214 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



was first struck was far less violent than was expected. For some time 

 it swam along so leisurely that a row-boat could keep up with it, and 

 there would then have been little difliculty in getting- in another iron, as 

 the " fish " rose every two minutes or so to blow. The shallowness of the 

 river made it impossible for the whale to go down any distance below 

 the surface, as it would doubtless have done in deeper water, and as it 

 did not run fast the whalemen kept a short line, only seven or eight 

 fathoms being paid out. 



After it was struck, the whale headed for Broughty Ferry, and in about 

 fifteen minutes was oft" that place. The weather was tiue, the water 

 smooth, and large crowds of people had assembled to witness the chase. 

 Off Lucky Scaup it was deemed desirable to get in another harpoon. 

 For this purpose one of the rowing boats pnlled ahead of the steam 

 launch. As the whale rose to blow at short intervals it was not long be-_ 

 fore a favorable opportunity presented itself, and as its back came above 

 the water, the large gun at the boat's bow was fired by the harpooner, 

 the " iron" getting well " fast". Up to this time the whale, feeling its 

 way down river toward the sea, had not exhibited any remarkable 

 speed. When struck by the second harpoon, however, it displayed 

 some of its power in a determined effort to escape. It seemed, how- 

 ever, to be somewhat dazed — "gallied" as whalemen call it — for it swam 

 in zigzag directions, occasionally going at quite a moderate speed and 

 then rushing through the water at a tremendous pace. It was thought at 

 this time that the secoud iron had reached its "life," and that the boats 

 would meet with success, for the whale began to spout blood iu consid- 

 erable quantities, coloring the water in his wake a reddish tinge. The 

 flurry continued for some time, the whale making desperate rushes 

 hither and thither in the vicinity of Lucky Scaup, until it at last seemed 

 to get its bearings on the south side of the channel, and started seaward 

 again, keeping that side of the river. It was now going at so rapid a 

 pace that the last boat to fasten lost its hold and was quickly left far 

 astern. As at the beginning, the steam launch was now the only boat 

 fast, though the second row-boat still held on to the steamer's stern. 

 As there was danger that the launch's harpoon might also draw, the 

 crew of the row-boat, by great exertions, pulled ahead of the steamer, 

 and taking advantage of a favorable opportunity, fired, the iron getting 

 well "fast." The whale, notwithstanding it had been spouting blood 

 for some time, seemed to start off seaward with renewed energy after 

 it had been struck the third time. The whalemen did their best to 

 further disable the " fish," firing rockets at it whenever its back rose 

 above the surface. 



In the meantime the boats had been lost sight of by those who were 

 on the river side at Broughty Ferry. When it became generally known 

 that the boats had fastened to the whale it was thought best to send a 

 steam-tug after them to render any assistance which might be required. 

 Accordingly the tug Iron King started down the river early in the after- 



