8 THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 



is not necessary to suppose that the " greate whale " which was struck was of the 

 same sort as those referred to as resembling porpoises. These early narratives 

 usually contain no more than a passing word regarding the animals observed 

 and anything like satisfactory identifications are impossible. 



From the accounts of the voyages of John Davis to the strait which bears his 

 name we are able to get a little better idea of the whales which were encountered. 



In the narrative of his first voyage to Greenland in 1585, is the following note : 



"Between the 16'. 11 and the 18^ [of July, 1585] great numbers of whales were 

 also seen." ' 



This was just before Davis made a landfall at Cape Discord on the east coast 

 of Greenland, which he sighted on July 20, 1585. Soon afterwards he passed into 

 Davis Strait and crossed to the vicinity of Cumberland Sound, where, according to 

 the narrative written by John Janes, the following incidents occurred : 



[1585. DAVIS'S FIRST VOYAGE.] 



"The 17 [of August, 1585] we went on shoare [in Cumberland Sound] . . . 

 Our Captaine and master searched still for probabilities of the [Northwest] passage, 

 and first found, that this place was all Islands, with great sounds passing betweene 

 them. . . . Thirdly, we saw to the west of those Isles, three or foure Whales 

 in a skul, which they judged to come from a westerly sea, because to the Eastward 

 we saw not any whale. Also as we were rowing into a very great sound lying 

 southwest [Irvine Inlet ? ED.], upon a suddayne there came a violent counter 

 checke of a tide from the southwest against the flood which we came with, not 

 knowing from whence it was maintayned." 2 



Davis was at this time, as the narrative shows, exploring Cumberland Sound 

 with the hope of finding the much-sought Northwest Passage. We may suppose 

 that the whales seen there were either Humpbacks or Finbacks ; though from lack 

 of a description it is impossible to determine which of the two they were. The 

 Greenland whale is not in these parts in August. 



In the narratives of Davis's third voyage to Greenland in 1587 we find other 

 allusions to whales, as follows: 



"The 24 [of June, 1587] being in 67 degrees and 40 minutes, we had great 

 store of Whales, and a kinde of sea birdes which the Mariners called Cortinous 

 [probably a misprint. ED.]." 3 



This was in Davis Strait opposite the Cumberland peninsula. The kind of 

 whale, as before, is uncertain. It may have been the Beluga. 

 Another allusion, about a month later, is as follows : 



"As we rode at anker [July 23, 1587, among the islands "in the bottome" 



'Voyages toward the Northwest. Ed. by Trios. Rundall. Hakluyt Society, 1849, p. 36. 

 "The Voyages and Works of John Davis the Navigator. Ed. by A. H. Markham. Hakluyt 

 Soc., 1880, pp. 12-13. 

 Op. tit., p. 43- 



