302 WHALE-FISHERr. 



But I have observed a foreign ship nearly 24 hours 

 in flensing a whale ! This dilatoriness was occasion- 

 ed by inexperience, and indifferent weather, in com- 

 bination with an indulgence of ease, amounting to 

 idleness. 



The process by which a small fish is flensed, is a 

 little different from the preceding ; inasmuch as the 

 preparations arc less formal, and the labour less ar- 

 duous. 



Flensing in a sxvell is a most difficult and dan- 

 gerous undertaking; and when the swell is at all 

 considerable, it is commonly impracticable. No 

 ropes or blocks are capable of bearing the jerk of 

 the sea. The harpooners are annoyed by the surge, 

 and repeatedly drenclied in v/ater ; and are likewise 

 subject to be wounded by the breaking of ropes or 

 hooks of tackles, and even by strokes from each 

 others knives. Hence accidents in this kind of 

 flensing, in particular, are not uncommon. The 

 harpooners not unfrequently fiill into the fish's 

 mouth, when it is exposed by the removal of a sur- 

 face of blubber ; where they might easily be di'own- 

 ed, but for tlie prompt assistance whicli is ahvays 

 at hand. 



Some years ago, I was witness of a circumstance, 

 in wliich, a harpooner was exposed to the most immi- 

 nent risk of Iiis life, at the conclusion of a flensing; 

 process, by a very curious accident. This harpoon- 

 er stood on one of the jaw-bones of tl^e fish, with a 



