546 "^VHALE-nSHEHY^ 



UndeT this head, I could adduce a great num- 

 ber of anecdotes ; but as they possess a consider- 

 able degree of sameness, the preceding may suf- 

 fice. 



II. The climate of the Polar regions becomes a 

 source of danger to the whale-fishers, when boats 

 are separated from the ship to which they belong, in 

 foggy weather, — when they are overtaken by a storm, 

 and pre\'ented from joining their ship, — and when 

 the people in the boats are long exposed to inclement- 



Boats separated from their Ship in Thick JVeor- 

 ther. — During a calm foggy season, towards tlie 

 latter end of June, about the year 1800, a harpoon- 

 er belonging to the Hercules whaler, struck a fish, 

 which, taking but a small quantity of line from the 

 fast-boat, ran off along tlie surface of tlie water with 

 astonishing velocity. Tln-ee boats belonging to the 

 same ship had just time to join company with tiie 

 fast-boat, to which they were secured by means of 

 a rope, and towed witliout danger of disunion. In 

 a short time they were effectually separated from 

 their ship. The fish dragged them 30 or 40 miles 

 in a southerly direction, without their being able to 

 overpower it. After passing many hours in a state 

 of increasing anxiety of mind, benumbed with cold 

 and oppressed with hunger, they at length heard 



