70 



THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



more than four or five at a time, who were easily helped 

 out by the rest. The sufferers had a dram to console 

 them after their cold bath ; and in fact this compensation 

 was considered so ample, that master Jack was sus- 

 pected of sometimes allowing himself to accidentally 

 drop in with the view of being thus indemnified. 



Another grand distinction respects, first, the Green- 

 land fishery, which, generally speaking, is that already 

 described, and is chiefly distinguished by the immense 

 fields of ice which cover the ocean j and, secondly, the 

 Davis's Straits' Fishery, where that element appears 

 chiefly in the form of moving mountains, topping the 

 deep. This last is arduous and dangerous, but usually 

 productive : it commenced at a comparatively late period, 

 since it is not mentioned by the Dutch authors prior to 

 1719; and Mr. Scoresby has been unable to ascertain 

 the date when it was begun by the British. Within 

 these few years it has experienced a remarkable exten- 

 sion 5 for now most vessels proceed thereto instead of 

 Greenland, which is comparatively deserted. 





AN ICEBERG IN LATITUDE 74° 34' N. 



