet of fifty-three ships, -which sailed annually to Davis’s Strait, realized -to the owners a profit of 3,469 florins per voyage; -thus exceeding the produce of the Greenland -fishery by 343 florins on each ship, per -voyage, after ample allowance is made for the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span> -greater length of the voyage to Davis’s Strait, -together with the additional wear and tear. -Among the British fishers, the advantage seems -also to have been on the side of Davis’s Strait, -particularly of late years. But if we deduct -the value of skins taken by the Greenland -fishers, but not estimated in their cargoes, say -£20 to £30 per ship, and the additional expenses -of a Davis’s Strait voyage, occasioned by -the greater wear and tear, and the provisions -and wages for a voyage, longer by one or two -months than that to Greenland, we shall reduce -the balance in favour of the Davis’s Strait -fishers to a very small sum.</p> - -<p>During the four years, ending with 1817, -the amount of the cargoes of the British -Greenland whale-fishing ships, (consisting of -three hundred and seventy-six sail, repeated -voyages included,) was 3,508 whales, which -produced 33,070 tuns of oil, and 1,682 tons -of whalebone. At the same time, 210 ships -employed in the Davis’s Strait fishery procured -1,522 whales, yielding 21,438 tuns of -oil, and 1,015 tons of whale-fins. It seems -worthy of remark, that the whales caught near -Spitzbergen afforded a larger proportion of -whalebone, compared with the quantity of oil, -than the fish of Davis’s Strait; the Greenland -fish yielding a ton of fins for every 19½ tuns -of oil, and the Davis’s Strait fish a ton of fins -for every 21 tuns of oil. It is remarkable -that this should have been the case, when we<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span> -consider that small fish afford less whalebone -than large fish in proportion to their produce in -oil, and yet the Greenland fish, which, on the -average of four years, were much smaller than -those caught in Davis’s Strait, have produced -the largest proportion of whalebone. The -whales taken at the Greenland fishery in four -years only average 9½ tuns of oil each, but -those caught at Davis’s Strait average 14 tuns. -It would, therefore, appear that the large whales -caught near Spitzbergen are much stouter -than those taken in Davis’s Strait, and afford -such a large proportion of fins as more than -compensates for the deficiency in the small -whales.</p> - -<p>The fluctuating value of shipping renders it -difficult to give a fair estimate of the expenses -of a whale-ship. The Resolution, of Whitby, -burden 219 tons, when new, in the year 1803, -cost but £7,791, including all expenses of stores -and outfit, premiums of insurance, and advanced -money of seamen; while the Esk, of 354 tons -of measurement, launched and fitted out at the -same port in 1813, cost about £14,000. The -ship Resolution was sold in eight shares, and -the sums subscribed by the owners and deposited -in the hands of the managing owners -was £8,000. The balance in favour of the -owners of the Resolution for fifteen voyages -appeared to be £19,473. 10<em>s.</em> 2<em>d.</em>, besides the -value of the ship, and the value of the outfit -for the sixteenth voyage. If we reckon these<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span> -at £6,520, the profit derived from £8,000, -originally advanced, in addition to the interest -of the capital embarked, will amount to £26,000, -notwithstanding the last three voyages were but -indifferent, of which sum £25,200 has actually -been divided. It is, however, necessary to -mention, that the Resolution, in her first ten -voyages, procured six hundred or seven hundred -tuns of oil above the average of the fishery -during that period, if not more.</p> - -<p>The usual expenses of a Greenland voyage, -including outfit, when no cargo is obtained, -may be stated at £2,200, exclusive of interest -of capital and wear and tear. For every ten -tuns of oil procured, there will be an additional -expense of £80 or £90 for discharging and -boiling the cargo, for oil money and fish money, -and for other extraordinaries connected with a -successful fishing. Thus the expense of a ship, -with a cargo of two hundred tuns of oil, will be -at least £4,000.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">METHOD OF EXTRACTING OIL AND PREPARING WHALE-BONE, -WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THESE ARTICLES, AND -REMARKS ON THE USES TO WHICH THE SEVERAL PRODUCTS -OF THE WHALE-FISHERY ARE APPLIED.</p> - -<p>On the margin of the river, wet dock, canal, or -other sheet of water, communicating with that -wherein the whale-fishing ship discharges her -cargo, are usually provided the necessary premises -for reducing the blubber into oil, consisting -commonly of the following articles.</p> - -<p>1. A copper vessel or boiler, three to six, or -even ten or more tuns’ capacity, of a circular -form in the horizontal view, and elliptical in -the perpendicular section, is fixed at the elevation -of six to ten feet above the ground, provided -with an appropriate furnace, and covered -with a tiled or slated shed.</p> - -<p>2. On the same, or on a little lower level -than that of the copper, is fixed a square or -oblong back or cooler, built of wood generally, -capable of containing from ten to twenty tuns -of oil, or upwards. Adjoining to this is another -back, sometimes a third, and occasionally a -fourth or fifth, each placed a little lower than<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span> -the one preceding it, so that the lowest shall -stand with its base about two or three feet -above the level of the ground. In some very -modern <em>works</em>, the coolers are all fixed at the -same elevation. Each of the backs is provided -with one or more stop-cocks on the most accessible -side, for convenience in drawing the oil -off into casks.</p> - -<p>3. Altogether above the level of the copper, -and immediately adjoining it, on the side -directed towards the river or canal, an oblong -wooden cistern, called the “starting-back,” is -usually erected, for containing blubber, which -ought to be a vessel of equal, or nearly equal, -capacity to that of the copper. It is generally -provided with a crane, which, with a winch, or -other similar engine attached, is so contrived as -to take casks either from the quay, or from a -lighter by the side of the quay, and convey -them at once to the top of the starting-back. -Over this vessel is extended a kind of railing or -“gauntree,” on which the casks rest without -being injured, and are easily movable.</p> - -<p>4. The starting-back being elevated two or -three yards above the level of the ground, occasionally -admits of a “fenk-back,” or depository, -for the refuse of the blubber, immediately -beneath it; which fenk-back is sometimes -provided with a <em>clough</em> on the side next the -water, for “starting” the fenks into a barge or -lighter placed below.</p> - -<p>5. The premises likewise comprise a <em>shed</em> for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span> -the cooper, and sometimes a cooper’s, or master-boiler’s, -dwelling-house; the inhabitant of -which takes the charge of all the blubber, oil, -whalebone, and other articles deposited around -him.