usHKs. 469 



tity of iisli is so greatly reduced, by the constant capture for 

 such a vast length of time. It is now said that the fishers, from 

 a defect of whales, apply themselves to the seal-fishery ; yet, as 

 these animals are extremely timorous, they will soon be induced 



rnan, sold his commission soon after he had received this information, and 

 came to Ireland with a view to fish for these whales. He according^ly pro- 

 cured two boats to be made, upon the model of those used in the Greenland 

 seas, and furnished himself with harpoons and otiier instruments ; but lie 

 was able to kill only two whales in eight years. As then whales were in 

 great plenty on the coast, he imputed his bad success to the want of a better 

 apparatus, which not being able to purchase, he applied to parliament for 

 aid, and obtained a grant of 500/. ; but dying before he received it, it was 

 never issued. After his death, his brother pursued his project, with no 

 better success, fur eight years more, during which time he also killed two 

 whales, and then died. 



In the year 1759, Messrs Thomas and Andrew Nesbit, who lived near 

 Killibegs, on the sea-coast of the county of Donegal, and who were very 

 skilful in the herring and whale fisheries carried on there, seeing whales in 

 great numbe.'s, revived Chaplin's undertaking, and took for granted that he 

 miscarried either for want of money, or perseverance. In this project they 

 engaged Messrs Benson and Irwin, gentlemen of credit and property, and 

 procured a ship to be fitted up in the Greenland fashion, with live boats of a 

 new construction : tlu-y also procured harpooners, and other persons ex- 

 perienced in the Greenland fishery, and in the year 17(>0 they began to fish ; 

 but though tbey saw many whales, they were able to kill none. Mr 'J'homas 

 Nesbit afterwards killed one large whale with his own hand ; and as there 

 was no manufactory for the bone or blubber in Ireland, he sent it to London. 

 After procuring some alterations and improvements to be made in his ship, 

 he made another attempt, Avilh five of the ablcsc and most skilful liarpooners 

 he could get, and eight boats, extremely well provided: yet not a single 

 whale was killed that season, though great plenty were seen, and oppor. 

 tunities of striking them often offered. 



At length the company having expended 3000/. in the u.idertaking, it was 

 discovered that the method of fishing and harpooning in Greenland would 

 not answer in tliese seas, because that in Greenland, the waters being al- 

 ways calm, the boats are not agitated, so that the harpooner is more sure of 

 hi.* stroke, and the whale frequently bends his head downwards, in order to 

 plunge under water, which the fishers ci.ll backing, and which straining 

 or tightening the skin, the harpooner seizes that instant to strike, and thu 

 harpoon enters deeply, which it would not do if the skin hung loose over 

 the blubber.— In the Irish .seaf, on the contrary, or at least oft' Donegal, the 

 water is always ronxh, either by a wind or a swell, so that tlie harpooner 

 can take no aim, and the whale seldom backing (bending his back), lint lying 

 extended on tlie water, witli the skin loose and flaccid over the fat, the har- 

 poon, tli'ingh it may reach him with considerable force, does not enter. Mr 

 Nesbit, therefore, in order to give force to the harpoon, and also to the Ian. 

 ces, which are discharged at the fish every time he rises after the harpoon 

 has entered, contrived to discharge both the harpoon and the lance from a 

 ewivel-gini, which aucceeded so well, that in the year r.d^ tlie company 

 111. ii U 



