VOYAGE TO HAMMEKFEST 79 



tedious voyage here has lessened the chance of eggs 

 almost to nil, and according to Malmgren (the ornitholo- 

 gist of the Swedish expedition, begun some three years 

 ago and still being carried on) the good things that have 

 been reported from Spitzbergen are fabulous ; neither 

 Larus sabini nor L. rossi have ever revealed themselves 

 to him. 



The hire of our jagt for two months costs Birkbeck 

 200, but this is to cover all expenses, and leave the entire 

 catch in his hands, which may be worth some 40 or 50. 

 It is supposed to be a cheap bargain. Lament's expedi- 

 tion must have cost him a good deal more, and when 

 young T. Thornhill went with Ld. Dunmore they paid 

 120 for six weeks, and only six men and one boat. All 

 the people here are now crazy about shark fishing. Last 

 year it was very productive between the N. Cape and 

 Bear Island, and our jagt was going there had not Birk- 

 beck hired her. One or two vessels have already returned 

 with full cargoes and are off again. This place looks more 

 thriving than it did nine years ago, but yet the largest 

 ' house " smashed some twelve months since. Wolley's 

 old friend, Andreas Berger, the man who used to declare 

 he had sailed to the north of 83, has taken to drink and 

 has been sent by his brothers to America, where he now 

 serves in the U.S. Navy. There are only about three 

 people that I remember formerly, and no one that I care 

 about. As yet we have done nothing ornithological. I 

 sent Ludwig out one day here to get some ptarmigan, 

 they are very large on this island, but he returned without 

 seeing a bird. He is off again to-day at his own request, 

 and I think means to distinguish himself. 



Our party continues to be a very pleasant one. The 

 Dr. (Wagstaff by name) and Lorange,the interpreter, both 

 good fellows in their way, and Manners Sutton great fun 

 at times. Birkbeck is rather too quiet and it is difficult 

 at times to make out if he is not greatly bored with the 

 whole thing. I dare say that occasionally he feels the 

 want of the constant occupation he has been accustomed 

 to, and certainly being on board a sailing vessel in a 



