WHALING 543 



They usually steam from nine to ten knots, and carry a crew of 

 nine men all told. 



The Emperor of Germany has visited these fishing grounds, 

 and by his skill in fastening fish proved himself in this, as in 

 so many other things, quite an expert. 



In 1873 the King of Norway and Sweden gave me a 

 description of the capture of a fish in Varanger Fjord, which 

 his Majesty witnessed a day or two before from his own 

 vessel. Two vessels went out in company, and when the fish 

 were sighted the whaler started in pursuit, the vessel with his 

 Majesty on board following, but keeping in such a position as 

 to be able to see the shot and not to interfere with the sport. 

 After a little manoeuvring the harpooneer got a chance and 

 killed the whale dead, when, as usual, the fish sunk to the 

 bottom ; but, the water being shoal, she was soon raised to the 

 surface and brought alongside. Everything was extremely well 

 managed, as his Majesty had a complete view of the whole 

 proceedings. 



The Arctics seem to have an extraordinary and incompre- 

 hensible attraction for some people ; and when it is coupled 

 with whaling, to the author it becomes almost irresistible. 

 Indeed, writing this chapter brings back vividly to his imagina- 

 tion the pleasant days he has spent in the ice and on the fishing 

 grounds, until he longs once more to hear the old cry ' A fall ! ' 

 and seems drawn by some magnetic power towards the north. 



