THE WHALE FISHERY. 79 



larity for years, and no solution of the matter, as far as I have learned, has yet been arrived at. 

 Navigators have noticed that with a north or northeast wind they can tack in eight points, while 

 with the wind south or southwest in from fourteen to sixteen points. All navigators know that for 

 a square-rigged vessel to lie within four points of the wind is an utter impossibility, the average 

 with square-rigged vessels being six points. This peculiar action of the compass renders the navi- 

 gation of the Arctic difficult and at times dangerous, especially in thick, foggy weather. Naviga- 

 tors in these regions have proved to their satisfaction that^n-fehe American coast, north and east 

 of Point Barrow, to steer a land course by the compass and allow the variations given by the 

 chart, 44 15' east, with the wind at north or northeast, would run the skip ashore, steering either 

 ctrxt or west. * * * Experience, therefore, has obliged navigators to ignore the variations 

 marked upon the charts, and lay the ship's course by the compass alone to make a land-course safe in 

 thick weather. * * * With an east or west wind the effect on the compass is not so great as 

 \\ith other winds. I have said this much to show the working of the compass in the Arctic Ocean 

 during different winds, not that I admit that the wind has any effect whatever upon the compass. 

 I give the facts as they came under my observation, and corroborative testimony will be borne by 

 any shipmaster who has cruised in the Arctic Ocean." 



THE DANGERS OF THE FISHERY. Whaling in the Arctic Ocean is attended with uncertainty 

 in every particular, both in regard to the condition and movement of the ice, and the movement of 

 the whales. The early departure of the animals to inaccessible regions among the ice, and the 

 anxious weeks spent in awaiting their return, make this ground one of the most exciting regions 

 that whalemen can find, and the surroundings are of more than usual interest. Much has been 

 written in the accounts of Arctic expeditions descriptive of the icy regions, and much is said of the 

 dangers attending navigation in those seas. Nothing can exceed the daring and pluck of the 

 whalemen in their endeavors to search out and capture their prey. Forgetful of surrounding 

 dangers, they pursue the spouting animal far up among the ice-floes, and many a vessel has been 

 crushed to pieces by the ice as she was tracking out a whale. Anxious to secure full fares, they 

 remain amid the freezing waters until early winter stares them in the face, when they plow their 

 way homeward. Several disasters have overtaken the fleet in their zeal to catch the whale, as in 

 1871, when thirty-two noble craft were left at anchor in sight of certain destruction, the crews, 

 after arduous labor, saving themselves in boats. 



The story of the disaster of 1871, as also that of 1876, is told as follows by Starbuck : 



"In the fall of 1871 came news of a terrible disaster to the Arctic fleet, rivaling in its extent 

 the depredations of the rebel cruiser. Off Point Belcher thirty-four vessels lay crushed and 

 mangled in the ice; in Honolulu were over twelve hundred seamen who by this catastrophe were 

 shipwrecked. 



"Early in May the fleet arrived south of Cape Thaddeus, where they found the ice closely 

 packed, and the wind blowing strong from the northeast.* This state of affairs continued during 

 the most of the month. June came in with light and variable winds and foggy weather; but the 

 ice opening somewhat, the ships pushed through in sight of Cape Navarin, where they took five 

 or six whales, and for a short time heard many more spouting among the ice. About the middle 

 of June the ice opened still more, and the fleet passed on through Anadir Sea, taking a few whales 

 as they went. By the 30th of June the vessels had passed through Bering Strait, preceded 

 by the whales. Waiting the further breaking up of the ice, they commenced catching walruses, 

 but with comparatively poor success. During the latter part of July, the ice disappearing from 

 the east shore south of Cape Lisburne, the fleet pushed on to the eastward, following the ice, the 



* Harper's Weekly, December a, 1871. 