</p> - -<p>6. Warehouses for containing the oil after -it is drawn off into casks are also used, not -only for preserving it in safe custody, but for -defending the casks from the rays of the sun, -otherwise they are apt to pine and become -leaky, and,</p> - -<p>7. Sometimes “steeping-backs” and apparatus -for preparing whalebone are comprised -within the same inclosure.</p> - -<p>The blubber, which was originally in the -state of fat, is found, on arrival in a warm climate, -to be in a great measure resolved into -oil. The casks, containing the blubber, are -conveyed, by the mechanical apparatus above -mentioned, to the top of the starting-back, into -which their contents are emptied or <em>started</em> -through the bungholes. When the copper is -properly cleansed, the contents of the starting-back, -on lifting a clough at the extremity, or -turning a stop-cock, fall directly into the copper, -one edge of which is usually placed -beneath. The copper is filled within two or -three inches of the top, a little space being -requisite to admit of the expansion of the oil -when heated; and then a brisk fire is applied -to the furnace, and continued until the oil -begins to boil. This effect usually takes place<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span> -in less than two hours. Many of the fritters or -fenks float on the surface of the oil before it is -heated, but after it is “boiled off,” the whole, -or nearly so, subside to the bottom. From the -time the copper begins to warm until it is -boiled off, or ceases to boil, its contents must -be incessantly stirred by means of a pole, armed -with a kind of broad, blunt chisel, to prevent -the fenks from adhering to the bottom or sides -of the vessel. When once the contents of the -copper boil, the fire in the furnace is immediately -reduced, and shortly afterwards altogether -withdrawn. Some persons allow the copper to -boil an hour, others during two or three hours. -The former practice is supposed to produce -finer and paler oil, the latter a greater quantity. -The same copper is usually boiled twice in -every twenty-four hours, Sundays excepted. -After the oil has stood to cool and subside, the -“bailing” process commences. One of the -backs or coolers having been prepared for the -reception of the oil, by putting into it a quantity -of water, for the double purpose of preventing -the heat of the oil from warping or rending -the back, and for receiving any impurities which -it may happen to hold in suspension, a wooden -spout, with a large square box-like head, which -head is filled with brushwood or broom, that it -may act as a filter, is then placed along from -“the copper-head” to the cooler, so as to form -a communication between the two. The oil in -the copper being now separated from the fenks,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span> -water, and other impurities, all of which have -subsided to the bottom, is in a great measure -run off through the pipe communicating with -the cooler, and the remainder is carefully -lifted in copper or tin ladles, and poured upon -the broom in the spout, from whence it runs -into the same cooler, or any other cooler, at the -pleasure of the “boilers.”</p> - -<p>Besides oil and fenks, the blubber of the -whale likewise affords a considerable quantity -of watery liquor, produced probably from the -putrescence of the blood, on the surface of -which some of the fenks, and all the greasy -animal matter, called foot-je, or footing, float, -and upon the top of these the oil. Great care -therefore is requisite, on approaching these -impure substances, to take the oil off by means -of shallow tinned iron or copper ladles, called -“skimmers,” without disturbing the refuse and -mixing it with the oil. There must always, -however, be a small quantity towards the conclusion, -which is a mixture of oil and footing; -such is put into a cask or other suitable vessel -by itself, and when the greasy part has thoroughly -subsided, the most pure part is -skimmed off and becomes fine oil, and the impure -is allowed to accumulate by itself, in -another vessel, where in the end it affords -“brown-oil.” From a ton, or 252 gallons by -measure of blubber, there generally arises from -fifty to sixty gallons of refuse, whereof the -greater part is a watery fluid. The constant<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span> -presence of this fluid, which boils at a much -lower temperature than the oil, prevents the oil -itself from boiling, which is probably an advantage, -since, in the event of the oil being boiled, -some of the finest and most inflammable parts -would fly off in the form of vapour, whereas -the principal part of the steam, which now -escapes, is produced from the water. Some -persons make a practice of adding a quantity -of water, amounting perhaps to half a tun, to -the contents of each copper, with the view of -weakening or attenuating the viscid impurities -contained in the blubber, and thus obtaining a -finer oil; others consider the quantity of watery -fluid already in the blubber, as sufficient for -producing every needful effect.</p> - -<p>Each day, immediately after the copper is -emptied, and while it is yet hot, the men employed -in the manufacture of the oil, having -their feet defended by strong leathern or -wooden shoes, descend into it, and scour it out -with sand and water, until they restore the -natural surface of the copper wherever it is -discoloured. This serves to preserve the oil -from becoming high-coloured, which will always -be the case when proper cleanliness is not -observed.</p> - -<p>When prepared and cooled, the oil is in a -marketable state, and requires only to be -transferred from the coolers into casks, for the -convenience of conveyance to any part of the -country. Each of the coolers, it has been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span> -observed, is furnished with a stop-cock, beneath -which there is a platform adapted for receiving -the casks. At the conclusion of the process of -boiling each vessel’s cargo manufactured on -the premises, the backs are completely emptied -of their contents. To effect this water is -poured in, until the lower part of the stratum -of oil rises within a few lines of the level of the -stop-cock, and permits the greatest part of the -oil to escape. The quantity left amounts, -perhaps, to half an inch or an inch in depth; -to recover this oil without water requires a -little address. A deal board, in length a little -exceeding the breadth of the cooler, is introduced -at one end, diagonally, and placed, edge-ways, -in its contents. The ends of the board -being covered with flannel, when pressed -forcibly against the two opposite sides of the -cooler, prevent the oil from circulating past. -The board is then advanced slowly forward -towards the part of the back where the stop-cock -is placed, and, in its progress, all the oil -is collected by the board, while the water has a -free circulation beneath it. When the oil accumulates -to the depth of the board, its further -motion is suspended until the oil thus collected -is drawn off. Another similar board is afterwards -introduced, at the furthest extremity of -the cooler, and passed forward in the same -manner, whereby the little oil which escapes -the first is collected. The remnant is taken up -by skimmers. The smell of oil during its<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span> -extraction is undoubtedly disagreeable; but, -perhaps, not more so than the vapour arising -from any other animal substance, submitted to -the action of heat when in a putrid state. It is -an erroneous opinion that a whale-ship must -always give out the same unpleasant smell. -The fact is, that the fat of the whale, in its -fresh state, has no offensive flavour whatever, -and never becomes disagreeable until it is -brought into a warm climate, and becomes -putrid.