THE ZOOLOGIST. 



THIRD SERIES. 



Vol. XII.] APRIL, 1888. [No. J 36. 



NOTES ON THE SEAL AND WHALE FISHERY OF 1887. 

 By Thomas Southwell, F.Z.S. 



Bad as the season of 1886 proved to be, that of the past year 

 was still worse, and although only fo urteen vessels left Dundee 

 and Peterhead, as compared with twenty-one in the first-named 

 season, the result was even more unsatisfactory. In fact, the 

 time when the Seal and Whale Fishery in the Greenland Seas 

 and Davis Straits will no longer prove remunerative appears to 

 have arrived, and it is probable that next season will see a further 

 considerable reduction in the fleets.* This result has long been 

 predicted by thoughtful men, but it has been greatly accelerated 

 since the introduction of steam by the reckless way in which the 

 whales have been harried from place to place, as well as by the 

 immense advantage which this powerful adjunct gives the whaler 

 of the present day over the sailing vessels of the past; (and 



* I ani informed that only the ' Hope ' and ' Windward ' will leave 

 Peterhead this season for the young Sealing, and that the ' Eclipse ' will, as 

 last year, confine her efforts to the Whale fishery only. The 'Erik' is 

 sold to the Hudson's Bay Company. From Dundee the ' Pole Star ' and 

 'Earl of Mar,' and 'Kellie,' go to Greenland; the 'Maud' and 

 ' Chieftain ' to Labrador and Davis Straits ; and the ' Active ' and ' Nova 

 Zembla ' will sail direct to Davis Straits. It is also reported that, in 

 consequence of the heavy losses sustained by the underwriters, eight vessels 

 having been lost in the Arctic Seas in the past four years, the rate of 

 insurance will be greatly increased, in fact almost doubled; and this alone, in 

 the present critical state of affairs, will probably deter some from taking 

 part in a venture so unpromisirig. 



ZOOLOGIST. — APRIL, 1888. L 



