214 WHALE-FISHERY. 



The systematical movements of the whales receive 

 adclitioual illustration from many well known facts. 

 Sometimes a large tribe passing from one place to 

 another, which, under such circumstances, is denomi- 

 nated a " run of fish," has been traced in its move- 

 ments, in a direct line from the south towards the 

 north, along the seaward edge of the western ice,' 

 through a space of two or three degrees of lati- 

 tude ; then it has been ascertained to have en- 

 tered the ice, and penetrated to the north-westward, 

 beyond the reach of the fishers. In certain years, 

 it is curious to observe, that the whales commence 

 a simultaneous retreat throughout the whole fish- 

 ing limits, and all disappear within the space of a 

 very few days. On such occasions, it has often 

 happened, that not a single whale has been seen by 

 any individual belonging to the whole Greenland 

 fleet, after, perhaps, the middle of June, but more 

 commonly after the firlfet or second week in July, 

 notwithstanding many of the fleet may have cruised 

 about in the fishing regions for a month afterwards. 

 In the year 1813, whales were found in considerable 

 numbers in the open sea, during the greater part of 

 tlic fishing season, but in the greatest abundance 

 about the end of June and beginning of July. On 

 tlie 6 th of July they departed into the ice, and 

 were followed by the fishers ; several were killed 

 during the three succeeding days, but they wholly 

 disappeared after the 9th^ Notwithstanding, sevc- 