</p> - -<p>Whale-oil, prepared by the method just described, -is of a pale honey-yellow colour; but -sometimes, when the blubber from which it is -procured happens to be of the red kind, the -oil appears of a reddish-brown colour. When -first extracted, it is commonly thick, but after -standing some time a mucilaginous substance -subsides, and it becomes tolerably limpid and -transparent. Its smell is somewhat offensive, -especially when it is long kept. It consists of -oil, properly so called, a small portion of -spermaceti, and a little gelatine. At the temperature -of 40° the latter substances become -partially concrete, and make the oil obscure; -and at the temperature of 32° render it thick -with flaky crystals. It is sold by the tun, of -252 gallons, wine measure. Its specific gravity -is 0·9214. The tun weighs 17 cwt. 1 qr. 1 lb. -12 oz. 14 dr. The value of whale-oil, like that -of every other similar article, is subject to continual -variations. In the year 1744, oil sold<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span> -in England for £10. 1<em>s.</em> per tun; in 1754, for -£29; in 1801, for £50; in 1807, for £21; -and in 1813, when the price was the highest -ever obtained, for £55 or £60 per tun.</p> - -<p>The application of gas, produced by the distillation -of coal, for lighting the public streets -and buildings, manufactories, shops, etc., which -formerly were lighted with oil, it was apprehended -would be ruinous to the whale-fishery -trade, and certainly had a very threatening -appearance; but hitherto, owing to the amount -of whale-oil lately imported having been less -than the ordinary quantity, this expected effect -of the employment of gas-lights has not been -felt.</p> - -<p>When blubber is boiled in Greenland, the -oil produced from it is much brighter, paler, -more limpid, and more inflammable than that -extracted in Britain. It is also totally free -from any unpleasant flavour, and burns without -smell. Hence it is evident, that whatever is -disagreeable in the effluvia of whale-oil arises -from an admixture of putrescent substances. -These consist of blood and animal fibre. This -latter is the reticulated and cellular fibres of -the blubber, wherein the oil is confined, which -produces the fenks when boiled. When putrefaction -commences, a small portion of the -blood contained in the blubber is probably -combined with the oil, and the animal fibre, in -considerable quantity, is dissolved in it. These -substances not only occasion the unpleasant<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span> -smell common to whale-oil, but, by being deposited -on the wick of lamps, in burning, produce -upon it a kind of cinder, which, if not -occasionally removed, causes a great diminution -in the quantity of light. A sample of oil, which -I extracted in Greenland, about ten years ago, -is still fine, and totally free from rancidity. It -has certainly acquired a smell, but is not more -unpleasant than that of old Florence oil. -Hence, were whale-oil extracted in Greenland -before the putrefying process commences, or -were any method devised of freeing it from the -impurities which combine with it in consequence -of this process, it would become not -only more valuable for common purposes, but -would be applicable to almost every use to -which spermaceti oil is adapted. In fact, it -would become a similar kind of article.</p> - -<p>In performing some experiments on oil in -Greenland, during the fishing season of 1818, -I adopted a process for refining oil extracted -from blubber before the putrefying process commenced, -by which I procured a remarkably fine -oil. It was nearly colourless, beautifully transparent, -and very limpid. This oil retains its -transparency, even at a very low temperature. -It is more inflammable than spermaceti oil, and -so pure, that it will burn longer, without forming -a crust on the wick of the lamp, than any -other oil with which it has been compared.</p> - -<p>Besides the oil produced from blubber by -boiling, the whalers distinguish such as oozes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span> -from the jawbones of the fish by the name of -jawbone oil; and inferior oils, which are discoloured, -by the denominations of brown oil -and black oil, or bilge oil. Brown oil is produced -in the way described in the process of -boiling; black or bilge oil is that which leaks -out of the casks in the course of the voyage, -or runs out of any blubber which may happen -to be in bulk, and accumulates in the -bottom of the ship. This oil is always very -dark coloured, viscous, and possessed of little -transparency.</p> - -<p>Whalebone, or whalefins, as the substance -is sometimes, though incorrectly, named, is -found in the mouth of the common Greenland -whale, to which it serves as a substitute for -teeth. It forms an apparatus most admirably -adapted as a filter for separating the minute -animals on which the whale feeds from the -sea-water in which they exist. The Lawgiver -of all the creatures, whether rational or irrational, -has fitted them with organization appropriate -for the purposes for which they live, and -has provided them with all that is needful, -according to their rank, for the happiness of -their lives. The care which is bestowed upon -the animals who do not recognise Him is in -unison with that more tender kindness which -he has manifested to such as have a mind to -meditate on his perfections, and a heart wherewith -to love him and adore.</p> - -<p>The whalebone is a substance of a horny<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span> -appearance and consistence, extremely flexible -and elastic, generally of a bluish black colour, -but not unfrequently striped longitudinally -white, and exhibiting a beautiful play of colour -on the surface. Internally, it is of a fibrous texture, -resembling hair, and the external surface -consists of a smooth enamel, capable of receiving -a good polish. When taken from the whale, -the whalebone consists of laminæ, connected by -what is called the gum in a parallel series, and -ranged along each side of the mouth of the -animal. The laminæ are about three hundred -in number, in each side of the head. The -length of the longest blade, which occurs near -the middle of the series, is the criterion fixed -on by the fishers for designating the size of the -fish. Its greatest length is about fifteen feet. -The two sides or series of the whalebone are -connected at the upper part of the head or -crown-bone of the fish, within a few inches of -each other, from whence they hang downwards, -diverging so far as to inclose the tongue between -their extremities; the position of the blades -with regard to each other resembles a frame of -saws in a saw-mill; and, taken altogether, -they exhibit in some measure the form and -position of the roof of a house. The smaller -extremity and interior edge of each blade of -whalebone, or the edge annexed to the tongue, -are covered with a long fringe of hair, consisting -of a similar kind of substance to that which -constitutes the interior of the bone. Whale-bone<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span> -is generally brought from Greenland in -the same state as when taken from the fish, -after being divided into pieces, comprising ten -or twelve laminæ in each. Of late years, the -price has usually been fluctuating between £50 -and £150 per ton. It becomes more valuable -as it increases in length and thickness.