The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-10-25

/
| New WHALE FISHERY A short time since
we announced that new fishing ground fol
whales had been discovered in the Arctic re-
gions, and that interested parties had concealed
much ot the information relating to 1t. The
following, from late number of the London
Times, contains fuller and interesting par,icu :
lars of this important discovery
" 1t appears that viqlemen, some years ago.
learned from the Esquiman1 with whom they
held intercourse that large numbers of whales
resarted to certain inlets and bays in Davis S
straits and Ba.hn's bay, where they remained
during the winter for shelter. This informa
lion suggested to Captiln Penny Zone Of the
officers who has distinguished himself among
the searchcrs for Sir John Franklin) the idea Of
fitting out parties 10 winter in the polar regions,
near the places where the whales resorted, to
secure as many as possible in the fall and
spring and to boil the oil out during the winter
Two vessels were accordingly prepared fo- the
purpose, with iron tanks fitted to them, and SO
arranged that the oil, when boiled, could be
conveyed by gutra percha and other pines to
every tank in the hold. Bo ltIs, and supply
of coal for boiling the oil ON land while in win
ter quarters, also taken, as we'll as
plentiful supply of provis and the necessary
comforts for the long Artic winter.
1.-Two ships thus equipped, and manned with
thirty three men and three bys, sailed from
Aberdeen the l3 h August, 1853, and
reached the fishing ground in Bafiins bay on
the I7th OF Septe nber, where they found an
abundance of whales, ten Of which they killed
and secured before the Is, of November. They
then went into winter quarters in Horarth's
sound, erected their boiling house, and set to
work TO bod her oil. In this work they were
assisted by fifty Esqainsux engaged for the
purpose.
'Iheir Efforts were entirely successful not
withstandiDg the cold was forty egrees below
zero. he ac'Ive duties on The men tended TO
preserve their health, and felt time to
hang heavily Bu', singular as it mny seem,
that dreadful scnurge, the cholera, broke out
among the Esquimaux and swept off many
whi- the crew escaped with slight premoni
tory symptoms.
$ Early in the following spring Qhe presen,
year, the fishing resumed with great sue
cess, although the edge of the ice Was twenty
m'Ies from the ships. Seventeen more whales
were allied, and after being cut up, wer.
transported by the E>qDimaux on sledges dfawn
by do ~ over the ice TO the ships, where the oil
was boiled rs before One ship was soon f,led
with boiled oil and whale bone, when Captain
Penny sailed for Aberdeen, leaving the ether
ship to continue the fishing and boiling
"lhe ap'ain IS OF opinion that with large
commercial company the fishery could b.
prosecuted a.ong an extensive coast line and
with great Advantage. Two Amer can ships
had anticipated the English expedition, and had
been equally successful
''Np traces Of SIR John franklin were fnunI
Deer and other wild animals abauadrd. Cap
sin Penny still holds TO the belief, in common
with inanv scientific mpn in En- land, that iur
theI north there Is n milder climate and a polar
basin vet To be discovered, aud those who cling
10 Tie hope that Sir John FrankI and his
crews still survive believe him to be within the
open a polar ba sin referred t.