APPENDIX. 
223 
I have now concluded my remarks on, and description 
of, the implements designed to improve the whale-fishery ; 
from a sense of duty, and in justice to myself, I have de- 
tailed the circumstances that occurred on my Greenland 
voyage, and also my opinion of the causes which have hi- 
therto defeated the object so long and liberally patro- 
nised by the Society of Arts, Commerce, and Manufactures, 
for the general introduction of the gun-harpoon ; I have 
also had in view to lay before those most immediately con- 
cerned in the fishery, some of the causes which have in 
numerous instances entailed a want of success on their 
speculation ; and I shall close the subject with a few ob- 
servations which I respectfully submit to their consider- 
ation, as alterations necessary in the arrangement of 
Greenland ships. 
The harpooners do not support a distinction of rank, 
so necessary in all services, to subordination and good 
order ; the consequence is, that familiarity creates an in. 
fluence which should not exist, and the crew become 
ready instruments in any line of conduct which the har- 
pooners may capriciously take. This I saw confirmed in 
the Baffin, as every discontent and dissatisfaction that oc- 
curred during the voyage, originated with some of that 
class : I would recommend that they should mess apart, that 
their births should be detached, and themselves separated 
from the crew when not on duty ; and that when on duty, 
they should be taught to conduct themselves as officers ; 
they should be made to know that it is not absolutely ne- 
cessary for every harpooner in the ship to have had the ser- 
vice of his life confined to that of the navigation of ice ; 
but that a part of the number may be composed of steady, 
active seamen, who have served long in the navy, and par- 
ticularly those used to the service of guns, who, if they 
were instructed in the management of a whale line, would, 
from their professional habits in pointing a gun with ac- 
