266 WIIALE-FISHEIIY. 



3. Fislmig in Crowded Ice^ or in Open Packs. — 

 In navigably open drift ice, or among small detach- 

 ed streams and patches, either of which serve in a 

 degree to break the force of the sea, and to prevent 

 any considerable swell from arising, we have a situa- 

 tion which is considered as one of the best possible 

 for conducting the fishery in ; consequently, it 

 comes under the same denomination as those favour- 

 able situations, in which I have first attempted to 

 describe the proceedings of the fishers in killing the 

 whale. But the situation I now mean to refer to is, 

 when the ice is crowded and nearly close ; so close, 

 indeed, that it scarcely affords room for boats to 

 pass through it, and by no means sufficient space 

 for a ship to be navigated among it. This kind of 

 situation occurs in somewhat open packs, or in large 

 patches of crowded ice, and affords a fair probabili- 

 ty of capturing a whale, though it is seldom accom- 

 plished without a considerable deal of trouble. 

 When the ice is very crowded, and the ship cannot 

 sail into it with propriety, it is usual, especially with 

 foreigners, to seek out for a mooring to some large 

 mass of ice, if such can be found, extending two or 

 three fathoms, or more, under water. A piece of ice 

 of this kind, is capable not only of holding the ship 

 "' head-to-wind," but also to windward of the smaller 

 ice. The boats then set out in chase of any fish 

 which may be seen ; and when one happens to be 

 struck, they proceed in the capture in a similar man- 



