VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 103 



in fact, ice-bound from 31st July to 10th August, 

 and during that time the packed ice rose as high 

 as the main-yard. The want of ice in that place, 

 where we then were, was perhaps owing to the ef- 

 fects of some late gale clearing it away. The great 

 swell in the sea appeared to indicate this to have 

 been the case. 



In my second voyage to this country, in 1807, 

 we could not penetrate higher than 78° 30'. A 

 ridge of ice totally prevented our farther progress. 



May 29th and 30th, Course nearly E. S. E. to- 

 wards the Seven Islands. We had on the 30th a 

 considerable quantity of bay ice, and made but lit- 

 tle progress. Occasional showers of snow. Saw 

 only one whale. 



31st, Tacked to the W. S. W. Ice increasing. 

 Saw several whales. Lay to for fishing. Got a 

 very large whale, which measured sixty-four feet 

 in length. 



During the flinching of the whales, there were 

 generally a considerable number of sharks in the 

 vicinity of the vessel. They were principally of 

 that variety termed Squalus pristis, or Saw-Fish. 

 At this time, one more voracious than the rest, ap- 

 proached close to the side of the whale's carcass, 

 and seized a large piece of blubber, which was 

 ready to be hoisted on board. Before he could 



