384 WHALE-FISHERY. 



others, that they can be generally avoided. But in 

 storms, when a ship ceases to be under command^ 

 they become one of the most appalling dangers which 

 can be presented to the navigator. 



In the Spitsbergen seas, though the ice is equal- 

 ly dangerous to the shipping, and is often the occa^ 

 sion of their loss, — tliough it presents a friglitful 

 appearance and a most formidable danger, — yet it 

 seldom proves fatal to the navigators, as they can 

 commonly escape upon it, and sustain themselves 

 till an opportunity of making their escape is pre- 

 sented. But the danger from ice-bergs is more 

 dreadful. 



Two most fatal shipwrecks have occurred in the 

 Davis' Straits fleet, within the last five years. The 

 lloyalist. Captain Edmonds, and the London, Cap- 

 tain jMathews, having been lost with all hands ; 

 the former among ice-bergs in 1814, and the latter, 

 it is supposed, in a similar way, in 1817. Little 

 is known respecting these distressing events, espe- 

 cially with regard to the London. As to the other 

 ship, how^ever, I have received a few particulars from 

 an intelligent seaman, Captain Bennet of the ^^e- 

 nerable, who was in company with the lloyalist 

 immediately before she was wi-ccked. April the 

 14th, the Venerable was in latitude 61" 7', longi- 

 tude by estimation 56" 13' west ; the lloyalist in 

 company. They fell in with drift ice at 8 a. m., 

 when a heavy gale of wind commenced, and conti- 



