210 AVHALE-FISHEKY. 



the south than in the spring, at floes, fields, or even 

 among loose ice, but most plentifully about fields 

 or iioes, at the border of the main western ice, in 

 the latitude of 78 or 78 J- degrees. 



In July, the fishery generally terminates, some- 

 times at the beginning of the month, at others, 

 tliough more rarely, it continues throughout the 

 greater part of it. Few small fish are seen at this 

 season. The large whales, when plentiful, are 

 found occasionally in every intermediate situation, 

 between the open sea and the main ice, in one di- 

 rection, and between the latitiules of 75 "^ and 79" 

 in the other, but rarely as far north as 80". 



The parallel of 78 to 78 J degrees, is, on the whole, 

 the most productive fishing station. The interval 

 between this parallel and 80**, or any other situa- 

 tion more remote, is called the " northward," and 

 any situation in a lower latitude than 78°, is called 

 tlie " southward." 



Though the 79th degree affords whales in the 

 greatest abundance, yet the 7()th degree affords 

 them, perhaps, more generally. In this latter situa- 

 tion, a very large kind of the mysticetus is com- 

 monly to be found tliroughout the season, from 

 April to July inclusive. Their number, however, 

 is not often great ; and as the situation in which 

 tliey occur is unsheltered, and, consequently, ex- 

 posed to heavy swells, tlie southern fishery is not 

 much frequented. 



