228 VOYAGES OP 1603 to 



and by one from Biscay, having an English pilot 



on board. - 



In the year 1613 the same company sent out six 

 ships and a pinnace to fish on the coast of Green- 

 land, (Spitzbergen,) in one of which was the cele- 

 brated navigator William Baffin ; and so rapidly 

 had the fame of the fishery spread over the mari- 

 time nations of Europe, that no less than eight 

 Spaniards, two Dutchmen, four Frenchmen from 

 Dunkirk, besides some Biscayans, were this year 

 assembled in the sea of Spitzbergen ; one of the 

 ships of Biscay being seven hundred tons, and 

 others from two to three hundred tons. " The 

 first," says Baffin, " we expected would have 

 fought with us, but they submitted themselves 

 unto the generall." The English having taken 

 possession of the whole country in the name of his 

 Majesty, prohibited all the others from fishing 

 and sent them away, excepting such as they were 

 pleased to grant leave to remain. 



In this voyage the extraordinary refraction of 

 the atmosphere is first noticed by Baf^n, who fre- 

 quently observed a considerable difference in the 

 latitude of the same place deduced from the alti- 

 tude of the sun above and from that below the pole. 

 The quantity of this refraction he therefore endea- 

 voured to ascertain by an observation of the sun 

 when on the meridian below the pole, when one 

 fifth part of his body only appeared above the 

 horizon, and the result gave him twenty-six 

 minutes ; " but," observes this intelligent navi- 



