WEST-LAND FISHERY. 
65 
ing uncommonly scarce, the fishers began to 
explore the seas farther to the southward, but 
without proceeding into the depths of the ice, or 
remaining among it beyond the middle or end 
of the month of July; an idea prevailing, that it 
was not only useless, but extremely dangerous, to 
be entangled in the ice after this period. At the 
close of the season of 1817,1 penetrated the ice in 
latitude 74°, about 100 miles towards the west, 
but without finding whales; and, the year follow¬ 
ing, two ships approached the east coast of Green¬ 
land, and met with encouraging success. In 
1820, I obtained a full cargo, principally upon 
this station, in latitudes 74° down to 71°: and se¬ 
veral other ships made successful fisheries amid 
the same ice, within sight of the “ West Land " 
The year following, a vast compact body of field 
ice intercepted our approach to the coast of Green¬ 
land, farther than merely to get sight of it, so 
that the fishery in general failed; but a few ships 
falling into a more favourable opening, passed 
.through this barrier, and obtained tolerable car¬ 
goes. 
This “ southern fishery,” without the discovery 
of which, the Greenland trade would, no doubt, 
have been so unproductive that it must have been 
discontinued, is but yet in its infancy, and affords 
only such a degree of encouragement, as barely to 
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