THE FINWHALE FISHERY OF FINMARK. 367 



seen a whale captured by this new system, some account, how- 

 ever imperfect, of what I saw there may be of interest. 



Herr Foyn's exclusive rights to the fishery on the Finmarken 

 coast terminated at the end of the season of 1882, but he allowed 

 some companies to start whaling that season. Last year (1883) 

 was the first open season, and various companies, all got up in 

 Sandefjord and Tonsberg in the South of Norway, tried their 

 fortunes, and at least in most cases I believe did extremely well 

 from a commercial point of view. One Eussian steamer was also 

 engaged last season in this fishery ; and this season there are to 

 be several, I understand. 



It is now about sixteen years since Herr Foyn established his 

 factory at Vadso, which is situated far up Varanger Fjord ; at 

 that time the fjord was a favourite resort of the huge Sibbald's 

 Eorqual during the summer. This is now quite changed ; con- 

 stant hunting and harrying has taught the survivors to keep 

 outside in the open sea. The new factories therefore were 

 established at Vardo, with a few at other convenient situations* 

 on the north coast ; they are therefore much closer to the 

 cruising grounds of the whales, so that when one is killed all 

 the long miles of towing up the fjord are saved. 



Most of the whaling companies' factories at Vardo are known 

 by the name of their resident manager, all of whom are, I think, 

 sea captains, with the exception of one, and this company is 

 almost or quite the only one which has not paid this season. 

 Besides these, there are some whaling establishments in West 

 Finmarken, where, however, Sibbald's Eorqual is not common. 



Arriving at Vardo in the middle of August, I was quite at the 

 end of the season, and too late to see much of the chief object of 

 the "fishery" — the huge Sibbald's Eorqual, or Blue Whale as it 

 is called in Norway, and which latter name seems decidedly 

 preferable for ordinary use. 



I met with great civility and kindness from all the owners 

 and managers of the whalers ; my thanks are especially due to 

 Captains B. and S., to whose kindness I am indebted for 

 a cruise in one of the steamers ; other kind invitations I was 

 unable to avail myself of, owing to the season coming to an end. 

 I propose to give some account of this cruise, and then to give 



* At Sylte Fjord, Jar Fjord, &c. 



