182 A HISTORY OF THE WHALE FISHERIES 



ships only cost three thousand one hundred and 

 fifty-one pounds. 



In 1726 twelve more ships were built for 

 the Company, and the whole twenty-four were 

 sent out to the whale fishery at Greenland and 

 in Davis Strait, capturing sixteen and a half 

 whales. 



The following year (1727) the Company built an 

 additional ship and sent out twenty-five to the 

 fishery with, disastrous results. Two of the ships 

 were lost, the remaining twenty-three bringing home 

 twenty- two and a half whales. 



A half whale results when two whalers of different 

 nationality strike the same whale which is by custom 

 divided. 



In 1728 the same twenty-three vessels procured 

 eighteen whales, undoubtedly a losing voyage. 

 The next year one of the twenty-three was lost, the 

 remaining twenty-two bringing home twenty-seven 

 and a half whales, the net loss this year exclusive of 

 wear and tear being over six thousand nine hundred 

 pounds. In 1730 the same twenty-two ships 

 brought home twelve whales, the net loss being eight 

 thousand nine hundred and twenty-one pounds. 

 In 1731 one of the twenty-two was lost and the 

 other twenty-one ships brought home fourteen 

 whales, which was still a losing voyage. At this 

 time there was invented a gun for shooting harpoons 

 with gunpowder, at a greater distance than they 

 could be thrown by hand. This invention was tried 

 \\ ith " some success." 



