OLD WHALING DAYS. 163 



her of men from home, and make up the deficiency with 

 Esquimaux, whom they feed during the winter, and give 

 them presents in return for their help. 



We saw many whales in this part, but had not the good 

 fortune to kill any. A Scotch brig came from Kemisuack, 

 and joined us here. The young ice was rapidly making in 

 the small bays, and it froze so keenly that our oars had 

 frequently to be taken in and the ice broken off them. 

 Early one morning we got under weigh, and sailed outside 

 of the islands which formed the harbour. A number of 

 whales were in the offing. Six boats were lowered, and sent 

 in pursuit. We pulled for four hours without success. 



Then a breeze sprang up, and caused a short nasty sea to 

 rise, which made it difficult to manoeuvre the boats. As 

 night came on we were obliged to go on board, very much 

 disappointed. We dodged about during the night. At 

 daylight we found ourselves some miles from the place, so 

 we bore up for home. When clear of the land, we 

 perceived an ice blink to the northward ; by that we knew 

 the ice was coming down in a body, but so long as the wind 

 continued northerly the Gulf would remain clear of heavy 

 ice. Yet a great barrier might form outside and make it 

 difficult to get out. This afterwards proved to be the case. 



The day after our departure, the s.s. Camperdown 

 steamed into Niatlik, and in the course of a few days killed 

 several large whales. The winter had set in, but it was 

 mild, and the fish came near to the harbour, and many 

 close to the ships, so that the boats had no distance to pull, 

 and immediately a boat fastened to one. The steamer 

 buoyed his cable and steamed alongside the boats, and 

 when the fish was killed it was soon towed into the harbour. 

 He got five large whales in three days with very little 

 trouble. A sailing ship could never have done this, as they 

 are not able to follow their boats as a steamer can. The 

 master of the Scotch brig, which came in before we left, 



