206 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



At that time Hull was one of the most enterprising seaports 

 of England, and a few years previously the first whaling 

 ship despatched from this country had left her harbour for 

 the coast of the Island. In the year specified, the good 

 ship Grace, under the command of Stephen Bennett, was 

 sent forth to make new discoveries, and on the iyth of 

 August came in sight of an island in nearly 75 north lat. 

 It was thereupon named Cherie (or Cherry) Island after Sir 

 Francis Cherie, the patron of the expedition. 



In the following year the captain returned in the ship 

 Good Speed, and the wealth of birds and whales led to 

 yearly visits from England, chiefly in the interests of the 

 Muscovite Company, who planted their flag upon the Island 

 and took possession of it in 1610. Not only birds, wal- 

 rus, and whales were brought from this mystic shore, 

 for, in 1605, thirty tons of lead ore were conveyed to 

 England from a jutting vein that had been discovered at the 

 foot of Mount Misery, a hill that derived its name from the 

 desolate appearance of the island, and the forlorn condition 

 in which Bennett and a boat's crew were placed during one 

 of their early visits. The numerous walrus which used to 

 abound here are now almost extinct. Thousands and 

 thousands have been killed, and the Norwegian and Russian 

 hunters have been compelled to seek "fresh fields and 

 pastures new " in the Kara Sea to the east of Nova Zembla, 

 that "ice cave" which was deemed impenetrable to ships 

 within comparatively recent years. 



Sea water freezes at 28 5' Fahrenheit above zero. 

 Fresh 32 



Mercury 39 5' below 



Formerly it was the custom when relieving the watch on 

 board of sailing ships to sing the following ditty : 