</p> - -<p>In cleansing and preparing the whalebone, -the first operation, if not already done, consists -of depriving it of the gum. It is then put into -a cistern containing water, till the dirt upon its -surface becomes soft. When this effect is sufficiently -produced, it is taken out piece by piece, -laid on a plank placed on the ground, where -the operator stands, and scrubbed or scoured -with sand and water, by means of a broom or -piece of cloth. It is then passed to another -person, who, on a plank or bench, elevated to a -convenient height, scrapes the root-end, where -the gum was attached, until he produces a -smooth surface; he, or another workman, then -applies a knife or a pair of shears to the edge, -and completely detaches all the fringe of hair -connected with it. Another person, who is -generally the superintendent of the concern, -afterwards receives it, washes it in a vessel of -clean water, and removes with a bit of wood -the impurities out of the cavity of the root. -Thus cleansed, it is exposed to the air and -sun, until thoroughly dry, when it is removed -into a warehouse or other place of safety and -shelter.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span></p> - -<p>Before it is offered for sale, it is usually -scrubbed with brushes and hair-cloth, by which -the surface receives a polish, and all dirt or dust -adhering to it removed; and, finally, it is packed -in portable bundles, consisting of about one -hundred weight each. The size-bone, or such -pieces as measure six feet or upwards in length, -are kept separate from the under size, the latter -being usually sold at half the price of the former. -Each blade being terminated with a quantity of -hair, there is sometimes a difficulty in deciding -whether some blades of whalebone are size or -not. Owing to the diminished value of under-sized -bones, and more particularly in consequence -of the captain and some of the officers -engaged in a fishing-ship having a premium on -every size fish, it becomes a matter of some importance -in a doubtful case to decide this point. -From a decision which, I understand, has been -made in a court of law, it is now a generally -received rule, that so much of the substance -terminating each blade as gives rise to two or -more hairs is whalebone; though in fact the -hair itself is actually the same substance as that -of which the whalebone is composed.</p> - -<p>The oil produced from the blubber of the -whale, in its most common state of preparation, -is used for a variety of purposes. It is used -in the lighting of the streets of towns, and -the interior of places of worship, houses, shops, -manufactories, etc.; it is extensively employed -in the manufacture of soft soap, as well as in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span> -the preparing of leather and coarse woollen -cloths; it is applicable in the manufacture of -coarse varnishes and paints, in which, when -duly prepared, it affords a strength of body -more capable of resisting the weather than paint -mixed in the usual way with vegetable oil; it -is also extensively used for reducing friction in -various kinds of machinery; combined with tar, -it is much employed in ship-work, and in the -manufacture of cordage, and either simple, or -in a state of combination, it is applied to many -other useful purposes.</p> - -<p>One of the most extensive applications of -whale-oil, that for illumination, has suffered -a considerable diminution, in consequence of -the appropriation of gas from coal to the -same purpose. This discovery, brilliant as -it is acknowledged to be, which in its first application -bore such a threatening aspect against -the usual consumption of oil, may be the means -of bringing the oil of the whale into more extensive -use than it has at any former period -been. Whale-oil, in the most inferior qualities, -is found to afford a gas which, in point of brilliancy, -freeness of smell, and ease of manufacture, -is greatly superior to that produced from coal. -In places where coal is not very cheap, gas, it -seems, can be produced from oil at about the -same expense as coal-gas; consequently, the -numerous advantages of the former will render -it highly preferable. Whale-oil, when free -from the incombustible and contaminating<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span> -animal matters which are usually dissolved in -it in consequence of putrefaction, is, then, applicable -to a variety of purposes, in which the -common oil cannot conveniently be employed. -Even in its unrefined state, whale-oil frequently -obtains an unmerited bad character for burning, -when the fault lies in those who have the charge -of the lamps in which it is consumed. Want of -proper cleanliness, the use of wicks of too great -diameter, and sometimes in a damp state, are -common errors inimical to the obtaining of a -good light.</p> - -<p>The fenks, or ultimate refuse of the blubber -of the whale, form an excellent manure, especially -in soils deficient in animal matter. Fenks -might be used, it is probable, in the manufacture -of Prussian blue, and also for the production -of ammonia. Footing, which is the -finer detached fragments of the fenks, not -wholly deprived of oil, may be used as a cheap -material in the formation of gas. Whale’s tail -can be converted into glue, and is extensively -used in the manufacture of this article, especially -in Holland. It forms, as I have already -mentioned, chopping-blocks for the fishers. The -jawbones, with the skull or crown-bone of the -whale, are the largest found in nature. They -are sometimes met with of the length of twenty-five -feet. Jawbones are used as the ribs of -sheds, and in the construction of arches and -posts of gateways.