^5S WHALE FISHERY. 



it is pretty usual either to strike two harpoons from 

 different boats at the same inomcut, or to bridle 

 the Hues of a second boat upon those of tlie boat 

 from wliicli the fisli is struck. This operation con- 

 sists in fixing other lines to those of the fast-boat, 

 at some distance fi-om the harpoon, so that there is 

 only one harpoon and one line immediately attach- 

 ed to the fish, but the double strength of a line 

 from the place of their junction to the boats. Hence, 

 should the fish flee directly into the ice, and proceed 

 to an inaccessible distance, the two boats bearing an 

 equal strain on each of their lines, can at pleasure 

 draw the harpoon, or break the single part of the 

 line immediately connected witli it, and in ei- 

 tlier case, secure themselves against any consider- 

 able loss. 



When a pack, from its compactness, prevents 

 boats from penetrating, the men travel over the ice, 

 leaping from piece to piece, in pursuit of the en- 

 tangled whale. In this pursuit, they carry lan- 

 ces with them, and sometimes harpoons, with 

 which, whenever they can approacli the lisli, they 

 attack it, — and if they succeed in killing it, they 

 drag it tow^ards the exterior margin of the ice, 

 by means of the line fastened to the hai-poon 

 with which it was originally struck. In such cases, 

 it is generally an object of importance to sink it 

 beneath tlie ice ; for effecting which purpose, each 

 lobe of the tail is divided from the body, excepting 

 a small portion of tlu^ edge, from wliich it hangs 



