272 WHALE-FISHERY. 



that Ciicli of tlicir companions indulged a laiiglt 

 at their expence, notwithstanding they, probably, 

 shared tiic same fate a minute or two afterwards. 

 The shivering tars were, in general, amply repaid 

 for the drenching they had suffered, by a dram of 

 spirits, which they regularly received on such occa- 

 sions. I have seen instances, indeed, of sailors ha- 

 ving voluntarily broken through the ice, for the mere 

 purpose of receiving the usual precious beverage. 



5. Fishing in Sto?'jns. — Excepting in situations 

 sheltered from the sea by ice, it would ])e alike 

 useless and presumptuous, to attempt to kill whales 

 during a storm. Cases, however, occur, wherein fish 

 that were struck during fine weather, or in winds 

 which do not prevent the boats from plying about, 

 remain entangled, but unsubdued, after the com- 

 mencement of a storm. Sometimes the capture is 

 completed, at others the fishers arc under the ne- 

 cessity of cutting the lines, and allowing the whale 

 to escape. Sometimes when they have succeeded 

 in killino; it, and in securing; it during; the ffale with a 

 hawser to the ship, they are enabled to make a prize 

 of it on the return of moderate weather ; at others, 

 after having it to appearance secured, by means 

 of a sufficient rope, the dangerous proximity 

 of a lee pack constrains them to cut it acbift and 

 abandon it, for the preservation of their vessel. ^Vf- 

 tcr thus being abandoned, it becomes the prize of 

 the first who gets possession of it. though it be in 