</p> - -<p>Whalebone, when softened in hot water, or<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span> -simply by heating it before a fire, has the property -of retaining any shape which may then -be given to it, provided it be secured in the -required form until it becomes cold. This property, -together with its great elasticity and -flexibility, renders it capable of being applied -to many useful purposes. The first way in -which it seems to have been employed was in -the stays of ladies. Its application to this purpose -was at one period, when the quantity imported -was small, so general that it attained, in -the wholesale way, the price of £700 per ton. -Of late years, however, it has fallen somewhat -into disrepute, some ladies preferring to support -themselves with plates of steel. There has been -for many years an extensive consumption of -this article in the manufacture of umbrellas and -parasols. The white enamel (found in some -specimens of whalebone) has been fabricated -into ladies’ hats, and a variety of ornamental -forms of head-dresses; and the black enamel is -employed, in the same way as cane, in the construction -of the seats or backs of chairs, gigs, -sofas, etc. The hair on the edge of the whalebone -answers every purpose of bullock’s hair in -stuffings for chairs, sofas, settees, carriages, mattresses, -cushions, etc. An attempt has been -made to build whale-boats of this material, but -the great alteration which takes place in its -dimensions, in different states of the atmosphere, -on account of its ready absorption of -moisture, renders it inapplicable. It has been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span> -used with a much better effect, in the construction -of portmanteaus, travelling-trunks, -hygrometers, the ram-rods of fowling-pieces, -fishing-rods, the shafts, springs, and wheels -of carriages, and various other articles.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">NARRATIVE OF PROCEEDINGS ON BOARD THE SHIP ESK, -DURING A WHALE-FISHING VOYAGE TO THE COAST OF -SPITZBERGEN, IN THE YEAR 1816; PARTICULARLY RELATING -TO THE PRESERVATION OF THE SHIP UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES -OF PECULIAR DANGER.</p> - -<p>The ship Esk sailed from Whitby on the 29th -of March, 1816. We entered the frigid confines -of the Icy Sea, and killed our first whale on the -25th of April. On the 30th of April, we forced -into the ice with a favourable wind, and after -passing through a large body of it, entered an -extensive sea, such as usually lies on the western -coast of Spitzbergen at this season of the -year, early on the morning of the following day. -The wind then blowing hard south south-east, -we kept our reach to the eastward until three -o’clock in the afternoon, when we unexpectedly -met with a quantity of ice, which interrupted -our course. We then <em>wared</em> by the way of -avoiding it, but soon found, though the weather -was thick with snow, that we were completely -embayed in a situation that was truly terrific.</p> - -<p>In the course of fourteen voyages, in which -I had before visited this inhospitable country, I -passed through many dangers wherein my own<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span> -life, together with those of my companions, had -been threatened; but the present case, where -our lives seemed to be at stake for a length of -time, exceeding twelve hours, far surpassed in -awfulness, as well as actual hazard, anything -that I had before witnessed. Dangers which -occur unexpectedly and terminate suddenly, -though of the most awful description, appear -like a dream when they are past; but horrors -which have a long continuance, though they in -some measure decrease in their effect on the -mind by a lengthened contemplation of them, -yet they leave an impression on the memory -which time itself cannot altogether efface. -Such was the effect of the present scene. -Whilst the wind howled through the rigging -with tempestuous roar, the sea was so mountainous -that the mast-heads of some accompanying -ships, within the distance of a quarter -of a mile, were intercepted and rendered invisible -by the swells, and our ship frequently rolled -the lee-boats into the water, that were suspended -with their keels above the roughtree-rail!</p> - -<p>At the same time, we were rapidly approaching -a body of ice, the masses of which, as hard -as rocks, might be seen at one instant covered -with foam, the next concealed from the sight -by the waves, and instantly afterwards reared -to a prodigious height above the surface of the -sea. It is needless to relate the means by -which we attempted to keep the ship clear of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span> -the threatened danger, because those means were -without avail. At eleven P.M. we were close -to the ice, when perceiving through the mist -an opening a short distance within, we directed -the drift of the ship towards it. As we -approached the ice, the sails were filled, so that -the first blow was received obliquely on the -bow, when the velocity of the ship was moderate. -In this place the pieces of ice were -happily of smaller dimensions; at least, all -the larger masses we were able to avoid, so -that, after receiving a number of shocks, we -escaped without any particular accident into -the opening or slack part of the ice above -noticed. This opening, as far as we could see, -promised a safe and permanent release.</p> - -<p>But in this we were grievously disappointed: -for, when we attempted to ware the ship, which -soon became necessary, she refused to turn round, -notwithstanding every effort, in a space which, -in ordinary circumstances, would have been -far more than sufficient for the evolution. In -consequence of this accident, which arose partly -from the bad <em>trim</em> of the ship, and partly from -the great violence of the wind, she fell to leeward -into a close body of ice, to which we -could see no termination. The Mars, of Whitby, -and another vessel, which closely followed us -as we penetrated the exterior of the ice, being -in better trim than the Esk, performed the -evolution with ease, and were in a few minutes -out of sight. In this dreadful situation, we lay<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span> -beating against the opposing ice, with terrible -force, daring eight successive hours, all which -time I was rocked at the top-gallant mast-head, -directing the management of the sails, to avoid -the largest masses of ice, any one of which -would have perforated the side of the ship. -By the blessing of God, we succeeded wonderfully; -and at eight <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, the 2nd of May, gained -a small opening, where we contrived to navigate -the ship until the wind subsided, and we -had the opportunity of forcing into a more -commodious place. On examining the ship, -we found our only apparent damage to consist -in the destruction of most of our rudder works, -a few slight bruises on the sides, and a cut on -the lower part of the stern of the ship.</p> - -<p>From this time, to the 20th of May, the -fishery was generally interrupted by the formation -of new ice, insomuch that during -this interval we killed but one whale, while -few of our neighbours succeeded so well. -During the succeeding week, we became so -fixed that we never moved except occasionally -a few yards. The next twelve days were -spent in most arduous labour in forcing the -ship through the ice. At length, on the 12th -of June, we happily escaped, though our companions -were, for a short time, all left behind. -On the 27th of June, we had secured thirteen -fish, and our quantity of oil was about 125 -tuns. This was a larger cargo than any ship -had procured that we had yet met with,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span> -excepting only one. On the 28th, the John, of -Greenock, commanded by my brother-in-law, -Mr. Jackson, joined us.