HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN WHALE FISHERY. 



99 



there, the pursuit could be made at any hour of the twenty -four ; in fact, 

 tbe first whale taken was captured at 12 o'clock at night. The field 

 thus opened was speedily vexed with the keels of our adventurous 

 whalemen, and within the next three years two hundred and fifty ships 

 had obtained cargoes of oil there. The season for Arctic whaling is 

 short, aud the pursuitof the whale at times extremely dangerous. Often, 

 when struck, the wounded animal makes for the ice, and, unless killed 

 before that barrier is gained, escapes with the harpoons and lines. 

 Fogs are frequent and dense, and while these last the ringing of bells, 

 firing of guns, blowing of horns, and pounding on empty casks, as the 

 ships pierce through the mists, indicate their position as well to avoid 

 collision with each other as to recall the missing boats, if any are out. 

 It frequently happens that the crew of such a boat will fail to find their 

 own ship, and will meet with some other; in which case they have no 

 hesitation in repairing on board the stranger, there to remain until the 

 fog lifts and they can find their own vessel.* 



The fishery continued with varying success until the year 1847. 

 Fluctuations in the business were constant, and with many ports the 

 tide of success seemed to ebb and flow with quite as measured a rythm 

 as the alternating rise and fall of old ocean. A few years of success 

 overstimulated the business, new ships were added, aud the natural 

 result of overstocking the market and a fall in prices ensued. This 

 was quite as much the case in 1830, when the imports of oil amounted 



Proceeding to tbo northward and eastward tbe depth of water gradually increased to 

 thirty fathoms. Experienced here severe gales, with a beat of 15 miles between 

 packed ice, to the northward and eastward. In the bite saw whales in great num- 

 bers, gradually working north." Captain Beechey, in the Blossom, in 1826 reached 70° 

 30'. and explored with boats to 71° 25'. The Saratoga, therefore, went 15 miles far- 

 ther north than the Blossom's boats. The following table taken from the Honolulu 

 Friend of October 15, 1849, gives a record of thirteen Arctic whalers in the year, show- 

 ing the amount of oil taken, the number of whales captured, the highest latitude 

 attained, and the dates when the first and last whales were obtained : 



Junior 



Jeannette 



Two Brothers . 



Marengo 



Metaconi 



Isaac Hicks ... 



Electro 



Margaret 



J. Maury 



Catharine 



Washington... 



Omega 



Tiger 



Total. 



Ship. 



Barrels of 

 oil. 



1,900 

 1,200 

 1,000 

 2,000 

 1,600 

 600 

 350 

 1,350 

 1,000 

 1,450 

 1,800 

 1,550 

 1,650 



IT, 650 



Number 

 of whales. 



120 



Highest 

 latitude. 



66° 



G7° 40' 

 68° 10' 

 09° 

 67° 



69° 50' 

 67° 



69° 30' 

 68° 



67° 30' 

 68° 30' 

 70° 12' 

 66° 40' 



First 

 whale. 



June 5 

 July 13 

 July 14 

 June 25 

 June 1 

 July 19 

 July 7 

 July 21 

 Juiy 14 

 July 2 

 June 28 

 July 1 

 July 18 



Last 

 whale. 



July 15 



Aug. 14 



Aug. 26 



Aug. 26 



Aug. 15 



Aug. 14 



Aug. 10 



Aug. 3 



Aug. 23 



Aug. 17 



Aug. 10 



Aug. 25 



Aug. 30 



*Scammon, p. 63. See, also, a very interesting series of articles by William H. 

 Macy, esq. ; entitled " My Cruise in the Arctic," published iu the Naut. Inq. and Mir., 

 1876. 



