THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 251 



the elevation of the tail into the air is announced 

 in the same manner by "There goes flukes!" The 

 reason of these announcements appears to be, that 

 the times of the animal's motions may be accurately 

 marked by the proper officers, though they may not 

 see them themselves, as affording an unfailing cri- 

 terion by which to judge of his future movements. 

 On the first signal being given, the boats, which are 

 always kept in complete readiness at the ship's side, 

 are lowered, and the men take their places with joy- 

 ous alacrity. If not too far off, they strain every 

 nerve to arrive at the animal before his spoutings 

 are out, which in a large bull Whale may be about 

 ten minutes. Should they be unable, however, to 

 effect this, they endeavour to mark his- direction of 

 diving, and station themselves near the spot where 

 they expect he will break water. On his reappear- 

 ance, the boats are rowed up as silently as possible, 

 and the foremost harpooner darts his weapon with 

 all his force into his side. The instant this is done 

 he cries, "Stern all!" and the boat is withdrawn with 

 precipitation. The Whale, writhing with the agony, 

 dives perpendicularly, drawing the line of the har- 

 poon swiftly through its groove: the other boats 

 are ready to bend on their lines, each of which is 

 two hundred fathoms long ; for sometimes a Whale 

 will drag after him four lines descending to the 

 depth of 4800 feet. Presently he is seen approach- 

 ing the surface: "The gurgling and bubbling water, 

 which rises before, also proclaims that he is near; 

 his nose starts from the sea; the rushing spout is 

 projected high and suddenly, from his agitation." 



