DESCRIPTION OF A WHALE SHIP, 187 



CHAPTER IV. 



ACCOUNT OF THE MODERN WHALE-FISHERY, AS 

 CONDUCTED AT SPITZBERGEN. 



SECT. I. 



Description of a ivell-adapted Greenland Ship, 

 with the additioncd St7xngthenings 7'equisitefor 

 resisting the Concussions of the Ice. 



A SHIP intended for the Greenland or Davis' 

 Straits trade, should, I conceive, be of three to four 

 hundred tons admeasurement, — very substantially 

 built, — doubled and fortified ; — should have six or 

 seven feet perpendicular space between decks, — 

 should be furnished with a description of sails which 

 are easily worked, — and should possess the property 

 of fast sailing. 



The most appropriate dimensions of a ship in- 

 tended for the northern whale-fisheries, seems to be 

 that which is so large, as to be capable of deriving 

 the greatest advantage from the best opportunity^, 

 and no larger. 



