78 OLD WHALING DAYS. 







times they use them for manure, after extracting the oil 

 from the liver. The second year they are called pelticks, 

 and are the size of a haddock. The islanders say after 

 that they seek deeper water, and become full-grown coalfish. 

 Whatever they may be, they are exceedingly sweet. Now 

 that regular steamers run direct from Leith, I have no doubt 

 during the fore part of the year they would find a ready 

 market in this country. 



When the ship was ready for sailing, the Union Jack was 

 hoisted, the topsails mastheaded, the bellman went round 

 the town announcing that the ship was ready for sea. In 

 the short space of one or one-and-a-half hours the men 

 were all on board with their chests, beds, and clothes. The 

 anchor was weighed, watches chosen, and again we were on 

 our way to seek a living surrounded by so many obstacles and 

 difficulties. There cannot be a more speculative class of 

 seamen than the officers who follow this occupation. If 

 nothing is captured, they come home from ^3 to ^5 in 

 debt to the master for small stores, etc., and those who 

 have families to maintain, instead of enjoying their homes 

 for a short time, have to join ships in the coal trade for the 

 winter. A bad voyage also entailed serious loss to the 

 owners. Having had a fair run out, we fell in with the ice 

 in Lat. 62^ N., Long. 56^ W., at the old S.W. fishing 

 ground, Resolution Island being about 240 miles distant. 

 The ice, although very heavy, lay in streams from the pack, 

 and was favourable for whaling, but none were seen. After 

 cruising about two or three days we worked our way to the 

 northward, through streams of ice which gradually led us 

 towards the land, to a place called Goodhaal, at the 

 entrance of Baals River. From there we ran along the land 

 among straggling heavy ice, with clear weather. On 

 reaching Holsteinberg the natives came off and told us that 

 westerly winds had prevailed for a long time. It was 

 therefore expected we should have easterly winds in the 



