254 WlIALE-FISHEll^. 



surface, where it can be killed and secured without 

 farther trouble. Seldom more than two harpoons 

 are struck into an under-size whale. 



The ease with which some \vliales are subdued, 

 and the slightness of the entanglement fey which they 

 are taken, is truly surprising ; but with others it is 

 equally astonishing, that neither line nor harpoon, 

 nor any number of each, is sufficiently strong to 

 effect their capture. IMany instances have occurred 

 where whales have escaped from four, five, or even 

 more harpoons, while fish equally large have been 

 killed through the medium of a single harpoon. 

 Indeed, whales have been taken in consequence of the 

 entanglement of a line, without any harpoon at all ; 

 though, when such a case has occurred, it has evi- 

 dently been the result of accident. The following 

 instances are in point. 



A whale was struck from one of the boats of the 

 ship Nautilis, in Davis' Straits. It was killed, 

 and, as is usual after the capture, it was disentan- 

 gled of the line connected with the " first fast- 

 boat," by dividing it at the splice of the foreganger, 

 within 8 or 9 yards of the harpoon. The crew of 

 the boat from which the fish was first struck, in the 

 mean time were employed in heaving in the lines, 

 by means of a winch, fixed in the boat for the pur- 

 pose, which th»y progressively effected for some 

 time. On a sudden, however, to their great asto- 

 nishment, the lines were pidled away from them. 



