CAUSES OF SUCCESS IX THE FISHEBY. S33 



harpoon into it, hoisted his flag, and claimed his 

 prize ! IMortified and displeased as the other mas- 

 ter felt at this trick, for so it certainly was, he had, 

 nevertheless, no redress, but was obliged to pennit 

 the fish to be taken on board of his competitor's 

 ship, and to content himself with abusing the se- 

 cond mate for his want of discretion, and with con- 

 demning himself for not having more compassion 

 on the poor fellow's feelings, which would have pre- 

 vented the disagreeable misadventure. 



As in some measure connected with the laws of 

 the whale-fishery, I might also mention the signals 

 used by the fishers ; but as they are of interest to 

 few persons excepting such as are concerned in the 

 fishery, they are placed in the Appendix * 



SECT. XIV. 



Remarks on the Causes on which Success in the 

 Whale-Fishery depends. 



Success in the whale-fishery has been very ge- 

 nerally supposed to depend, not upon the exercise 

 of talent and industry on the part of the masters and 



*" Appendix, No. VI. 



