262 WHALE-FISHERY. 



convenient, and likewise the most advantageous for 

 the fishery; the most convenient, because the whales, 

 unable to breathe beneath a close extensive field of ice, 

 arc obliged to make their appearance again above 

 water among the boats on the look-out ; and they 

 are the most advantageous, because, not only the most 

 fish commonly resort to them, but a greater number 

 can be killed with less force, and in a shorter space 

 of time, than in any other situation. Thin fields, or 

 fields full of holes, being by no means advantageoug 

 to fish by, are usually avoided, because a " fast-fish" 

 retreating under such a field, can respire through the 

 holes in the centre as conveniently as on the exte- 

 rior ; and a large fish usually proceeds from one 

 hole to another, and, if determined to advance, can- 

 not possibly be stopped. In this case, all that can 

 be done is, to break the line or draw the harjioon 

 out. But when the fish can be observed " blowing'' 

 in any of the holes in a field, the men travel over 

 the ice and attack it with lances, pricking it o\er 

 the nose, to endeavour to turn it back. This 

 scheme, however, does not always answer the expec- 

 tations of the fishers, as frequently the fear of his 

 enemies acts so powerfully on tlie whale, that he 

 pushes forvv^ard towards the interior to his dying- 

 moment. When killed, the same means are used 

 as in pack-fishing, to sink it, but they do not always 

 succeed ; for the harpoon is frequently drawn out^ 

 or the line broken in the attempt. If, therefore, no 



