214 WHALE-FISHERY. 



air to the distance of two or three miles. After two 

 or three minutes of this violent exercise, it ceased, 

 rolled over upon its side, and died. 



In the year 1816, a fish was to all appearance 

 killed. The fins were partly lashed, and the tail 

 on the point of being secured, and all the lines ex- 

 cepting one were cut away, the fish meanwhile 

 lying as if dead. To the astonishment and alarm, 

 however, of the sailors, it revived, began to move, 

 and pressed forward in a convulsive agitation; soon 

 after, it sunk in the water to some depth, and then 

 died. One line remained attached to it, by which 

 it was drawn up and secured. A fish being proper- 

 ly secured, is then " taken in tow," that is, all the 

 boats join themselves in a line, by ropes always 

 carried for the purpose, and unite their efforts in 

 rowing towards the shipr The course of the ship, 

 in the mean time, is directed towards the boats, but 

 in calms, or when the ship is moored to the ice, at 

 no great distance, or when the situation of the fish is 

 inconvenient or inaccessible, the ship awaits the ap- 

 proach of the fish. 



The fish having reached the ship, is taken to the 

 larboard side, arranged and secured for flensing. 

 For the performance of this operation, a variety of 

 knifes and other instruments is requisite. 



Towards the stern of the ship, the head of the 

 fish is directed; and the tail, which is first cut off, 

 sent abreast of the fore chains. The smallest or 

 posterior part of the whale's body, where the 



