conlincd to the ports of UuiKlec and Peterhead f but the Dutch, Danes, 
Germans, and Norwegians all send out vessels. Since the introduction 
of steam many of the vessels, after taking their share of the Seals, 
eitlier at Newfoundland or Greenland, proceed to the Whale fishery. 
The history of the Seal fishery, from the wasteful and cruel 
way in which it has beeji prosecuted, has for many years been a 
declining one. In 18o0 there were forty sail of ships of various 
nations amoirgst the Greenland Seals, and there were few A^essels 
which had less than 10,000 Seals — some of them had as many as 
15,000. In that year six of the Peterhead ships took 01,837 Seals, 
one ship alone having 10,135. Ten ships went out, but four of 
these — which took 31 Whales between them — evidently neglected 
the sealing, taking only 1019 Seals; omitting these four, the 
average of the remaining six vessels was 10,300. It was believed 
that the supply of Seals was inexhaustible, and the result was, that 
the Peterhead ships alone Avere increased from ten in 1850 to 
twenty-eight in 1859, and those from other ports in proportion. As 
neither experienced masters nor men, cajDable of conducting the 
fishery successfully, could be found, although a large number of 
Seals were taken, enough could not be secured by so large a fleet to 
make the venture pay. Two of the vessels Avere lost in the latter 
year, the remainder took 43,110 (out of Avhich 9639 fell to one 
vessel), or an average of 1,658 Seals each; in 1861 the returns Avere 
still Avorse, fourteen vessels took only 8,457, or an average of 604. 
Steam Avas first introduced into the Whale fishery in 1857, Avhen the 
iron steam-ship ‘ Innuit’ Avas sent out to Davis Strait, and the folloA\dng 
spring she proceeded to the Greenland Seal fishery, returning to Peter- 
head, after a voyage of three A\meks, Avith one hundred and fifty tons 
of oil. Her success raised the cupidity of the iron-steamship owners 
of Hull and NeAvcastle ; and as the Baltic, Avhere most of these 
steamers Avere employed, is often closed during the months of 
March and April, it is not surprising that the prospect of earning 
some ten thousand pounds in about thirty days Avas irresistible to 
them. The consequence of tiiis Avas, that in 1859 fifty-two vessels 
Avere lying in Bressay Sound, bound for the Seal fishery ; so diffi- 
cult Avas it to make up their compliment of men, that some of the 
* A few vessels owned in Liverpool and Greenock also go to the Newfound- 
land fishery, but as I have no exact statistics witli regard to them, they Avill 
only be mentioned incidentally. 
