3Q4i WHALE FISHERY. 



wiialc I never saw, but tlie effect of the blow was 

 too important to be overlooked. About 15 square 

 feet of the bottom of the boat were driven in ; it fil- 

 led, sunk, and upset in a moment. Assistance was 

 providentially at hand, so that we w^e all taken up 

 without injury, after being but a few minutes in the 

 water. The whale escaped ; the boat's lines fell out 

 and were lost, but the boat was recovered. 



A remarkable instance of the power which the 

 whale possesses in its tail, was exhibited within my 

 own observation, in the year 1807. On the 29th of 

 ]VIay, a wliale was harpooned by an oiBcer belong- 

 ing to the Resolution. It descended a considerable 

 depth ; and, on its re-appearance, evinced an uncom- 

 mon degree of irritation. It made such a display 

 of its fins and tail, that few of the crew were hardy 

 enough to approach it. The captain, (my Father,) 

 observing their timidity, called a boat, and himself 

 struck a second harpoon. Another boat immediate- 

 ly followed, and unfortunately "advanced too far. 

 The tail was again reared into the air, in a terrific 

 attitude, — the impending blow was evident, — the 

 harpooner, who was directly underneath, leaped 

 overboard, — and the next moment the threatened 

 stroke was impressed on the centre of the boat, 

 which buried it in the water. Happily no one was 

 injured. The harpooner who leaped overboard, 

 escaped certain death by the act, — the tail having 

 struck the very spot on which he stood. The ef- 



