PACK-FISHING. 257 



dead ; and it was tliis lucky interloper that occa- 

 sioned the jerks and other singular effects obser- 

 ved on the line. 



SECT. VIII. 



Alterations produced in the Manner of conduct^ 

 ing the Fishery^ by pecidiar Circumstances of 

 Situation and JVeather. 



Hitherto I have only attempted to describe 

 the method adopted for the capture of whales, under 

 favourable circumstances, — such as occur in open 

 water or amongst open ice in fine weather ; as, 

 however, this method is subject to various altera- 

 tions, when the situation or circumstances are pe- 

 culiar, I shall venture a few remarks on the subject. 



1. Pack fishing. — The borders of close packs of 

 drift ice are frequently a favourite resort of large 

 whales. To attack them in such a situation, sub- 

 jects the fisher to great risk in his lines and boats, 

 as well as uncertainty in effecting their capture. 

 When a considerable swell prevails on the borders 

 of the ice, the whales, on being struck, will some- 

 times recede from the pack, and become the prize 

 of their assailcrs ; but most generally they flee to it 

 for shelter, and frequently make their escape. To 

 guard against the loss of lines as much as possible, 



vol.. IT. R 



