50 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



whole of the lines. However, we came to a large piece of 

 ice where we secured the end of the lines before it had run 

 out of the boat. The whale dragged the piece of ice along 

 at a fast walking pace, then suddenly stopped. We knew 

 something had given way, and we began to haul in the lines. 

 This is no light work for three boats' crews. It represents 

 1800 fathoms or 10,800 feet of line, and perhaps two-thirds 

 are laid on the bottom. It made a long, heavy drag which 

 took us many hours to accomplish. If we had got a second 

 harpoon in when there was a chance, it would have 

 saved us all our labour. Such a mishap was very dis- 

 heartening. The next day we were fortunate in securing 

 another one, but not without a great deal of trouble. 



The Anne by this time had been exceedingly fortunate, 

 and the fishing on the east side being over, her captain 

 determined to make the best of his way home, and not risk 

 the dangers of Melville Bay. The other ships with ours 

 proceeded north through the Bay, but not without its trials, 

 and across Baffin's Bay to Lancaster Sound. We were late 

 for Pond's Bay. We found an opening close to the land 

 on the south side, and saw several whales. We sent all the 

 boats, and followed with the ship. One of the boats got 

 fast to one, and although not a very large one, she 

 took out twenty-four lines without stopping. This is an 

 exceptional case, as she went under the floe. In this part 

 they do not take out more than six or seven lines before 

 they come to the ice edge to breathe. The ship was by 

 this time made fast to the floe, close to the boats, and the 

 lines not running out, we commenced to haul them in with 

 the capstan, which was fifteen hours' dreary work, and then 

 found the harpoon had broken. We had hauled in 17,280 

 feet of line, and had nothing to repay us for our labour. 

 We gradually sought south, calling at Coutt's Inlet, and 

 Scott's Inlet. We fastened to several more fish, and lost 

 them with harpoons drawing or lines breaking, one with 



