1>T0 Whale-fishery. 



vv hen required, or, wlien I wished it, of disengaging' 

 them in a moment. ^Vhcrc the ice was smooth, it 

 was easy to move in a straiglit line ; but, in turning, 

 I found a considerable difficulty, and required some 

 practice before I could effect it, without falling- 

 I advanced with tolerable speed, where the ice was 

 level on the surface, by sliding the shoes alternate- 

 ly forward ; but when I met with rough hilly 

 places, I experienced great inconvenience. When, 

 however, the rough places happened to consist of 

 strong ice, which generally was the case, I stepped 

 out of my ice-shoes, until I reached a weaker part. 

 Equipped with this apparatus, I travelled safely 

 over ice which had not been frozen above twenty-four 

 hours, and which was incapable of supporting the 

 weight of the smallest boy in the ship. 



Whenever a fish was struck, I gave orders to the 

 harpooner, in running the lines, to use every means 

 of drowning it ; the trouble of hauling it up, under 

 the circumstances in which the ship was placed, be- 

 ing a matter of no consideration. This was attempt- 

 ed, by holding a steady tight strain on the line, 

 witliout slacking it, or jerking it unnecessarily, and 

 by forbearing to haul at the line when the fish 

 stopped. By this measure, one fish, the stoutest 

 of three which we got, was drowned. When others 

 were struck, and the attempt to drown them failed, 

 I provided myself with a harpoon ; and, observing 

 tlie direction of the line, travelled towards the place 



