[7] THE BOTTLE-NOSE WHALE FISHERY. 227 



It remains to be seen whether this new industry will be judiciously 

 followed or whether so profitable a field of enterprise will be speedily 

 ruined by overfishing. From the number of vessels which are reported 

 to be equipping for next season's voyage, it is to be feared that the lat- 

 ter will be the case ; or, that the whales, rendered timid by constant 

 persecution, will learn to take care of themselves, of which, even now, 

 there are indications. One indirect benefit which may possibly arise 

 from this diversion of the whaling energy into a new channel is that the 

 Davis Straits fishery for Eight Whales, which has of late years been 

 sadly overdone, may be allowed a short respite. Otherwise it seems 

 likely that the present excessively high price of whalebone might lead 

 to so eager a pursuit of these valuable Cetaceans that their extermina- 

 tion would be speedily accomplished. 



Norwich, December, 1883. 



