Progress of the Whale Fishery. 3 



details respecting the whale fishery in the Spitz- 

 bergen seas, there have been many changes since 

 his days, caused by the invention of new appliances 

 and the introduction of steam. The story of the 

 northern fishery, as it is now practised, has not 

 hitherto been told in any detail. 



In introducing this narrative to my readers, I 

 cannot do better than quote the words of Master 

 George Beste, 1 the biographer of " Martin Fro- 

 bisher's Three Voyages for the Discoverie of find- 

 ing a Passage to Cathaya by the North West," who, 

 in his dedicatory epistle to Sir Christopher Hatton, 

 apologetically remarks that his "intente is, more to 

 sette out simply the true and plaine proceeding and 

 handling of the whole matter, than to use circum- 

 stance of mere words, or fyne eloquent phrases 

 wherein if I should once goe about to entangle my- 

 selfe, it would doe nothing else but bewray my owne 

 ignorance, and lack of schole skyll. Therefore, of 

 me there is nothing else to be looked for, but such 

 playne talke and writing as souldiers and marriners 

 doe use in theyr dayly meetings and voyages, and 

 this of necessity must anye man use that will deale 

 with such a matter as thys is, although he were 

 curious to the contrairie." 



Before proceeding with my narrative, it may be 



1 Master George Beste was the lieutenant of Sir Martin 

 Frobisher's ship. 



