NORTHERN WHALE FISHERY. 



95 



Average of r„ loon 

 1810-18. ''" ^^^^' 



The decrease so marked in the above table, in 

 comparing the year 1830 with the former average, 

 has been steadily going on up to the present time. 

 In 1831 there were eighty-eight ships engaged; in 

 1832, eighty-one; in 1833, seventy-seven; and in 

 1834, seventy-six. 



For many years the fishery in Davis Straits was 

 considered less hazardous than that of Greenland, 

 in as much as the sea was clearer of ice, and the 

 cUmate, on account of the lower latitude, somewhat 

 more mUd. The alterations, however, which have 

 occurred in this fishery are precisely similar to those 

 which occurred at Spitzbergen. The fish have gra- 

 dually retired more and more to the northward, and 

 deserted those localities in which they used to be 

 captured in abundance. TAventy years ago, they 

 were caught in great numbers in the opening of 

 Hudson's Straits, and at the borders of the western 



