3Si WHALE-FISHERY. 



crews of the fisliiiig ships, but solely upon the freaks 

 of fortune. 



That there is something rescmhling vhat is called 

 chance or luck in the fishery, cannot be disputed ; 

 but that the fishery is altogether a chain of casual- 

 ties, is as false as it is derogatory to the credit of 

 the persons employed in the entei'prize. For a per- 

 son Avith a die to throw the highest point once in 

 six times, is what might be expected from chance ; 

 but for him to throw the highest point many times 

 in succession, would afford a presumptive proof that 

 he employed some art in casting the die ; so it is 

 with the fishery. The most skilful, from adventi- 

 tious and unavoidable circumstances, may occasion- 

 ally fail, and the unskilful may be successful ; but 

 if we mark the average of a number of years^ that 

 is, where the means are equal, a tolerable estimate 

 may be formed of the adventurer's ability, and his 

 fitness for the undertaking in which he is engaged. 



The great variety of success which is observed to 

 result from the exertions of the different Greenland 

 commanders, wlien the average of several voyages 

 is taken, confirms the above position ; and the cir- 

 cumstance of some masters, in whatever ship they 

 may sail, almost always succeeding, whilst others, 

 ]iowever fovourably circumstanced, seldom or never 

 procure a full cargo, warrants this conclusion, — 

 that, most generally, a successful fishery depends on 

 the experience, determined perseverance, and per- 



