144 Another Success/id Day. 



morning, however, we observed from the mast- 

 head the whole of the whaling fleet beset and help- 

 less, the recent strong winds having blown the ice 

 out from Lancaster Sound. We are the only ship 

 free, and if we had fine weather might take ad- 

 vantage of the utter helplessness of our consorts to 

 pick up a few fish. The " Victor" joined us 

 during the evening, having been detained in Mel- 

 ville Bay since we last parted company from her 

 a fortnight ago. 



Monday, June 23rd. — Another exciting and suc- 

 cessful day. The wind, by noon, having subsided 

 to a fresh breeze, and we being in a large bight 

 formed by the ice, several whales were seen, "all 

 hands " called, and the boats lowered away and in 

 pursuit. In a very short time ' ' a fall " was called, 

 and then another, and by six o'clock we had a 

 couple of fish alongside. One gave us a great deal 

 of trouble, having taken to the ice, with upwards of 

 a mile of line. It was some time before we could 

 get at it, and then it was a difficult matter to kill 

 it. One of the boats (and its crew) was literally 

 drenched with blood ; so much so, that when I saw 

 it coming alongside, I imagined it was painted red, 

 and inquired what ship it belonged to. 



The other ships are all in sight, though, -with the 

 exception of the " Victor," completely beset. It 

 must be very galling to their feelings to witness our 

 success without beinsf able to share in it. At mid- 



