WHALE-FISHERY. 



203 



withdrawn from the different boats engaged in the 

 capture, was singularly great. It amounted, alto- 

 gether, to 10,440 yards,* or nearly six English 

 miles. Of these, thirteen new lines lost, together 

 with the sunken boat; the harpoon connecting them to 

 the fish, having dropt out before the whale was killed. 

 After having taken a large circuit with the ship 

 Esk in the open sea in search of whales, we saw two 

 or three individuals, when at the distance of about 

 twenty miles from the middle hook of the Fore- 

 land. f The weather was fine and no ice in sight. 

 A boat was despatched towards one of the fish we 

 saw, which was immediately struck. The men 



* The following is a correct statement of the quantity of 

 lines withdrawn from each of the fast-boats, viz. 



From the first fast-boat 13 new lines, (the whole 

 of which, together with the boat, were lost,) har- 

 poon drew, - - - - 



From the second fast-boat 65 lines; line broke, - 



- third 



- fourth 

 -fifth 



- sixth 



- seventh 



- eighth 



do 

 do 

 do 

 do 

 do 

 do 



3s lines; harpoon drew, 

 14 lines; line broke, 

 5 line; harpoon drew, 

 2§ lines, do do 

 2j| lines, do do 

 1 line, do do 



Yards. 



3120 

 1560 

 840 

 3360 

 120 

 600 

 600 

 240 



Total in yards 10,440 



t Charles Island, lying parallel to the west side of Spitz- 

 bergen, is usually denominated the Foreland; the middle 

 Hook is a remarkable ridge of mountains near the middle 

 of the Island. 



