4® 



WHALE-FISHERY. 



Ctxxvn. Bontahe is the name of an ifle In lat. 73. 30. not far from the coaft of Greenland. 



I faw it in a map of N. and S. Jmerica, publiflied by Mr. Sayer^ in 1775. A little 

 to the north of it is a promontory, the date of the difcovery of which is 1605. 

 This is all I learn of it. 



CLXXIX. Davis's ftreights is frequented by fome of our whale-fifhers : they fail from 



England {e. g.) Yarmoutby the beginning oi March ^ arrive there about the mid- 

 dle of Jpril, and go up the flreights two hundred leagues, towards Difco bay, 

 or North-eaft bay, ufually called by the feamen North-eajl Bite. In thefe parts 

 the whales are larger, but fev/er than in the Spitzbergen feas. Seals there are 

 alfo fcarcer. It is fingular that no intelligence is to be obtained concerning Baf- 

 fin's bay, from thefe navigators. 



The following journal of the fhip Yarmouth, fiiews the expedition with which 

 the Greenland whale fifliery is carried on, 



j^ril nth. Sailed from Yarmouth roads. 



16, Off Lerwick, Schetland. 



i\. Fall in with the flrft ice, about lat. 70. 



27. Killed fome feals. Working backwards and forwards through 

 the ice to the northward. 

 May IS. Off Fair. Foreland, \at.-j8. 



17. Killed the firft whale, 

 yune 20. Killed the feventh, 



23. Took departure for England, from lat. 75. 31. long. 7. 

 July 8. Anchor in Yarmouth roads. 



Cixxxvil. MuNCK never reached beyond lat. 63. 30. A cruel fate attended this able fea- 



man. Being flill perfuaded of the poffibility of a north-wefl paflage, he engaged 

 feveral opulent people in the defign, who equipped two veffels, and committed 

 them to his care. On taking leave of his prince, Chrijiian IV, fome difcourfe 

 arofe concerning his late expedition. The king ungeneroufly reproached him 

 with being the caufe of its mifcarriage. Munck, indignant at the afperfion, an- 

 fwered his majefty with warmth, on which the king ftruck him with his cane. 

 ^ Munck was fo afFedted, that he took to his bed, refufed all food, and died of grief 

 at the unjuft ufage he had experienced *. 



tXC. The thermometer has been known, in Hudfon^s hay, to rife out of doors to 85, 



m. the I2th oi July, and to fmk in the month oi January to 45 below the cy- 



* ChurchlU-s Coll. II. 

 4 



476. 



pher. 



