METHOD OF FISHING FIRST PRACTISED. 173 



they fell an easy prey to the courageous fishermen. 

 It was not necessary that the ships should cruize 

 abroad throughout the extended regions of the Po- 

 lar Seas, as they do at tlie present time ; for the 

 whales being abundant in the bays, the ships were 

 anchored in some convenient situation, and gene- 

 rally remained at their moorings until their cargoes 

 were completed. Not only did the coast of Spitz- 

 bergen abound with whales, but the shore of Jan 

 Mayen Island, in proportion to its extent, afforded 

 them in like abundance. 



The method used for capturing whales, at this 

 period, was usually by means of the hai-poon and 

 lance, though the Dutch inform us that the Eng- 

 lish made use of nets made of strong ropes for the 

 pui-posc *. The harpoon, which was the instru- 

 ment used in general practice for effecting their 

 entanglement, consisted, as at present, of a barbed 

 or arrow-shaped iron dart, two or three feet in 

 length, to which was attached a wooden handle for 

 convenience in striking or throwing it into the 

 whale. Fastened to the harpoon, was a line or 

 rope 300 fathoms in length ; more than sufBcient to 

 reach tlie bottom in the bays, where the depth of 

 the water seldom exceeds 8Q or 100 fathoms ; so 

 that, on a fish descending after b.eing struck, the 

 end of the line could always be retained in the boat. 



* Beschryving, &c. vol. i. p. 27- 



