Northern Whales and ^Whaling. 201 



in this event porpoise, walrus and narwhal are always plentiful, so 

 that a cargo equally valuable can generally be obtained. 



The Americans have been whaling in the northern part of 

 Hudson's Bay for about a quarter of a century, and have been very 

 successful. One or two ships, sometimes more, winter at Marble- 

 Island every season so as to be on hand for the whaling as soon as 

 the ice moves, which is the most favourable season for catching 

 them. From such information as I have been able to gather I 

 estimate that they have taken oil and bone from the Hudson's Bay 

 region, during the last twenty-five years, to the value of $2,000,000. 

 This is estimating at less than fifteen whales a year. If this is to 

 continue, it is about time that Canadians received something for the 

 privilege. 



During the voyages of the Expedition we saw a great many 

 whales, although we were in no instance far enough to the north to 

 be in their midst. From what we saw and heard I am persuaded 

 that whales abound in the extreme northern parts of the bay in 

 great numbers, and that the whaling industry now carried on there 

 may be developed to vast proportions. As a knowledge of these 

 things come to the public one may depend on greater activity in the 

 whaling business ; and once more I urge upon the authorities the 

 necessity of adopting some means of enforcing proper regulations 

 among whalers in our waters, in order that one of our most valuable 

 resources may not be wholly destroyed. 



