78 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



giant animals did not originate in Scotland, nor is it by 

 natives of our own country that it has been established here ; 

 but as it seems probable that the new departure will speedily 

 be naturalised and its operations considerably extended, 

 perhaps not altogether without opposition from some other 

 interests supposed to be involved, it seems desirable to put 

 on record the results of the first seasons's fishing, and at the 

 same time briefly to trace the origin of the Fin-whale 

 fishery in the Arctic seas off the Norwegian coast, its spread 

 to Iceland, the Faroes, and the Shetland Isles, and to add 

 a short description of the animals hunted and some of the 

 features by which each species may be easily recognised. 



But before proceeding further, in order fully to under- 

 stand how it came about that this family of Cetaceans, so 

 long regarded as too worthless, or as beyond the power of 

 man to subdue, came to be seriously hunted, it may be well 

 to revert to the long past and review very briefly the origin 

 and progress of the whale fishery of the North Atlantic and 

 the Polar seas. This is the more desirable as there seems 

 to be even in the present day, and among writers of repute, 

 a want of appreciation as to the changes which have taken 

 place in this industry, and a curious amount of confusion 

 with regard to the species of whale pursued at different 

 periods. As an instance of this, perhaps I may be allowed 

 to quote from a charming book written by a master of 

 science, as well as a deservedly popular exponent of nature, 

 entitled "The Beauties of Nature," wherein at p. 343 the 

 writer tells us that whales (presumably referring to the Polar 

 Right Whale) have been gradually driven farther and 

 farther north in avoiding the pursuit of man, and this 

 appears to be the generally received opinion, whereas both 

 the nature of their food and the character of the seas 

 essential to their well - being render it impossible for this 

 ice - loving species ever to have (under present conditions) 

 inhabited the seas washing our shores ; they could no more 

 exist in the tepid waters of the Bay of Biscay or of the 

 Mediterranean than the Ptarmigan could thrive on the 

 chalk Downs of the south of England. 



What, then, was the species of the whale hunted in 

 times long past by the inhabitants of the Basque provinces 