</p> - -<p>After proceeding to the westward, the -greater part of the 28th, we arrived at the -borders of a compact body of field-ice, consisting -of immense sheets of prodigious thickness. -As I considered the situation not favourable -for fishing, the ship was allowed to drift to the -eastward all night. In the morning of the 29th, -I found, however, that she was very little -removed from the place where she lay when I -went to bed. I perceived that the floes, -between which there had been extensive spaces, -were now in the act of closing; and attempted, -by lowering four boats, to tow the ship through -an opening at a short distance from us. At the -moment when we were about to enter it, it -closed. In attempting to get the ship into the -safety of an indentation, which appeared calculated -to afford a secure retreat, a small piece of -ice came athwart her bow, stopped her progress, -and she was in a minute afterwards subjected -to a considerable squeeze. From none, however, -of the pieces of ice around us did we apprehend -any danger, particularly as the motion of the -ice soon abated. There was a danger, however, -on the larboard quarter, of which we were -totally unconscious. The piece of ice that -touched the ship in that part, though of itself -scarcely six yards square, and more than one -yard above the water, concealed beneath the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span> -surface of the sea, at the depth of ten or twelve -feet, a hard pointed projection of ice, which -pressed against the keel, lifted the rudder, and -caused a damage that had nearly occasioned the -loss of the ship. About an hour and a half -after the accident, the carpenter, having sounded -the pump, discovered to our great concern and -amazement a depth of eight and a half feet -water in the hold. This was most alarming; -with despair pictured in every face, the crew -set on the pumps; a signal of distress was at -the same time hoisted, and a dozen boats approached -us from the surrounding ships. In -the space of four hours, the water had lowered -to nearly four feet, but one of the pumps -becoming useless, and bailing being less effectual -than at first, the water once more resumed -its superiority and gained upon us.</p> - -<p>Something, therefore, was now to be done, to -stop, if possible, the influx of the water. As -the pumping and bailing could not possibly be -continued by our own ship’s company, it was -necessary to make use of some means to attempt -a speedy remedy whilst our assistants were -numerous. As there was a probability that a -bunch of rope-yarns, straw, or oakum, might -enter some of the larger leaks, and retard the -influx of water, if applied near the place through -the medium of a fothering-sail, (that is, a sail -drawn by means of ropes at the four corners, -beneath the damaged or leaky part,) we in the -meantime prepared a lower studding-sail, by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span> -sewing bunches of these materials, which, together -with sheets of old thin canvas, whalebone-hair, -and a quantity of ashes, fitted it well for -the purpose. Thus prepared, it was hauled -beneath the damaged place, but not the least -effect was yet produced. We set about unrigging -the ship, and discharging the cargo and -stores, upon a flat place of the floe, against -which we had moored, with the intention of -turning the ship keel upward. My own sailors -were completely worn out, and most of our auxiliaries -wearied and discouraged; some of them -evinced, by their improper conduct, their wish -that the ship should be abandoned. Before -putting our plan in execution, we placed twenty -empty casks in the hold, to act against a quantity -of iron ballast which was in the ship, -caulked the dark lights, removed all the dry -goods and provisions that would injure with -the wet, secured all the hatches, skuttles, companion, -etc., then, erecting two tents on the ice, -one for sheltering myself, and the other for the -crew, we ceased pumping, and permitted the -ship to fill. At this crisis, men of whom I had -conceived the highest opinion for firmness and -bravery greatly disappointed my expectations. -Among the whole crew, indeed, scarcely a dozen -spirited fellows were to be seen.</p> - -<p>As no ship could with propriety venture near -us, to assist in turning the Esk over, on account -of the hazardous position of the ice around her, -we had no other means of attempting this singular<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span> -evolution than by attaching purchases to -the ice from the ship. Everything being prepared, -while the water flowed into the ship, I -sent our exhausted crew to seek a little rest. -For my own part, necessity impelled me to endeavour -to obtain some repose. I had already -been fifty hours without rest, which unusual -exertion, together with the anxiety of mind I -endured, caused my legs to swell and become so -extremely painful, that I could scarcely walk. -Spreading, therefore, a mattress upon a few -boards, laid on the snow within one of the tents, -notwithstanding the coldness of the situation, -and the excessive dampness that prevailed from -the constant fog, I enjoyed a comfortable repose -of four hours, and arose considerably refreshed.</p> - -<p>Immediately afterwards, about three <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, on -the 1st of July, I proceeded with all hands to -the ship, which, to our surprise, we found had -only sunk a little below the sixteenth mark externally, -while the water but barely covered a -part of “’tween decks within.” Perceiving that -it was not likely to sink much further, on account -of the buoyancy of the empty casks, and the -materials of which the ship was composed, we -applied all our purchases, but with the strength -of 150 men we could not heel her more than -five or six stakes. When thus careened, with -the weight of two anchors suspended from the -mast, acting with the effect of powerful levers -on the ship, I accompanied about 120 men on -board. All these being arranged on the high<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span> -side of the deck, ran suddenly to the lower side, -when the ship fell so suddenly on one side that -we were apprehensive she was about to upset, -but after turning a little way the motion ceased. -The tackles on the ice being then hauled tight, -the heeling position of the ship was preserved, -until we mounted the higher part of the deck, -and ran to the lower as before. At length, after -a few repetitions of this manœuvre, no impression -whatever was produced, and the plan of -upsetting the ship appeared quite impracticable.