534 ACCOUNT OF THE S. SKA WIIALE-FISIIEIIY. [aPP. N^ VIII. 



by a conflict, which estabUshes them in the herd, or drives 

 them ofl^", according to the issue. 



When a number of fish are seen, four boats, each furnish- 

 ed witli 2 or 3 lines, 2 harpoons, 4 lances, and a crew of 

 six men, proceed in pursuit ; and, if practicable, each boat 

 " fastens to," or strikes a distinct fish, and each crew kill 

 their own. When in distant pursuit, the harpooner generally 

 steers the boat, and in such cases the proper boat-steerer 

 sometimes strikes the fish, but the harponeer generally kills 

 it. 'When a fish belonging to a herd is struck, it generally 

 takes the lead, and the whole herd follow it. A " fast-fish"*^ 

 seldom goes far under water ; it generally swims oft' with ex- 

 treme rapidity when struck, but usually stops after a short 

 race, so that the boat can be hauled up by the line, or rowed 

 sufficiently near to lance it. The dying struggles of the ani- 

 mal are so tremendous, that the water is beat by its fins and 

 tail into a foam. The boats at this crisis, which is generally 

 known to be approaching by the tall jets of blood discharged 

 from the blow-holes, keep aloof, or otherwise they would be 

 liable to be dashed to pieces. 



Sometimes 10 or 12 fish are killed " at a fall ;" but though 

 many are occasionally wounded by the people in the fast 

 boats, yet they rarely capture any that have not been har- 

 pooned. When the fish with which the boats are entangled 

 are killed, they are towed to the ship ; if more fish are then 

 astir, and the Aveathcr fine, part of them, sometimes all, pro- 

 ceed again to the attack. 



The flensing or " cutting in" process is somewhat different 

 from that employed in the polar fisheries. A strap of blub- 

 ber is cut in a spiral direction, and being raised by certain 

 purchases, turns the fish round as on an axis, until nearly the 

 whole of the blubber is stripped off'. The head-matter, con- 

 sisting of spermaceti mixed with oil, which, when warm, is in 

 a fluid state, is taken out of large whales in buckets while 

 they remain in the water ; but the part of the head contain- 

 ing the spermaceti in small whales, is hoisted up in one mass, 

 and opened on its arrival upon deck, The head-matter con- 



