utilized, and the carcases are sent adrift; but the Company, Mr. Thorburn informs me, are fitting up premises in Hermitage Bay, where a winter Cod-fishery is carried on, for disposing of the Whales which are still in that neighbourhood, probably for the same reason which proves attractive to the Cod. From the east coast, where the Whales had been very numerous near the shore, they disappeared early in November, but in 1897 they are said to have been more numerous in that locality in November and December than at any other time. Three different kinds of Whale are said to have been killed by the 'Cabot,' but I have not been able to ascertain the species farther than that they are reported as "Finbacks" and "Hump-backed" Whales.
The Seal fishery in the Greenland Seas, so far as the Dundee vessels is concerned, has practically become a thing of the past, and, such as it is, has almost drifted into the hands of the Norwegian vessels. Only the 'Polar Star' and the 'Balæna' were present last season; the former killed fifty Seals, and the latter about 400, but later in the season this number was increased to 716. A total of 779 represented all the Seals brought home this season both by the Greenland and Davis Straits vessels. There were twelve Norwegian vessels at the Greenland sealing. I am not aware what the total number of Seals killed by them amounted to, but their success could have been little better than that of the Scotch ships, for I am told the largest catch of the fleet was only 700 Seals. Compare this with a total catch of 37,922, and an average of 2917 for thirteen Scotch vessels in 1883.
The 'Polar Star' and the 'Balæna' were the only two Scotch vessels in the Greenland Sea, and during the whole season not a single Right Whale was seen by either of them. From other circumstances, however, their experiences were of considerable interest. Capt. Davidson, of the 'Polar Star,' finding the ice quite unsuitable for whaling, early in June headed for the coast of Greenland in search of Hooded Seals and Walrus; seventy of the latter, fine old animals, he was successful in securing, but no Seals. "While in lat. 74° N.," says the report of Capt. Davidson's voyage, "with fine weather and light ice, he took his vessel close inshore, and without difficulty landed on a spot only one hundred miles to the southward of the farthest point reached by