</p> - -<p>The situation of the ship being now desperate, -there could be no impropriety in attempting to -remove the keel and garboard strake, which -prevented the application of the fothering, for, -whatever might be the result, it could scarcely -be for the worse. These incumbrances being -removed, the sail for fothering was immediately -applied to the place, and a vast quantity of -fothering materials thrown into its cavity, when -it was fairly underneath. Over this sail we -spread a fore-sail, and braced the whole as tight -to the ship as the keel-bolts, which yet remained -in their horizontal position, would admit. The -effect was as happy as we could possibly have -anticipated. Some time before all these preparations -were completed, our people, assisted -by the John’s crew, who, after a short rest, had -returned to us, put the three pumps and bailing -tubs in motion, and applied their energies with -such effect that in eleven hours the pumps -sucked! In this time, a depth of thirteen feet<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span> -water was pumped out of the hold, besides the -leakage. The John’s crew on this occasion exerted -themselves with a spirit and zeal which -were truly praiseworthy. As the assistance of -carpenters was particularly needed, we fired a -gun, and repeated our signal of distress, which -brought very opportunely two boats, with six -men each, from the Prescot, and the same number -from our tried friend, Mr. Allen, of the -North Britain. As we likewise procured the -carpenters of these ships, together with those of -the John, they commenced operations by cutting -through the ceiling, between two frames of -timbers directly across the hold, at the distance -of about twenty-six feet from the stern-post; a -situation which, we were assured, was on the -fore part of the leak, or between the leak and -the body of the ship. The timbers in this -place were unhappily found so closely connected -that we had to cut away part of one of -the floors, that we might come at the outside -plank, and caulk the crevices between it and -the timbers; which operation, on account of -the great depth of timber, and the vast flow of -water that issued at the ceiling, was extremely -difficult, tedious, and disagreeable.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile that we had good assistance, I -allowed our crew four hours’ rest, half of them -at a time, for which purpose some of their beds -were removed from the ice to the ship. Here, -for the first time during four days, they enjoyed -their repose; for on account of the cold<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span> -and damp that prevailed when they rested on -the ice, several of them, I believe, never slept. -Some of the John’s people returning to us, -swayed up the top-mast, and rigged most of the -yards, while our men were employed stowing -the main-hold, which, by the floating of the -casks, was thrown into a singular state of disorder. -Some of the casks were found without -heads, and all the blubber lost, and many were -found bilged, or otherwise damaged.</p> - -<p>After the carpenters had completely cleared -the roomstead—that is, the space between any -two ribs or frames of timbers in a ship—they -drove oakum into it, along with an improved -woollen sheathing substance; and occasionally, -where the spaces were very large, pieces of fat -pork. The spaces or crevices between the -planks of the ceiling and the timber being then -filled, all the above substances were firmly -driven down by means of pine wedges, and the -spaces between each of the wedges caulked. -This would have been very complete, had not -the increased flow of the water overcome the -pumps, and covered the ceiling where the carpenters -were at work. They were therefore -obliged to wedge up the place with great expedition; -and being at the same time greatly -fatigued, the latter part of the operation was -accomplished with much less perfection than I -could have wished.</p> - -<p>Hitherto calm weather, with thick fog, having -constantly prevailed, was the occasion of several<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span> -ships remaining by us and affording assistance, -which would otherwise have left us. But the -weather having now become clear, and a prospect -of prosecuting the fishery being presented, -every ship deserted us, except the John, and -she was preparing to leave us likewise. In the -state of extreme jeopardy in which we were still -placed, the love of life, on the part of the crew, -determined them to attempt to quit the ship, -and take refuge in the John as soon as she -should attempt to leave us. I was confident, -through the information I had received, that -unless the assistance of the John were secured, -the Esk, after all the labour bestowed on her, -and the progress which had been made towards -her preservation, must yet be abandoned as a -wreck. At length, I yielded to the request of -my whole crew, and made a proposal to captain -Jackson, who agreed on certain conditions, involving -the surrender of a large proportion of -our cargo, to stay by us and assist us until our -arrival at some port of Shetland. The original -of this contract was voluntarily signed by every -individual of both ships’ companies. A subsequent -agreement of a more explicit kind, on the -part of masters and owners of the Esk and the -John, was drawn out and signed by myself and -Mr. Jackson.</p> - -<p>These agreements being fully understood -and signed, the John hauled alongside of the -ice, which had now opened near the Esk for -the first time since the accident, and took on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span> -board the whole of our loose blubber, estimated -at seventy-eight butts and fifty-eight -butts, in twenty-five casks, together with -half our whalebone, as agreed. Everything -now went on favourably, and whilst our crew -and assistants were in full and vigorous employment, -I retired to seek that repose which -my wearied frame stood greatly in need of. On -the 5th July, assisted by all hands from the -John, the stowing of the hold and the rigging -of the ship were completed, and, under a moderate -breeze of wind, we left the floe, but what -was our astonishment and mortification to find -that the ship could not be guided! The rudder -had become perfectly useless, so that with the -most appropriate disposition of the sails possible, -and the requisite position of the helm, the -ship could not be turned round, or diverted in -the least from the course in which the impetus -of the wind on the sails was the most naturally -balanced. This was an alarming disappointment. -However, as the ship was in such constant -danger of being crushed in the situation -where she lay, the John, with the greatest difficulty -imaginable, towed us three or four miles -to the eastward, into a place of comparative -safety. Here we rectified our rudder, and -arranged for the trimming of the ship more by -the stern, to compensate in some degree for the -loss of the after-keel. When these matters -were completed, on account of strong wind and -thick weather, we could not, without imminent<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span> -danger, attempt to penetrate the compact body of -ice which at this time barred our escape to the -sea, and I took the advantage of the opportunity -to procure a long rest. The attention of the -carpenters in caulking the ceiling of the ship, -together with the advantage derived from the -fothering sails, had now produced an effect so -considerable, that on Sunday, the 7th of July, -the original leakage was found to be reduced -nearly four-fifths. During an hour, in which -we were engaged in Divine service, the pumps -were allowed to “stand;” two and a half feet -of water, which in this interval flowed into the -hold, was pumped out in twenty minutes.