OLD WHALING DAYS. 93 



to the surface to take breath. However watchful we were, 

 they contrived to escape from us to the outside. I 

 distinctly saw one pass under my boat, which lay at the 

 entrance. She was swimming on her side, evidently 

 watching our movements, but at too great a depth for the 

 harpoon to reach. We cruised off and on for several days 

 longer, and saw many whales, but could not get near them. 

 One day as the ship was standing towards the land we fell 

 in with four boats belonging to the settlement. All of them 

 were entangled to a fish, which was making for the offing. 

 Undoubtedly they would have lost it, as the breeze was 

 freshening, and a cross sea was rising, but the captain, with 

 his usual kindness in such cases, ordered me to lower a boat 

 and lance it for them, which I did, and soon killed it. 

 Their boats took it in tow towards Goodhavn, but the wind 

 was contrary, so they towed it into a small cove, waiting for 

 the wind to change, but by the time they reached Goodhavn 

 their prize was nearly eaten by sharks. I think it would 

 have been better on board our ship. The sharks would 

 then have missed a good treat. Perhaps I may be per- 

 mitted to remark that there are several places on the east 

 side where it would be most profitable if an enterprising 

 English company were allowed by the Danish Government 

 to prosecute the whale fishery in the early part of the year, 

 and were provided with steam launches to follow the boats 

 and take them in tow through the patches of bay ice, 

 and also to tow the whales when killed. One place in 

 particular lies between Fortune Bay and Goodhavn, in 

 which the Emma wintered in 1855-1856. 



On the east side fishing grounds we were much dis- 

 appointed because we saw so many whales but could not 

 secure one, although our boats were constantly in chase. 

 Nothing of importance occurred until we reached Upernavik, 

 where the ice was tightly packed, not only upon the outlying 

 islands, but as far north as the eye could reach. We made 



