1881.] THE BASaUE PROVINCES OF SPAIN. 971 



place in the list : " Carga de boquinas-barbas de hallenas 2 



dineros." The same privileges were extended by Alfonso VIII. of 

 Castille to Fuenterrabia in 1203, and to Motrico and Guetaria in 

 1204. Ferdinand III., in a royal order dated at Burgos the 28th 

 September 1237, gave similar priviliges to Zarauz. And this docu- 

 ment contains further proof of the antiquity of the whale-fishery ; 

 for a claim is made that, in accordance with custom (" sicut forum 

 est "), the King should have a slice of each whale, along the back- 

 bone, from the head to the tail. The custom here referred to in- 

 dicates the antiquity of the fishery. At Guetaria it was the custom 

 to give the first fish of the season to the King, who usually returned 

 half. 



Another proof of the importance of the whale-fishery on the 

 northern coast of Spain, and probably also of its antiquity, is the 

 fact that no less than six of the towns have a whale for their coat 

 of arms. This charge is in the arms of Fuenterrabia. Over the 

 portal of the first house in the steep old street of Guetaria there is 

 a shield of arms consisting of a whale amidst waves of the sea. At 

 Motrico the town arms consist of a whale in the sea, harpooned, 

 and a boat with men holding the line. The same device is carved 

 on the wall of the Town Hall of Lequeitio. The arms of Bermeo 

 and Castro-Urdiales also contain a whale. 



I was assured that vigias or look-out posts were established on the 

 headlands, and high up the mountains overlooking the fishing-towns, 

 whence notice was given directly a whale was seen spouting in the 

 offin" ; and soon the boats were in pursuit. On the mountain of 

 Talaya-mendi (" Look-out mountain") above Zarauz, there are some 

 ruined walls, which, according to Madoz, are the remains of one of 

 these watch-towers, whence warnings were sent down the moment a 

 whale was in sight. 



In some of the towns there are records which throw light on the 

 whale-fishery ; but (chiefly during the French occupation) most of the 

 ancient archives have been destroyed or are lost. Fortunately this 

 is not universally the case. In the town of Lequeitio eight of the 

 "libros defabrica" or fabric rolls of the church, commencing from 

 the year 1510, have been preserved, which contain much interesting 

 information. 



The most ancient document relating to whales in the Lequeitio 

 archives is dated September 11th, 1381. It is there ordered and 

 agreed by the Cabildo that the whalebone taken shall be divided 

 into three parts, two for repairing the boat-harbour, and the third 

 for the fabric of the church. The same order is repeated in another 

 document dated 1608. 



In the " libros defabrica de la iglesia de Lequeitio" there is a 

 list of the whales killed, in various years, by the boats of Lequeitio, 

 from 1517 to 1661. 



1517. Two whales killed. 

 1525. Eeturns in money value. 



1531. January and Februai-y, two large and one small whale killed. 



1532. None killed. 



