139 
in 1807? we could not penetrate higher 
than 78° 30'. A ridge of ice totally pre¬ 
vented our farther progress. 
V May 29th and 30th. Course nearly 
E.S.E. towards the Seven Islands. We 
had on the 30th a considerable quantity 
of bay ice, and made but little progress. 
Occasional showers of snow. Saw only 
one whale. 
31st, Tacked to the W. S. W. Ice 
increasing. Saw several whales. Lay 
to for fishing. Got a very large whale* 
which measured 84 feet in length. 
During the flinching of the whales, 
there were generally a considerable num¬ 
ber of sharks in the vicinity of the ves¬ 
sel. They were principally of that va¬ 
riety termed Squalus Pristis , or Saw Fish. 
At this time, one more voracious than 
the rest, approached close to the side of 
the whale’s carcase, and seized a large 
piece of blubber, which was ready to be 
hoisted on board. Before he could make 
