FIELD-FISHING. 265 



more effectually than it was at first ! The fish was in 

 motion before they finished. After they got off its 

 back, it advanced a considerable distance, breaking 

 the ice all the way, and survived this uncommon 

 treatment, ten or fifteen minutes. This admirable 

 act was an essential benefit. The fish fortunately 

 sunk spontaneously, after being killed ; on which 

 it was hauled out to the edge of the ice by the line, 

 and secured without liirther trouble. It proved a 

 stout whale, and a very acceptable prize. 



A^'hen a ship approaches a considerable field of 

 ice and finds whales, it is usual to moor to the lee- 

 ward side of it, li'om which the adjoining ice usually 

 first separates. Boats are then placed on watch, on 

 each side of the ship, and stationed at intervals of 

 100 or 150 yards from one another, along the edge 

 of the ice. Hence, if a fish arises any where be- 

 tween the extreme boats, it seldom escapes unhurt. 

 It is not uncommon for a great number of ships to 

 moor to the same sheet of ice. When the whale- 

 fishery of the Hollanders was in a flourishing state, 

 above 100 sail of ships might sometimes be seen 

 moored to the same field of ice, each having two or 

 more boats on watch. The field wovdd, in conse- 

 quence, be so nearly surrounded wdth boats, that it 

 was almost impossible for a fish to rise near the verge 

 of the ice, without being witliiu the limits of a start 

 of some of them. 



