1>110CEEDINGS IN CAPTUEING THE WHAT E. 25S 



as the general plan pursued by the fishers of all the 

 ports of Britain, as Vvell as those of other nations ^vho 

 resort to Spitzhergcn. Neither is there any diiFerencc 

 in the plan of attack, or mode of capture between 

 fish of large size, and those of lesser growth : the pro- 

 ceedings are the same, but, of course, with the smal- 

 ler whales less force is requisite ; tliough it some- 

 times happens, that the trouble attached to the 

 killing of a very small whale, exceeds that con- 

 nected vfith the capture of one of the largest in- 

 dividuals. The progress or flight of a large whalo 

 cannot be restrained ; but that of an under-sizc 

 fish may generally be confined within the limits of 

 400 to 600 fathoms of line. A full grown fisli 

 generally occupies the whole, or nearly the vvhoie, 

 of the boats belonging to one ship in its capture ; 

 but three, four, and sometimes more small fisli, 

 have been killed at the same time, by six or seven 

 boats. It is not unusual for small whales to run 

 downward, until they exhaust themselves so com- 

 pletely, that they are not able to return to the sur- 

 face, but are suffocated in the water. As it is re- 

 quisite that a whale that has been drowned should 

 be drawn up by the line, which is a tedious and 

 troublesome operation, it is usual to guard against 

 such an event, by resisting its descent with a tight 

 strain on the line, and also by hauling upon the 

 line the moment its descent is stopped, with a view 

 of instating the wound, and occasioning such a 

 degree of pain, as may induce it to return to the 



