THE ORDER CETACEA. CI 



tinners (the baltenopterajubartes, LaCepede), and nar- 

 whales were seen swimming about. The ship anchored 

 to a vast floe of ice." 



I have here given a brief detail of the periods occupied 

 in the principal events connected with the capture of 

 the whale which I myself witnessed; but there are a 

 few circumstances connected with it, which it is my duty 

 to notice. 



The moment a whale is struck by the harpooner, and 

 she makes her exit, one of the sternmost immediately 

 hoists a small red flag, which is immediately answered 

 by the union-jack being hoisted on board the ship at the 

 mizen-top-mast. This is likewise a signal to other 

 vessels that the ship's boats are fast to a whale, and that 

 although, as is frequently done, they may assist in the 

 capture, they have no right whatever to the whale. 

 However, sometimes disputes on this subject occasionally 

 occur, particularly if the whale rises near another ship's 

 boats, and she is harpooned without the appearance of 

 the first harpoon. Besides, when several ships are in 

 company, and one or more whales are seen, all the ships 

 immediately send away boats after her, and the boat 

 whose flag announces her harpooner being fast, claims 

 her as his prize. These disputes are sometimes obliged 

 to be settled by referring to a court of law, as to which 

 ship should possess the property or its value. 



The signal flag of the boat being observed by the ship, 

 the whole crew are awakened by the watch on deck cry- 

 ing loudly, " A fall ! a fall ! " * On this being heard, the 

 seamen do not allow themselves even time to dress, but 

 rush out in their shirts and drawers into an atmosphere 



* Derived from the Dutch word vol, expressive of the precipitate 

 haste with which the sailors get into the hoats. 



