New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-29

to 70 IN $50 ze5 IN 1880 .s in 1890 8. 81 In 1870
nov by penetrating the circunpolar fastnesses
where they take refuge from the hunters, whose
heett m Hudson Bay ana Northwest waters Sc,
cured go Of these mighty creatures altogether
their combined catch was only 16l last year
involved IS beyond computation. In the earlier
days when hygiene on IniphoaTd was uni &
winter in their dark, foul and unVentilated fore
strong liquors taking no exercise and defying all
sanitary rules. it would be strange indeed II the
grave mounds in the different ,wintering harbors
prosecuted and the heavy toll Of lives demanded
by Nature for non-observance OF her laws. Nova
lives have them hunt musk OK and bears, and. by
active work. defy scurvy. the pest OF the faraway
Other perils OF the North. too, were fully felt in
by ice. crushed and rendered useless. the crews
having 20 abandon them Tor refuge with consorts
the wilderness 10 some post OF the Hudson's Bay
Company; Years ago the George Henry was nipped
boats of Labrador by another ship: Then the
made their way to land over the foes. The Pa
vilion forced ashore by the ice and wrecked
Allyn was burned and two men persisted: Several
ships have been lost with all hands one year
and Were driven on the rocks, several men losing
carry home over one hundred men, who were
forced to suhsist on seal and whale meat during
for1 az 0n sne 81 foI gg5aI tbrarS he over
turning Of boats collision with icehoes and the
minor misadventures incident such business.
there Is a long and grewsoTne catalogue, as dtsas-
tFous almost as the record OF polar exploration.
AN ADVENTUROUS PURSUIT.
Thrilling adventures and hairbreath escapes have
been the portion OF the whalemen. and It is
in this aspect that the enterprise has been best
known 10 the world. In 1885 the Isabella was
crushed forty miles from land. and her crew
al ~ xrl,a thay sIgh-
sisted on the few articles OF food they were able
came by and rescued them But this caused so
much delay that she caught by the ice and
and ii was hard TO capture seals where she
was, the two crews spent a terrible winter, the
men being reduced almost TO skeletons from want
Of food when she got 10 St Johns the next August.
FISH. equally thrilling and tragic incidents
twelve ships having been crushed fall. and
inhospitabe seaboard where they suffered such
riserieS that a score OF the men succumhed,
With prices as they are now, the pursuit should
be so profitable in the future despite these dan
gers. that its increased prosecution would not be
vised which VIII enable the whole OF the carcass
being abandoned. as heretofore. Accordingly the
attempt Of Canada TO close her waters to the
American whalemen. and to legislate them out OF
ms INDUSTRY is made doubly significant. She
takes the position that these alien whalers have
oeen poaching in her waters all these years and
gathering in all the great natural wealth thereof
al ioinir, tarri;tr ~ Stn me na'fs OF me
49,; .tE IN otH5hce OF her Jaw ana
pie.
How the dispatch OF revenue cruisers and the
enacting OF new whaling statutes are 10 protect
these wards OF the nation Canadian writers
and speakers term them, Is not clear The
come VIII doubtless be that the American whalers
VIII be forced out of the they have freuuented
so long unless some compromise is effected in their
behalf The only beneficiaries. matters look at
present by such policy. would be the Scotch and
English whalers. who. fellow subjects OF the
British Empire, viii have fun rights to chase the
cstaceans IN Canadian waters. and viii be aided
tnecctn by the absence Of their American rivals
latter hen he cd 70 he cSfsho
waters. without any landing basis, a condition
most detrimental to them. Moreover. the New
foundlanGers are now establishing coastwisA whal-
Ing along Labrador. with fast steamers and shore
factories. and Canadians talking Of establish
ing the same industry in Northwest waters.