212 WRECKS IN SPITZBERGEN. 



Halmanne Island, and came to an anchor 

 there about midnight. 



The gale continued on the 20th, so we re- 

 mained in shelter, and sent both boats ashore 

 for firewood and water. The wood we pro- 

 cured on this island was mostly part of the 

 remains of a schooner from Hammerfest, which 

 had been lost in this bay in a gale of wind, 

 five years ago ; it was her first voyage, and 

 they had neglected to make the cable fast at 

 the inner end, the consequence of which lub- 

 berly proceeding naturally was, that it all ran 

 out, and the vessel drove ashore, and went 

 to pieces. 



From what I have heard, I am inclined to 

 suspect that a good many of the shipwrecks 

 which happen in Spitzbergen are caused wil- 

 fully, in order to defraud the insurance offices. 

 These vessels are principally insured in Ham- 

 burg, and I believe the rate of insurance is 

 as high as seven per cent., although one 

 would think that even that was little enough 

 for the unavoidable risks of such a dangerous 

 voyage, without taking into consideration the 

 impunity with which such nefarious proceed- 

 ings as I have alluded to may be committed in 

 those distant waters. 



