On the 8th of July 1813, the ship Esk lay by the edge 

 ©f a large sheet of ice, in which were several thin parts 

 and some holes. Here a iish being heard Blowing, a 

 harpoon, with a line connected to it, was conveyed 

 across the ice, from a boat on guard, and the harpoo- 

 ner succeeded in striking the whale, at the distance of 

 %So yards from the verge. It dragged out ten lines, 

 (2400 yards) and was supposed to be seen blowing in 

 different holes in the ice, After some time it happened 

 to make its appearance 011 the exterior, when a har- 

 poon was struck at the moment it was on the point of 

 proceeding again beneath. About a hundred yards from 

 the edge, it broke the ice where it was a foot in thick- 

 ness, with its crown, and respired through the ope- 

 ning. It then determinately pushed forward breaking 

 the ice as it advanced, in spite of the lances constantly 

 directed against it» It reached at lenght a kind of bason 

 in the field, where it floated on the surface of the water, 

 without any encumbrance from ice. It.s back being fairly 

 exposed, the harpoon struck from the boat 011 the out- 

 side, was observed to be so slightly entangled, that it 

 was ready to drop out. Some of the ofiicers lamented 

 this circum&tance, and expressed a wish, that the harpoon 

 were better fast. No sooner was the wish expressed, 



