Notice of arrival of whalers in Dundee Advertiser of September 23rd:
DUNDEE ADVERTISER, SEPTEMBER 23RD, 1884.
THE ESQUIMAUX—THE LOSS OF TWO MEN.
The Esquimaux, Capt. Milne, arrived in the Tay last night from Davis Straits, and will be docked with this morning's tide. The Esquimaux was unsuccessful at the Newfoundland seal fishing, only 1,900 seals having been secured; but she has brought a fair cargo from Davis Straits, consisting of 11 whales, which will yield 140 tons of oil and 6 tons of whalebone. Two fatalities have, unfortunately, occurred during the voyage. Early in the season a young man named Allan Smith, a native of Dundee, was dragged overboard by the line catching him after a bottle-nosed whale had been struck, and he was never seen again. It is a painful circumstance that Smith's father was lost from the same ship several years ago. Another of the crew was lost during the passage home. He accidentally fell overboard, and a boat was sent in search of him. After some time he was picked up in semi-lifeless state, and all attempts to restore animation failed.
DUNDEE ADVERTISER, SEPTEMBER 23RD, 1884.
DAVIS STRAITS WHALE FISHING—ARRIVAL OF AURORA.
The steamer Aurora, belonging to Messrs. Alex. Stephen & Sons, arrived at Dundee yesterday afternoon from the Davis Straits whale fishing. The Aurora, commanded by Capt. Jas. Fair-weather, has had a very successful voyage. At Newfoundland 28,150 seals were secured during the two trips, the Aurora being the only one of the Dundee fleet which was fortunate in securing a good catch. On the 8th May she left St. John's for Davis Straits, and on reaching Disco fell in with the Thetis and Bear, on their way north in search of the Greely Expedition. The three ships thereafter kept in company until they reached the north water, when Capt. Fairweather steamed across to Lancaster Sound. An impenetrable barrier of ice blocked the Sound, a circumstance which told in favor of the fishing, as a large number of whales were secured at the edge of the ice. The crew were successful in capturing ten, and also three bottle-noses, which will yield 105 tons of oil and about 5 tons of whalebone. As the season advanced the fishing was prosecuted along the west coast of Davis Straits, but without success, owing to the immense quantities of ice, which seemed never to have been driven out of the Straits this year. The frost came on unusually early and very severe, 12 to 14 degrees being registered in August. Capt. Fairweather bore up for home on the 8th Sept, and experienced a good deal of foggy weather in crossing the Atlantic. He confirms the news previously received of the catches of the fleet, and mentions that the Polynia is the only vessel which has added to her cargo, which now consists of 6 whales, equal to 60 tons of oil. The Triune sailed for home on the 6th Sept. Capt. Fairweather has brought home a fine specimen of the Sabine gull, a bird rarely to be met with in Davis Straits. It ought to be mentioned that the crew of the Aurora, after receiving the news of the Chieftain disaster from the pilot at the mouth of the river, subscribed the sum of £20 185s. to the fund.
Whalers sailing from Dundee in 1884:
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A list of Greenland and Davis Straits ships sailing from Holland, from Dr. Lang's book:
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Ships at Greenland and Davis Straits, with number of whales killed:
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The above list shows how the trade changed in a few years from London to Hull, and it also shows how Scotland increased her fleet, while England reduced hers.
In an old work—"McPherson's Annals of Commerce," is found the following list of ships sent to the whaling:
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Whaling was now confined to Dundee Peterhead, and remained so until 1900, when Peterhead sent her last whaler to sea, and since then the industry has been carried on by Dundee alone.
In 1733 a bounty of twenty shillings a ton on ships over two hundred tons was given by the English Government, and in 1749 this was doubled to induce competition with the Dutch.
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