DAXGERS OF THE FISHEUY. — ANECDOTES 35^ 



the boat away from the place, his two companions 

 in misfortune were soon left far beyond the reach of 

 assistance. The harpooner, though a practised 

 swimmer, felt himself so bruised and enervated by a 

 blow he had received on the chest, that he was to- 

 tally incapacitated from giving the least support to 

 his fellow sufferer. The ship being happily near, 

 a boat which had been lowered on the first alarm, 

 arrived to their succour, at the moment when the 

 line-manager, who was unacquainted \nih the art of 

 swimming, was on the point of sinking, to rise no 

 more. Both the line-manager and harpooner were 

 preserved ; and the fish, after a few hours close pur- 

 suit, was subdued. 



A large whale, harpooned from a boat belonging 

 to the same ship, became the subject of a general 

 chase on the 23d of June 1809. Being myself in 

 the first boat which approached the fish, I struck 

 my harpoon at arm's length, by which we fortunate- 

 ly evaded a blow that appeared to be aimed at the 

 boat. Another boat then advanced, and another 

 harpoon was struck, but not vvitli the same result ; 

 for the stroke was immediately returned by a tre- 

 mendous blow from the fish's tail. The boat v»'as 

 sunk by the shock ; and, at the same time, whirled 

 round with such velocity, that the boat-steercr was 

 precipitated into the water, on the side next to the 

 fish, and was accidentally carried do^vu to a consi- 

 derable depth by its tail. After a minute or so, he 



