144 WHALE-FISHtellY, 



other artizaiis, resorted thither. With the bakers, 

 it was customary to signify to the sailors, by the 

 blowing of a horn, the time when the bread was 

 just drawn hot from the oven *, Thus the vast 

 fleets of ships which crowded into the harbour when 

 the fishery without was suspended, in consequence 

 of storms, thick weather, or any other circum- 

 stance f, occasioned the naturally barren and de- 

 solate shores of Spitzbergen, to assume the ap- 

 pearance of a populous country. And such was the 

 flourishing appearance of Smeerenberg, that it was 

 compared by the Hollanders with their famous set- 

 tlement of Batavia, which was founded about the 

 same time. 



During the time the fishery was confined to the 

 Dutch chartered companies, the number of ships 

 employed in it did not exceed 30 sail on an ave- 

 rage ; but in a few years, after it was laid entire- 

 ly open, the annual voyagers from Holland were 

 increased tenfold; and it is surprising, that the 

 success of the ships, notwithstanding the num- 



* Beschryving der Walvisvangst, vol. i. p. 28. 



+ After the boiling-houses at Smeerenberg were disused, 

 the place continued to be a general rendezvous for such ships 

 as had made a successful fishing ; to wliich they retired for the 

 convenience of packing the blubber in their casks. This, to- 

 gether with the above-mentioned purposes for which it was 

 also visited, rendered the bay and harbour at all times croAvded 

 witli ships, during the continuance of the- fishing season. 



