WHALE FISHING 91 



from hard necessity, but as a means of recreation. 

 Man being thus evidently destined to fish, let us 

 consider the style of thing that is likely to give 

 him the most gratification. 



When I read of the whale fishery, and of that 

 animal running out a mile of rope, for an instant 

 my thoughts were bent on the seas of Greenland ; 

 but I was taken aback by the frontispiece of 

 Captain Scoresby's entertaining narrative, which 

 represents his boat thrown aloft in the air by a 

 playful jerk of a whale's tail, and all the crew 

 tumbling seaward in very sprawling and unstudied 

 attitudes. Now this is a sort of adventure which 

 1 do not covet myself, or recommend others to 

 seek. In such case, perhaps, the heroes of the 

 harpoon might be caught at their descent by some 

 ravenous shark ; and unless people have a curiosity 

 about the construction of that animal's intestines 

 for the sake of scientific purposes, a visit to his 

 interior would be useless, and I think imprudent. 

 Besides, whale fishery is a sort of unsavory 

 butchery, which does not suit all tastes. We will 

 take leave, therefore, to discard it at once. 



The truth is, that I like no sea fishing whatever, 

 being of opinion that it requires little skill ; neither 

 do I enjoy sailing in the salt element, for very 

 particular reasons relating to health. But my mind 

 is full of solemn thoughts as I stand on the sound- 

 ing shore, and see the gallant vessel pass away into 

 the great desert of waters, till her misty hull rests 

 lonely in the horizon. Then, as shades of night set 

 in, and as she fades in the general gloom, I meditate 

 on the perils of storm and battle, and all the ad- 



