198 



HISTOKY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



the southern whale fishery, cruising chiefly on the Brazil Bank. Iii 1855 there were about fifty 

 vessels in the Greenland and Davis Strait fishery. About the year 1865 some thirty five vessels 

 were employed in the northern or Greenland fishery. The southern fishery gradually declined 

 until it is now practically abandoned. The northern fishery, however, has continued of impor- 

 tance, though the number of ports from which vessels are fitted has decreased. The vessels are 

 now mostly fitted at Dundee and Peterhead. 



The Scotch whale fishery at Greenland and Davis Strait is combined with sealing, and is 

 carried on with the most powerful steamers, specially equipped for battling with ice. 



The number of vessels in this fishery has decreased very much since 1830, as appears from the 

 following statement of the size of the fleet in 1830, 1857, and 1808:* 



In a communication to the State Department, under date of November 1C, 1877, United States 

 Consul McDougall, at Dundee, Scotland, gives some information concerning the British whale and 

 seal fisheries in Davis Strait. He says : " The success of the whaling fleet belonging to this port 

 was considerably greater in 1876 than in 1875. All the vessels, twelve in number, prosecuted both 

 seal and whale fishing in 1876. The only change in the course usually followed was by one vessel, 

 which went to Labrador instead of Greenland with the other ships. The total catch at the seal 

 fishing was in 1876, 57,776 seals, yielding 625 tons of seal oil. Seal oil last year was valued at 32 

 per ton, and the average price for skins was 6s. Taking the 625 tons of oil at 32 gives 20,000, 

 and 57,776 skins at 6s. each produces the sum of 17,332 16s. ; so that the value of the seal fish- 

 ing in 1876 was 37,332.16s. Only one vessel returned clean from the seal fishing. 



" The total catch at the whale fishing was, in 1876, 64 whales, yielding 824 tons oil and 

 45 tons bone. The selling price of whale oil in 1876 was 35 per ton, and although as high as 

 1,200 per ton was got for bone, 800 was the average price. The 824 tons of oil produced 

 28,840 and the 45 tons of bone 36,000; total for the whale fishing, 64,840; total for the seal 

 fishing, 37,332 1 6s.; total for both fishings, 102,172 16s. Of course from this sum must be 

 deducted the expenses of the fleet, which are very heavy. 



" In 1875 the value of the seal fishing was computed at 27,026 7s. 6d. and the whale fishing 

 at 50,325 ; total for both fishings, 77,351 7s. 6d. This shows an increase in favor of 1876 in the 

 seal fishing of 10,306 Ss. 6d. and in the whale fishing of 14,515; total increase in both fishings 



for 1876, 24,821 Ss. 



* MOIIIT/ LINDEMAN : Die arktische Fischerei der ilcutM-hru fecwtiitlte, 16^0-1868. 



