212 WRECKS IN SPITZBERGEN. 



Halmanne Island, and came to an anchor 

 there ah out midnight. 



The gale continued on the 20th, so we re 

 mained in shelter, and sent hoth hoats ashore 

 for firewood and water. The wood we pro 

 cured on this island was mostly part of the 

 remains of a schooner from Hammerfest, which 

 had heen lost in this hay in a gale of wind, 

 five years ago ; it was her first voyage, and 

 they had neglected to make the cable fast at 

 the inner end, the consequence of which lub 

 berly proceeding naturally was, that it all ran 

 out, and the vessel drove ashore, and went 

 to pieces. 



Prom what I have heard, I am inclined to 

 suspect that a good many of the shipwrecks 

 which happen in Spitzbergen are caused wil 

 fully, in order to defraud the insurance offices. 

 These vessels are principally insured in Ham 

 burg, and I believe the rate of insurance is 

 as high as seven per cent., although one 

 would think that even that was little enough 

 for the unavoidable risks of such a dangerous 

 voyage, without taking into consideration the 

 impunity with which such nefarious proceed 

 ings as I have alluded to may be committed in 

 those distant waters. 



