«5S WHALE-FISHER V. 



the western ice, between the parallels of 78" and 

 79^ of latitiule. 



Success in the fishery has some dependance on 

 the suitable equipment of the sliips employed in 

 the trade, — on a sufficient apparatus, — and fre- 

 quently, in no inconsiderable degree, on that valu- 

 able property of a ship, called fast-sailingr When 

 any opening occurs in the ice, of a tempting ap- 

 pearance, it frequently happens that a number of 

 ships enter it together. The fastest sailers lead 

 the way, and often procure a whale or two, or more, 

 before the heavy-sailing ships can perform the navi- 

 gation ; and, by the time the latter accomplish it, 

 the " run of fish" is frequently over. 



When the ice lies so far to the eastward, that it 

 covers the green-coloured water, usually resorted to, 

 during the fishing season, by the whales, it is ad- 

 visable to persevere in the fishery in icy situations ; 

 but when the green-coloured sea is uncovered by 

 the ice, it is generally more advantageous to fish in 

 the open sea. 



Too great anxiety on the part of the command- 

 ers, is sometimes the occasion of failures in the 

 fishery. When such is the case, they are apt to be 

 dissatisfied with the situation they occupy, tliough 

 whales may be occasionally seen in it, and though 

 they may, now and then, present them with an op- 

 portunity of making a capture. Hence the too 

 anxious fisherman not unfrcquently leaves the place 



