250 WHALE-FISHERY. 



This is a degree of pressure of ^vliicli we can have but 

 an imperfect conception. It may assist our compre- 

 hension, however, to be informed, that it exceeds in 

 weight sixty of the largest ships of the British navy, 

 when manned, provisioned, and fitted for a six 

 months cruise. 



Every hosit fast to a living whale carries a flag, and 

 the ship to which such boats belong, also wears 

 a flag, until the whale is either killed or makes its 

 escape. These signals serve to indicate to surround- 

 ing ships, the exclusive title of the " fast-ship" to the 

 entangled whale, and to prevent their interference, 

 excepting in the way of assistance, in the capture.' 



A very natural inquiry connected with this sub- 

 ject, is. What is the length of time requisite for 

 capturing a whale ? This is a question which can 

 only be answered indirectly ; for I have myself wit- 

 nessed the capture of a large whale, which has been 

 effected in twenty-eight minutes ; and have also 

 been engaged with another fish which was lost, af- 

 ter it had been entangled about sixteen hours. In- 

 stances are well authenticated, in which whales have 



which, I believe, is not uncommon, we have only to divide 

 4800 feet, the length of the column of water pressing upon the 

 whale, by 35 feet, the length of a column of sea- water, a foot 

 square, weighing a ton, the quotient 1371, shows the pressure 

 per square foot upon the whale, in tons ; which, multiplied by 

 1540, the number of square feet of surface exposed by the ani- 

 mal, affords a product of 21 1,200 tons, besides the usual pres- 

 sure of the atmosphere. 



