470 HISTORY OF 



to quit those shores, where they meet such frequent disturbance 

 and danger. The poor natives of Greenland themselves, who 

 used to feed upon the whale, are diminishing, in proportion as 

 their sustenance is removed ; and it is probable that the revolu- 

 tion of a few years will see that extensive coast totally deserted 

 by its inhabitants, as it is already nearly deserted by the whales. 

 The art of taking whales, like most others, is much improved 

 by time, and differs in many respects from that practised by the 

 Biscayneers, when they first frequented the icy sea. But as the 

 description of their method is the least complicated, and conse- 

 quently the easiest understood, it will be best suited to our pur- 

 pose.* 



killed three whales, two of which were between sixty and seventy feet long, 

 and the other above fifty ; and iu 17G3, they have killed two whales of a large 

 size, which is more than many have done that have been fitted out for 

 Greenland, at a vast expense. 



It is to be observed, that in the sea off the coast of Donegal, there are, be. 

 sides the whales that yield only bone and blubber, the train-fish, the por. 

 poise, the sun-fish, and the spermaceti-whale, besides seals in abundanc». 

 The teeth of the spermaceti-whale are shaped like a cucumber, and are 

 about eighteen inches long ; they are as white as ivory, take a fine polish, 

 and make very beautiful and durable handles for knives, &c. The sini-fisli 

 is valuable for the oil that is extracted from the liver, each fish yielding 

 about a ton : they are found all the year, and are taken with great ease : 

 the other fish and the seals are of little value. 



• We here extract from the first No. of the Edinburgh Cabinet Library 

 the following account of the Northern Whale Fishery. " The first object is 

 to fit out a ship suited to the trade. While the fishery was carried on in 

 bays, or on the exterior margin of icy fields, very slight fabrics were suffi- 

 cient; but now that the vessels depart early in the season, and push into 

 the very heart of the northern ices, they are liable every moment to the 

 most severe shocks and concussions. The ship, therefore, must be con. 

 structed in such a manner as to possess a peculiar degree of strength. Its 

 exposed parts are secured with double or even treble timbers, while it is 

 fortified, as the expression is, externally with iron plates, and internally 

 with stanchions and cross-bars, so disposed as to cause the pressure on any 

 one part to bear upon and be supported by the whole fabric. Mr Scoresby 

 recommends the dimension of 350 tons as the most eligible. A ship of this 

 size is sometimes filled ; and the number of men required for its navigation, 

 being also necessary for manning the boats employed in the fishery, could 

 not be reduced even in a much smaller vessel. A larger tonnage than 350, 

 being scarcely ever filled, involves the proprietor iu useless extra expense. 

 The Dutch are of opinion, that the vessels destined for this fishery should bo 

 112 feet long, 29 broad, and 12 deep, carrying seven boats, and from 40 to 50 

 feamen. One of the most essential particulars is the crow's nest, a spe. 

 cies of sentry-bos made of canvass or light wood, pitched on the main. top- 

 mast, or top-gallant-m;iat head. This is the post of honour, and also of 



