NOTES ON THE SEAL AND WHALE FISHERY. 57 



was secured on the 20th June ; a few days later a third, and in 

 another month, operations having been much hindered by the 

 large amount of floating ice, a fourth was captured, — all large 

 fish. Then came the terrible weather of September, and the 

 incident which enabled them to render assistance to the crew of 

 the stranded ' Nova Zembla,' after which the vessel returned to 

 the fishing-ground, and was successful in capturing yet another 

 fine Whale on the 5th October. Of her five Whales the bone of 

 the largest measured 10 ft. 6 in., none of them being under 10 ft. 

 The run home was without incident, being accomplished in four- 

 teen days; and, although attended with great hardship, the 

 voyage was very successful, resulting in 5 fine Black Whales, 

 6 Walrus, 8 Seals, 81 Bears (one of which, a young one, was 

 brought home alive), yielding 57 tuns of oil and 70 cwt. of bone. 



The 'Diana' was also successful at the spring fishing. On 

 the 28th May she captured a very fine fish, the bone of which 

 measured 11 ft. 6 in.; a second Whale was seen and unsuccess- 

 fully chased on the same day. Later on Capt. Adams (with 

 Capt. Milne of the ' Eclipse ') successfully rescued the crew of 

 the 'Nova Zembla,' and finally his exertions were rewarded with 

 four other fine Whales, returning to Dundee with 5 Black Whales, 

 1 White, 5 Walrus, 17 Seals, and 30 Bears, the total yield of 

 which was 70 tuns of oil and 91 cwt. of bone. 



The ' Balsena ' was less fortunate than the sister vessels ; she 

 did not capture a single Black Whale, but her 640 White Whales 

 are valuable ; and, in addition, she had the produce of 14 Walrus, 

 4 Seals, and 17 Bears — the oil of the White Whales is estimated 

 at 65 tuns. The 'Balsena' was so unfortunate as to lose one 

 of her crew by death, which took place at sea on the outward 

 voyage. With this exception the health of the various crews, 

 notwithstanding the exceptional hardships of the voyage, has 

 been remarkably good. 



The total result of the season's fishing (including the produce 

 of 39 Walrus, 1750 Seals, 13 Bears, and 10 tuns of oil brought 

 home by the ' Kate ' from the Cumberland Gulf station) was 

 12 Black Whales, 652 White Whales, 118 Walrus, 1984 Seals, 

 and 168 Bears, producing 212 tuns of oil and 187 cwt. of bone. 

 The market value of bone is very high, transactions having taken 

 place at £2500 per ton. Oil is selling at £22 10s. per tun. and 

 Zool. 4th ser. vol. VII., February, 1903. F 



