142 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



This closes another eventful voyage of varied successes 

 amongst the Davis's Straits whalers, and begins a new era in 

 the whale and seal fisheries, as men having experienced the 

 great difference between steam and sail, few will go 

 hereafter in a sailing ship if they can possibly get into a 

 steamer. My own ideas led me to think that this year 

 would prove the death-blow to sailing vessels. It is so dis- 

 heartening to men towing and tracking at a snail pace, and 

 a fine powerful steamer pass them at the rate of eight or 

 nine knots. I noticed this year especially that men would 

 cheerfully tow in company with other ships until a steamer 

 appeared in sight, then they lost energy, and the ship 

 would not have steerage way, after seeing the easy life those 

 on board a steamer have compared to their own laborious 

 work. 



