ZOOLOGY. — SEA-HORSE. 507 



and fired into their eyes, they were more effectual, 

 as the sailors attacked them without danger, when 

 blinded, and dispatched them with axes, and other 

 sharp instruments. 



In the year following, another voyage was per- 

 formed to Cherie Island by Mr Welden, owner of 

 the ship which Bennet commanded. They now 

 hit upon a better mode of attack, and killed many 

 Sea-horses. In this instance they not only took 

 their teeth, but also preserved their blubber, and re- 

 duced it to oil on the spot. 



In 1606, Bennet was again dispatched on the 

 same errand, having, besides the ship he command- 

 ed, a pinnace of 20 tons burden under his direction. 

 After the ice cleared away from the island, the 

 morses began to land ; and, on their first attack, 

 they manifested their improvement in the art of 

 slaughtering, by capturing 700 or 800 of these ani- 

 mals in less than six hours. On this adventure, 

 22 tons of Sea-horse oil, and 3 hogsheads of teeth 

 were obtained. 



The next voyage, when Mr Welden again em- 

 barked in his own vessel, 900 or 1000 sea-horses 

 were killed in less than seven hours. This trade 

 was afterwards conducted in Spitzbergen and Hope 

 Island, with equally good effect, until it was aban- 

 doned for the more important fishery of the whale. 



In the present age, the Sea-horses range the coasts 

 of Spitzbergen almost without molestation firom the 



