166 WHALE-FISHERY. 



fort to escape. Then is the moment of danger. The 

 boat is subjected to the most violent blows from its 

 head, or its fins, but particularly from its ponderous 

 tail, which sometimes sweeps the air with such 

 tremendous fury, that both boat and men are ex- 

 posed to one common destruction. 



The head of the whale is avoided, because it can- 

 not be penetrated with the harpoon; but any part of 



■ 



the body, between the head and tail, will admit of 

 the full length of the instrument, without danger of 

 obstruction. The harpoon, therefore, is always 

 struck into the back, and generally well forward 

 towards the fins, thus affording the chance, when 

 it happens to drag and plough along the back, of 

 retaining its hold during a longer time, than when 

 struck in closer to the tail. 



The moment that the wounded whale disappears, 

 or leaves the boat, a jack or flag, elevated on a 

 staff, is displayed; on sight of which, those on watch* 

 in the ship, give the alarm, by stamping on the 

 deck, accompanied by a simultaneous and continued 

 shout of " a fall,"* at the sound of this, the sleep- 

 ing crew are roused, jump from their beds, rush 

 upon deck, with their clothes tied by a string in 



* The word fall, as well as many others used in the fishery, 

 is derived from the Dutch language. In the original it is 

 written val, implying jump, drop, fall, and is considered as 

 expressive of the conduct of the sailors, when manning the 

 boats, on an occasion requiring extreme dispatch. 



