Whales in August. 117 



so far as regards the whales, by those employed in 

 their capture, very few being seen during that month. 

 The captain and myself have repeatedly had dis- 

 cussions on this subject, in which Baffin, Inglefield, 

 and Hayes have been quoted. All these authors 

 testify to the fact of having seen numerous whales 

 in Whale Sound in August. It was, therefore, 

 with difficulty I could repress my delight when 

 the captain came up to me to-day, and announced 

 his intention, if he is not a full ship, of going after 

 " them beggaring whales " in August, which, in 

 his opinion, go north, and therefore he would search 

 for them in Whale Sound. This conjecture was of 

 course readily assented to by me. 



It is very strange that the masters of whale ships, 

 with very few exceptions, still continue to fish over 

 the same old beaten ground, never attempting to 

 depart from the old routine, and, therefore, allowing 

 the month of August to pass idly, without troubling 

 themselves to discover the resort of the whales 

 during that month. I am firmly convinced that 

 our captain's enterprising disposition will shortly 

 resolve that question, and, whether we go north or 

 whether we go west, we shall eventually return to 

 Scotland a "full ship;" and I am confidently look- 

 ing forward to a prosperous and successful cruise, 

 bringing with it important and useful results. 



This evening we had for tea a most savoury mess, 

 consisting of some preserved ptarmigan, which had 



