THE SEAL AtfD WHALE FISHERY OF 1893. 131 



5th July, killed on the 6th, 7th, and 9th, one on each day, and 

 three others were killed early in September. In Pond's Bay 

 Capt. Milne varied the pursuit by a little Reindeer-shooting ; of 

 these he secured twenty-seven, with occasional seals and walrus. 



The 'Aurora' was very fortunate in crossing Melville Bay, 

 and found the ice in Lancaster Sound in good condition. Her 

 Captain lost his first whale, on June 26th, but next day killed two 

 old females and their two " suckers." Again, on the 2nd July, 

 he lost a whale, but on the following day killed a third female 

 and sucker, and on the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th a whale was 

 killed each day ; one of these was accompanied by a sucker, which 

 escaped, but was subsequently killed by the ' Eagle.' 



The summer fishing being now over, the 'Aurora' steamed 

 along the west shore of Lancaster Sound to Clyde River and 

 Bute Island looking for whales, but without success until Sept. 

 27th, when two whales were sighted in Coutts' Inlet, and both 

 killed ; during the next fortnight many other whales were seen, 

 but bad weather rendered their pursuit impossible, and it was 

 not till Oct. 8th that her thirteenth and last whale was killed. 



The ' Nova Zembla' was not successful till Sept. 17th, when 

 she killed two very fine whales north of Coutts' Inlet, one yielding 

 25 cwt. of bone. Two others were subsequently killed and another 

 lost. Amongst Capt. Guy's miscellaneous cargo were sixteen 

 bears and four walruses. 



The * Esquimaux,' like the ■ Nova Zembla,' was very late in 

 finding the whales, but eventually killed one on Sept. 9th, two 

 others early in October, and ultimately added a fourth, making 

 her total catch four Black Whales, one Finner, thirty-nine Wal- 

 ruses, twenty-eight Seals, and five Bears. 



The season was thus a very favourable one, notwithstanding 

 spells of bad weather, and whales seem to have been plentiful. 

 The result must be very cheering to those concerned, after the 

 repeated bad seasons which have been experienced. It is much 

 to be regretted, although inevitable, that the sucking calves, 

 which are of small value, four of which were killed, should fall 

 victims with their mothers, instead of surviving to grow into 

 value ; the death of the parent, however, seals the doom of the 

 offspring, and it can hardly be expected that prizes so rich should 

 be spared when opportunity offers for their capture. It is very 

 satisfactory to hear of this evidence of the natural increase of the 



