THE RAZOR-BACK. 139 



an hour; and when it descends, it very rarely throws 

 its tail in the air, which is a very general practice 

 with the mysticetus. 



The great speed and activity of the physalis, 

 render it a difficult and dangerous object of attack; 

 while the small quantity of inferior oil it aifords, 

 makes it unworthy the general attention of the fish- 

 ers. When struck, it frequently drags the fast 

 boat with such speed through the water, that it is 

 liable to be carried immediately beyond the reach 

 of assistance, and soon out of sight of both boats 

 and ship. Hence the striker is under the necessity 

 of cutting the line, and sacrificing his employer's 

 property, for securing the safety of himself and 

 companions. I have made different attempts to 

 capture one of these formidable creatures. In the 

 year 1818, 1 ordered a general chase of them, pro- 

 viding against the danger of having my crew sepa- 

 rated from the ship, by appointing a rendezvous on 

 the shore, not far distant, and preparing against the 

 loss of much line, by dividing it at 200 fathoms from 

 the harpoon, and affixing a buoy to the end of it. 

 Thus arranged, one of these whales was shot, and 

 another struck. The former dived with such im- 

 petuosity, that the line was broken by the resistance 

 of the buoy, as soon as it was thrown into the water, 

 and the latter was liberated within a minute by the 

 the division of the line, occasioned, it was supposed, 

 by its friction against the dorsal fin. Both of them 

 escaped. Another physalis was struck by one of 



