THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 25 



that there were many whales which kept before the bay [Delaware Bay], and the 

 oil, at sixty guilders a hogshead, he thought would realize a good profit, and con- 

 sequently that fine country be cultivated. 



" The 20th of same month, we understood that our yacht was taken the day 

 but one before as it was running out the Texel, by the Dunkirkers, through the 

 carelessness of the large ship. . . . (Pp. 15-16.) 



"Anno 1631. . . . The ship conveyed the rest [of a lot of emigrants] to 

 the South River [Delaware River] in New Netherland, and brought a sample of oil 

 from a dead whale found on the shore. . . . (P. 16.) 



"Anno 1632. The 12th of February we again entered into an agreement to 

 equip a ship and yacht for the whale fishery, in which much profit had not been 

 realized ; because we had had such a losing voyage, and no returns from the whale 

 fishery, and saw no prospect of any. But Samuel Godyn encouraged us to make 

 another attempt. He said the Greenland Company had two bad voyages with 

 Willen Van Muyen, and afterwards became a thrifty company. It was therefore 

 again resolved to undertake a voyage for the whale fishery, and that I myself 

 should go as patroon, and as commander of the ship and yacht, and should 

 endeavor to be there in December, in order to conduct the whale fishing during the 

 winter, as the whales come in the winter and remain till March. (P. 16.) 



"The 12th of September [St. Martin's Id., West Indies], I let the ship have 

 room, but the capture of a whale brought me to anchor. In New Netherland and 

 in Patria [in Holland], this would have been a valuable prize. (P. 20.) 



"The 5th [of Dec.], the wind southwest, we weighed anchor, and sailed into 

 the South bay [Delaware Bay], and lay, with our yacht, in four fathoms water, 

 and saw immediately a whale near the ship. Thought this would be royal work 

 the whales so numerous and the land so fine for cultivation. (P. 22.) 



"Anno 1633. The 1st of January . . . saw a whale at the mouth of the 

 South river [Delaware River] : 



" The 2d [Jan.], in the morning, fine and pleasant, saw two large whales near 

 the yacht. (P. 24.) 



"The llth [Jan.]. Arrived about a half-a-mile above Minqua's kill, where 

 we anchored, and saw a whale there that evening six or seven times. We were 

 surprised to see a whale seven or eight miles up into fresh water. (P. 27.) 



"The 13th [Jan.]. Came to the ship at Swanendael, where our friends were 

 rejoiced to see us. We found that they had shot two whales, but they furnished 

 little oil. (P. 27.) 



"The 29th [March], we arrived again in the South Bay [Delaware Bay], at 

 Swanendael, at our ships, where we were very welcome. Found that our people 

 had caught seven whales, but there were only thirty-two cartels of oil obtained, so 

 that the whale-fishery is very expensive, when such meagre fish are caught. We 

 could have done more if we had had good harpooners, for they struck seventeen 

 fish, and only secured seven, which is astonishing. They had always struck the 

 whales in the tail. I afterwards understood from some Basques, who were old 

 whale-fishers, that they always struck the harpoon in the fore-part of the back. 

 . . . Having put our oil in the ship, taken down our kettle, and hauled in 

 wood and water, we got ready to sail. (P. 38.) 



"The 16th [April]. Arrived at noon before Fort Amsterdam [New York], 

 and found a Company's ship there. She had brought a new governor, Wouter 

 Van T wilier of Newkirk. ... I went ashore to the fort, out of which he 

 came to welcome me, and inquired of me also, how the whale-fishery succeeded. I 

 answered him that I had a sample; but that they were foolish who undertook the 



