WHALE-FISHERY. 183 



line proceeds in an angle beneath the ice, the fish 

 must necessarily arise somewhere in a semicircle, 

 described from the fast-boat as a centre, with a 

 sweep not exceeding the length of the lines out; but 

 most generally it appears in a line extending along 

 the margin of the ice, so that the boats, when dis- 

 persed along the edge of the field, are effectual 

 and as ready for promoting the capture as twice the 

 number of boats or more, when fishing in open situ- 

 ations; because, in open situations, the whale may 

 arise any where within a circle, instead of a semicir- 

 cle, described by the length of the lines withdrawn 

 from the fast-boat; whence, it frequently happens, 

 that all the attendant boats are disposed in a wrong 

 direction, and the fish recovers its breath, breaks 

 loose, and escapes before any of them can secure it 

 by a second harpoon. Hence, when a ship fishes at a 

 field with an ordinary crew, and six or seven boats, 

 two of the largest fish may be struck at the same 

 time with every prospect of success; while the same 

 force attempting the capture of two at once in an 

 open situation, will, not unfrequently, occasion the 

 loss of both. There have indeed been instances of 

 a ship's crew, with seven boats, striking at a field, 

 six fish at the same time, and of success in killing 

 the whole. Generally speaking, six boats at a field 

 are capable of performing the same execution as 

 near twice that number in open situations. Besides, 

 fields sometimes afford an opportunity of fishing, 

 when in any other situation there can be little or no 



