176 WHALE-FISHERY. 



only the first attack and entanglement of the whale, 

 the subsequent proceedings with all the fishers, may 

 still be said to be founded on equal and unanimous 

 principles. Hence, the mode described in the pre- 

 ceding pages, of conducting the fishery for whales 

 under favourable circumstances, may be considered 

 as the general plan pursued by all the fishers of all 

 the ports of Britain, as well as those of the nations 

 who resort to Spitzbergen. Neither is there any 

 difference in the plan of attack, or mode of capture 

 between fish of large size, and those of lesser 

 growth; the proceedings are the same, but, of course, 

 with the smaller whales less force is requisite; 

 though it sometimes happens, that the trouble at- 

 tached to the killing of a very small whale, exceeds 

 that connected with the capture of owe of the larg- 

 est individuals. The progress or flight of a large 

 whale can not be restrained; but that of an under 

 size fish may generally be confined within the limits 

 of 400 to 600 fathoms of line. A full grown fish 

 generally occupies the whole, or nearly the whole, 

 of the boats belonging to one ship in its capture; 

 but three, four, or sometimes more small fish, have 

 been killed at the same time, by six or seven boats. 

 It is not unusual for small whales to run downward, 

 until they exhaust themselves so completely, that 

 they are not able to return to the surface, but are 

 suffocated in the water. As it is requisite that a 

 whale tiiat has been drowned should be drawn up 

 by the line, which is a tedious and troublesome 



