124 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



successful voyage to Davis Straits, her cargo consisting of 127 tons of oil 

 and 3-£ tons of whalebone, the produce of five Black and 317 White Whales. 

 In the spring the ' Polynia' was engaged at the Newfoundland Seal fishing, 

 and, after having returned to Dundee, she was equipped and left for Davis 

 Straits on 24th May, in place of the * Esquimaux,' which was so seriously 

 damaged by ice that she could not be repaired in time. A smart run was 

 made°to Cape Farewell, and few obstructions were encountered during the 

 northward passage along the east coast. Capt. Milne states that very little 

 difficulty was experienced in crossing Melville Bay this season. Icebergs 

 were numerous, but there was very little pack-ice. This season has been 

 characterised by the exceptionally small amount of pack-ice in the Strait, 

 the result being that the Whales kept out in the open sea, and were 

 exceedingly difficult of approach. According to Capt. Milne, this has been 

 the most open season he has ever experienced at Davis Straits. After 

 getting through Melville Bay, the ' Polynia' went to what is known as the 

 " middle ice," where a large Whale was captured about the middle of June. 

 A visit was next made to Pond's Bay, and the ' Polynia ' subsequently 

 passed through Lancaster Sound to Prince Regent Inlet. Here the 

 condition of affairs was reversed, for the Inlet was so full of pack-ice that 

 although Black Whales were numerous only two were captured. A 

 considerable addition to the cargo of oil was made here by the crew falling 

 in with a school of White Whales, of which 317 were killed. After 

 returning from Prince Regent Inlet, Capt. Milne tried all the fishing 

 stations from Pond's Bay southward along the west coast. At Pond's Bay 

 he was visited by Olnik, the Eskimo who came to Dundee with Capt. 

 Adams. He was in good health and spirits, his party having had a very 

 successful fishing season, and he asked Capt. Milne to remember him to 

 his friends in Dundee and Broughty Ferry. He was then unaware of the 

 death of Capt. Adams, and expressed the hope that he might make another 

 trip to this country on board the ' Maud.' Capt. Milne states that many 

 Whales were seen while coming down the west coast, but owing to the 

 absence of ice they generally kept from twenty to fifty miles off the land, 

 and could scarcely be approached. The crew succeeded in killing a Whale 

 off Cape Eglinton, and another off Cape Cater, which made up the cargo. 

 During the latter part of the season the weather was squally, with frequent 

 snow s°torms, and on the 30th October the ' Polynia" bore up from Exeter, 

 the run home being accomplished in fifteen days. The voyage will prove 

 remunerative to the owners, as the whalebone is worth over £6000, having 

 been sold to arrive at £2050 per ton." 



Owing to the great scarcity of bone it has been fetching 

 enormous prices, one parcel having been sold at £2400 per ton, , 

 and I am informed that a re-sale of part of that brought home 

 by the ' Maud' took place at £2550 per ton. I believe that none 

 has produced less than £2000. In addition to the sixteen Black ! 

 and 806 White Whales ninety Walruses were killed in Davis 



Straits. 



The Whale fishery in the Greenland Seas proved an absolute 

 failure, the only produce which was brought home by the Scotch 



