282 WHALE-FISHEIir. 



miles. Of these, 13 new lines were lost, together 

 with the sunken boat ; the harpoon connecting them 

 to the fish having tlropt out before the whale wac 

 killed. 



2. Singular and unsuccessful Chase of a JVTiale. 

 — After having taken a large circuit with the ship 

 Esk in the open sea, in search of whales, we saw 

 two or three individuals, when at the distance of 

 about 20 miles from the Middle-Hook of the Fore- 

 land *. It was on the 15th of June 1814 we were 

 thus situated. The weather was fine, and no ice in 

 sight. A boat was dispatched towards one of the fish 

 we saw, which was immediately struck. The men 

 were already considerably fatigued, having been em- 

 ployed immediately before, in the arduous operation, 

 hereafter to be described, called making off; but, of 

 course^ proceeded in the boats to the chase of the 

 fast-fish. It made its re-appearance before they all 

 left the ship. Three boats then approached it, un- 

 luckily at the same moment. Each of them so 

 incommoded the others, that no second harpoon 

 could be struck. The fish then took the alarm, 

 and run off towards the east, at the rate of about 



* Charles's Island, lying parallel to the west side of Spitz- 

 bergen, is usually denominated the Foreland ; the Middle 

 Hook is a remarkable high ridge of mountains, near the mid- 

 dle of the island. 



