WHALE-FISHERY. 153 



pears from the observation of the Dutch,* that it 

 may frequently be recommenced in the autumn, at 

 the verge of the most northern waters, near Hack- 

 luyt's Headland. They consider the fish which then 

 appear as the same tribe that are seen in this place 

 in the spring of the year, and enter the ice, imme- 

 diately after it opens in the north. On the recom- 

 mencement of the frost, they instinctively return to 

 prevent themselves beiug enclosed so far within the 

 ice, as to occasion suffocation from the freezing up 

 of the openings through which they might otherwise 

 breathe. 



This tribe are supposed by the Dutch to be real- 

 ly inhabitants of the sea adjoining West Greenland; 

 that they always retreat thither whenever the state 

 of the ice will admit, and only appear within the 

 observation of the fishers, when the solidity of the 

 ice prevents their attaining those favourite situations, 

 where they probably find the most agreeable food.f 



The whales, of lower latitudes, however, whose 

 food lies near the eastern margin of the main ice, 

 when they enter the ice in May and June, seem to 

 exhibit an intention of evading their pursuers; for in 

 whatever manner they may retreat for a while, they 

 frequently return to the same or other similar place, 



* Beschryving der Walvisvangst, vol. 1, p. 52. 



t Beschryving, Sec. vol. 1. p. 53. — As I have never seen 

 whales in this situation in the autumn myself,'I give the in- 

 formation entirely on the authority of the work here quoted. 



Vol. III. 20 



