PROCEEDINGS IN CAPTUIIING THE WHALE. 249 



which exudes from its wounds, and ca^^pcars on the 

 surface of the sea. Its final capture is sometimes 

 preceded by a convulsive and energetic struggle, in 

 which its tail, reared, whirled, and violently jerked 

 in the air, resounds to the distance of miles. Iii 

 dying, it turns on its back or on its side ; which 

 joyful circumstance is announced by the capturers 

 with the striking of their flags, accompanied with 

 three lively huzzas ! 



The remarkable exhaustion observed on the first 

 appearance of a wounded whale at the surface, after 

 a descent of 700 or 800 fathoms perpendicular, does 

 not depend on the nature of the wound it has re- 

 ceived ; for a hundred superficial wounds received 

 from harpoons, could not have the effect of a single 

 lance penetrating the vitals, but is the effect of the 

 almost incredible pressure to which the animal 

 must have been exposed. The surface of the body 

 of a large whale, may be considered as comprising 

 an area of 1540 square feet. This, under the com- 

 mon weight of the atmosphere only, must sustain a 

 pressure of 3,104,640 lb., or 1386 tons. But at the 

 depth of 800 fathoms, where there is a column of v.a- 

 ter equal in weight to about 154 atmosplicres, the pres- 

 sure on the animal must be equal to 211,200 tons*. 



* From experiments made witla sea water taken up near Spitz- 

 bergen^ I find that 35 cubical feet weigli a ton. Now, supposing 

 a whale to descend to the depth of 800 fathoms, or 1800 feeV, 



