Large numbers of Russian fishing vessels active in northern seas according to the Dutch newspaper Middelburgsche courant dated 10 December 1785

An item dated St. Petersburg, Russia 12 November reported that 305 vessels were sent from Archangelsk for the fishery off Spitsbergen, Nova Zembla and other northern coasts. One was of Onega and which was used as experiment for whaling with very good catch results which could be a base for more expeditions.