</p> - -<p>After various alarms and careful attention to -the leakage, together with the unremitting diligence -of the crew in the use of the pumps, we -descried land on the 23rd of July, and approached -within three or four miles of the coast -of Shetland. In the evening, the John having -fulfilled the articles of agreement as far as was -required, we sent the twelve men belonging -to her crew on board, and after receiving from -them a supply of fresh water, they left us with -three cheers, and the usual display of colours. -We were now left to sail by ourselves; our -progress was in consequence rather slow. At -daylight of the 27th, we were rejoiced with a -sight of our port. Knowing the flow of water -to be sufficient for the ship, and there being a -probability of reaching the harbour before the -tide was too much fallen, we pressed towards it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span> -with every sail we could set, and having received -a pilot as we approached the pier, we immediately -entered the harbour, and grounded at -half-past five <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> in a place of safety.</p> - -<p>Thus, through the peculiar favour of God, by -whose influence our perseverance was stimulated, -and by whose blessing our contrivances -were rendered effectual, happily terminated a -voyage at once hazardous, disastrous, and -interesting. Men whose lives have been exposed -to dangers so fearful and imminent, may -reasonably be expected to be influenced by a -vivid sense of the nearness of eternity, and to -feel the powers of the world to come. It is the -prerogative of the Christian religion, whilst it -prepares men for death, to take away undue -apprehensions of it; to furnish consolation of -unspeakable value, when it is present; and to -light up the distant and unknown future, with -the peace and happiness of the hope of eternal -life. To the rude and courageous mariner, as -well as to the inhabitants of refined and luxurious -homes, God’s message is one and the same. It -is suitable, and worthy of acceptation, on sea -and on land, in sickness and in health, when -we expect instant removal from our present -temporary dwelling-place, or look forward to -the activities and cares of a protracted life. -To every one of us the Almighty is saying, -Repent, believe, and live—promising a free and -complete pardon through the death of his Son, -and engaging, to those who welcome and obey<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span> -his message, that they shall live under the -smile of His countenance and the protection of -his power.</p> - -<p>Intelligence relative to the distressed state of -the ship, and the helplessness of her situation, -reached Whitby the day before us, and, in consequence -of exaggerations respecting the loss of the -crew, involved every interested person in deep -distress. Throughout the town, and in a great -measure throughout the neighbourhood, the -event was considered as a general calamity. -Some of the underwriters on the Esk, I was informed, -had offered sixty per cent. for the reassurance -of the sums for which they were -liable, but such was the nature of the risk, as -ascertained from the information of some ships’ -crews, by whom we had been assisted, that no -one would undertake the assurance, even at -this extraordinary premium. The hearty congratulations -I received on landing, from every -acquaintance, were almost overwhelming, and -these, with the enhanced endearments of my affectionate -and enraptured wife, amply repaid -for all the toils and anxieties of mind that I had -endured.</p> - -<p>On the tide ebbing out, the Esk was left dry, -on which, for the first time since the accident, -the whole of the water was drawn out of the -hold by the pumps. The next tide, the ship -was removed above the bridge to a place of -perfect safety, where the pumps being neglected, -the water in the course of two tides rose nearly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span> -as high within as without. After the cargo was -discharged, the ship was put into dock, and it -was found that, excepting the loss of twenty-two -feet of keel, and the removal of a piece of the -starboard garboard strake, nine feet in length, -with a portion of dead-wood brought home -upon deck, no other damage of consequence had -been produced by the ice. The whole expense -of repairs did not, I believe, exceed £200. -Though the sacrifice of nearly one-half of our -cargo was a considerable disappointment to the -owners, who had been apprized of our success -in fishery, yet, when compared with the salvage, -which might have been demanded had no contract -been entered into for the assistance of the -John, the sacrifice appeared to have been a -material benefit, having been productive of the -saving of perhaps £2,000. The approbation of -my conduct by the owners, Messrs. Fishburn and -Brodrick, was testified by their presenting to -me a gratuity of £50; and the sense entertained -by the Whitby underwriters, of the preservation -of the ship, was pleasingly manifested -by a present of a handsome piece of plate.</p> - -<p>I may add, in conclusion, that the whole of -my crew, excepting one individual, returned -from this adventurous and trying voyage in -safety, and in general in a good state of health. -Several of the men, indeed, were affected more -or less by the excessive fatigue, and by the -painful exposure to cold and damp, while resting -on the ice; but all of them were, in a great<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span> -measure, restored before our arrival at home, -excepting one man; he, poor fellow, being of a -weak constitution, suffered severely from the -inclement exposure, and died soon after he -arrived in port.</p> - - -<p class="center">THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY: INSTITUTED 1799.</p><br> - - -<div class="transnote"> -<h2>Transcriber’s Notes</h2> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg <a href="#Page_26">26</a> Changed period after: this, in 1749 to: comma</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg <a href="#Page_27">27</a> Changed equipped from Embden to: Emden</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg <a href="#Page_47">47</a> Changed misspelling of “sails becomes neccessary” to: necessary</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg <a href="#Page_64">64</a> Removed repeated word it from: It it bears this</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg <a href="#Page_74">74</a> Added period to the end of: moment of danger</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg <a href="#Page_75">75</a> Changed comma to period at: requiring extreme dispatch</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg <a href="#Page_78">78</a> Changed rate of 816 to: 8·16 and 718 to: 7·18</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg <a href="#Page_80">80</a> Added period to: 3,104,640 lbs</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg <a href="#Page_115">115</a> Changed to provent them to: prevent</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg <a href="#Page_165">165</a> Added period to: not been felt</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg <a href="#Page_185">185</a> Changed swayed up the topmast to: top-mast</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Various hyphenated and non-hyphenated words left as written</span><br> -</div> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NORTHERN WHALE-FISHERY ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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