12 WIIALE-FISHERY. 



date of 875, in a book, entitled thelVanslatioji and 

 Miracles of St Vaast *, mention is made of tlic 

 whale-fishery on the French coast. In the Life of 

 St Arnoidd, blsliop of Soissons f , a work of the 

 eleventh century, particular mention is made of the 

 fishery by the harpoon, on the occasion of a miracle 

 performed by the Saint. Some Flemish fisher- 

 men had wounded, with strokes of their lances, a* 

 large whale, the capture of which they believed to 

 be certain, when suddenly, regaining his strength, 

 the animal struggled so violently, that he was on 

 the point of escaping from them. At this critical 

 juncture, they considered their only resource was to 

 invoke the Saint, say their legcndaire, and pro- 

 mise him a part of the fish, if he would be propitious 

 in assisting them to subdue it. The offering was 

 happily accepted ; and, to their joy, the same instant, 

 the whale is said to have suftcred them to approach 

 it, and without further resistance was killed, and 

 drawn to the shore at the will of the fishers. 



At this period, we have different authorities for 

 supposing, that a whale-fishery was carried on near the 

 coasts of Normandy and Flanders. We find, in the 

 eleventh century, a donation of William the Con- 

 queror, to the Convent of the Holy Trinity of Caen, 



■» a Translation et des Miracles de Saint Vaast." 

 i> " Vie de Saint Arnould, Eveque de Soiwon^." 



