248 "SViTALE-FISHEllY. 



formed, it lias sometimes been known to remain 

 an hour and a half at the bottom after being struck, 

 and yet has returned to the surface alive. The 

 greater the velocity, the more considerable the 

 distance to which it descends, and the longer the 

 time it rem.ains under water, so much greater in 

 proportion is the extent of its exhaustion, and the 

 consequent facility of accomplishing its capture. Im- 

 mediately that it re-appears, the assisting boats make 

 for the place with their utmost speed, and as they 

 reach it, each^ harpooner plunges his liarpoon into 

 its back, to the amount of three, four, or more, ac- 

 cording to the size of the vv'hale, and the nature of 

 the situation. Idlest frequently, however, it de- 

 scends for a few minutes after receiving the second 

 liarpoon, and obliges the other boats to await its re- 

 turn to the surface, before any further attack can be 

 made. It is afterwards actively plied with lances, 

 which are thrust into its body, aiming at its vitals. 

 At length, when exhausted by numerous wounds 

 and the loss of blood, which flows from the huge ani. 

 mal in copious streams, it indicates the approach of 

 its dissolution, by discharging from its " blow-holes," 

 a mixture of blood along with the air and mucus 

 which it usually expires, and finally jets of blood 

 alone. The sea, to a great extent around, is 

 dyed with its blood, and the ice, boats, and men, 

 are sometimes drenched with the same. Its track 

 is likewise marked by a broad pellicle of oi^ 



