Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/112

88 to Newfoundland, where they captured 139,985 more Seals, making a total of 163,969 in all, before they turned their attention to the Whales. This branch of the fishery was pursued by twelve of the Dundee vessels in Davis Strait, with a result of 48 Right Whales; two others fished for Bottlenose Whales in the Greenland Seas, capturing 22. Four of the Peterhead whalers which gave their chief attention to the Greenland Bottlenose Whales killed 94 of these and 23 Right Whales, making a total return of 163,969 Seals, 71 Right Whales, 116 Bottlenoses, and 33 tons 6 cwt. of bone. Compare this with the past season's catch, as stated farther on, and with the fact that in 1897 one Whale was captured, and one other seen; in 1898 not a single Whale was seen; in 1899 one Whale was seen and captured; but in the past season of 1900 a diligent search in the Greenland fishing-grounds, extending over six weeks, did not reveal the presence of a single Whale. In those days we hear nothing of such small deer as Bears and Walruses, which were treated as by-products.

But it is time to speak of the voyage of the past season. The 'Balæna,' the only vessel which went to Greenland, after her unsuccessful search in that locality, departed on June 10th for Davis Strait; but it was not till Sept. 20th that she killed her first and only Whale, having the misfortune to lose a second to which she fastened. Capt. Roberts reports that in the fall a large number of Whales were sighted, but that, owing to almost incessant gales of wind, it was impossible to send out the boats; and this seems to have been the experience of all the vessels so far as weather was concerned. The 'Balæna' brought home 21 tuns of oil and 14 cwt. of bone, the produce of the one Whale, and 91 Walruses, also 18 Bears.

The 'Eclipse' had a very arduous time, and it was not till Sept. 19th that she killed her first Whale, although plenty were seen; on the 23rd she captured another, and a third on Oct. 10th. This last proved a fighter from the first, and, after smashing one of the boats—fortunately no lives were lost—required two explosive rockets before it succumbed. The voyage home was no exception as to weather, and the 'Eclipse' arrived in a very battered condition, but with three very fine Whales of 10 ft. 5 in., 11 ft. 6 in., and 12 ft. 3 in. bone respectively, which