194 WHALE-FISHERY. 



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 get- 

 ting 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 busi- 

 ness, however, 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 pro- 

 gress 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 distress, that each of their companions 

 indulged a laugh at their expense, notwithstanding 

 they, probably, shared the same fate a minute or 

 two afterwards. The shivering tars were, in gene- 

 ral, amply repaid for the drenching they had suf- 

 fered, by a dram of spirits, which they regularly 

 received on such occasions. I have seen instances, 

 indeed, of sailors having voluntarily broken through 

 the ice, for the mere purpose of receiving the usual 

 precious beverage. 



5. Fishing in Storms. — Excepting in situations 

 sheltered from the sea by ice, it would be alike 

 useless and presumptuous to attempt to kill whales 

 during a storm. Cases, however, occur, wherein 



