It is the history of the whaling industry engaged in by rival nations along the coasts of this group of islands that occupies the greater part of Sir Martin Conway’s volume. In addition are accounts of Russian exploring enterprises and scientific expeditions in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
“His task has been accomplished in a characteristically complete fashion, and has evidently involved a good deal of research in rare books of old voyages, both English and Dutch.”
+ + Ath. 1906, 1: 635. My. 26. 880w.
“No one has a better claim than Sir Martin Conway to have undertaken this history, and few could have written it so well. The book is a most valuable achievement, a most important contribution to geographical literature.”
+ + Lond. Times. 5: 209. Je. 8, ’06. 2190w.
“The great value of this work is that it brings within convenient compass a great body of information scattered through forgotten books and manuscripts which throw light on some obscure points and give a connected history and a most complete account in English of the great whale industry.” Cyrus C. Adams.
+ + N. Y. Times. 11: 734. N. 10, ’06. 370w.
“Sir Martin Conway arouses the interests of his readers in the curious history of a land which, though never permanently inhabited, has played the part of an apple of discord between the great powers of former days.”
+ + Sat. R. 102: 239. Ag. 25, ’06. 1160w.