J^4S WHALE-FISHERV. 



in its back. But if, wliilc tlie boat is yet at a little 

 distance, the whale should indicate his intention of 

 diving, by lifting his head above its common level and 

 then plunging it under water, and raising his body, 

 until it appear like the large segment of a sphere, — 

 the hai*poon is thrown from the hand, or fired from a 

 gun, the former of which, when skilfully practised, 

 is efficient at the distance of eight or ten yards, 

 and the latter at the distance of thirty yards, or up- 

 ward. The wounded whale, in the surprise and 

 agony of the moment, makes a convulsive effort to 

 escape. Then is the moment of danger. The boat 

 is subjected to tlie most violent blows from its 

 head, or its fins, but particularly from its pon- 

 derous tail, which sometimes sweeps the air with 

 such tremendous fury, that both boat and men are 

 exposed to one common destruction. 



The head of the whale is avoided, because it can- 

 not be penetrated with the harpoon ; but any part 

 of the body, between the head and the tail, will ad- 

 mit of the full length of the instrument, without 

 danger of obstruction. The harpoon, therefore, is 

 always struck into the back, and generally well 

 forward towards the fins, thus affording the chance, 

 when it happens to drag and plough along the 

 back, of retaining its hold during a longer time 

 than when struck in closer to the tail. 



