PRE FACE. 



Of all classes of fishermen, the whaleman takes 

 the precedence. This front position will be read- 

 ily conceded to him, whether we consider the stu- 

 pendous object of his pursuit, or the vast extent 

 of waters over which he roams to secure his prey, 

 or the dangers and perils peculiar to his avoca- 

 tion, or the immense pecuniary outlay with which 

 the enterprise is carried on. 



Some of the reasons which induced the author 

 to present to the public this narrative containing 

 an account of the wreck of the whale ship Citizen, 

 and the subsequent exposure and sufferings of her 

 officers and crew in the Arctic Ocean, are the 

 following : — 



1. The instance has never been recorded in the 

 history of marine disaster, in which a ship's com- 

 pany, consisting of thirty-three persons, lived so 

 many months among the natives in so high a lat- 

 itude. 2. Being cast helpless and almost destitute 

 upon such a desolate coast, they had to depend 

 principally upon the kindness and generosity of 

 the natives for protection, food, and clothing. 



(7) 



