2SS WirALE-nSHERV. 



ncss, maiiiicd and afloat. If the ship sails with 

 considerable velocity, this boat is towed by a rope, 

 astcni ; but when the ship is pretty still, whe- 

 ther moored to ice, laid too, or sailing in light 

 winds, the " bran-boat," as it is called, often 

 pushes off to a little distance from the ship. A 

 boat on watch, commonly lies still in some eligible 

 situation, v^ith all its oars elevated out of the wa- 

 ter, but in readiness, in the hands of the rowers, 

 for immediate use. The harpooner and boat-steer- 

 er keep a careful watch on all sides, while each of 

 the rowers looks out in the direction of his oar. 

 In field-fishing, the boats approach the ice with 

 their sterns, and are each of them fastened to it by 

 means of a boat-hook, or an iron spike with a cord at- 

 tached, either of which is held b}^ theboat-steerer, and 

 is slipped or withdra\Mi the moment a whale appears. 

 There are several rules observed in approaching a 

 whale, as precautions, to prevent, as far as possible, 

 tlie animal from taking the alarm. As the whale 

 is dull of hearing, but quick of sight, the boat- 

 steerer always endeavours to get behind it ; and, in 

 accomplishing this, he is sometimes justified in 

 taking a circuitous route. In calm weather, where 

 guns are not used, the greatest caution is necessary 

 before a whale can be reached ; smooth careful row- 

 ing is always requisite, and sometimes sculling is 

 practised. 



