74 SEA FABLES EXPLAINED. 



his part in all the hardships and dangers of the chase, 

 writes, in his remarkable book, ' The Whale ' : — ' As for 

 this * whale-spout ' you might almost stand in it, and yet be 

 undecided as to what it is precisely. Nor is it at all prudent 

 for the hunter to be over curious respecting it. For, even 

 when coming into slight contact with the outer vapoury 

 shreds of the jet, which will often happen, your skin will 

 feverishly smart from the acrimony of the thing so touching 

 you. And I know one who, coming into still closer 

 contact with the spout — whether with some scientific 

 object in view or otherwise I cannot say — the skin peeled 

 ofFfrom his cheek and arm. Wherefore, among whalemen, 

 the spout is deemed poisonous ; they try to evade it. I 

 have heard it said, and I do not much doubt it, that if the 

 jet were fairly spouted into your eyes it would blind you." 



The only other eye-witness I will cite is Mr. Bartlett, of 

 the Zoological Gardens, whose experience and accuracy as 

 an observer of the habits of animals is unsurpassed. He 

 spent an autumn holiday in accompanying the late Mr. 

 Frank Buckland and his colleagues, Messrs. Walpole and 

 Young, in a tour of inquiry into the condition of the 

 herring fishery in Scotland. When the commissioners 

 left Peterhead, he remained there for a few days as the 

 guest of Captain David Gray, of the steam whaler, 

 " Eclipse," and as it was reported that large whales had 

 been seen in the offing, his host invited him to go in search 

 of them, and pay them a visit in his steam-launch. When 

 about twelve miles out, they saw the whales, which were 

 " finners," at a distance of four or five miles. Fourteen 

 were counted — all large ones — some of which were seventy 

 feet in length. On approaching them the captain shut off 

 steam, and the launch was allowed to float in amongst 

 them. So close were they to the boat that it would not 

 have been difficult to jump upon the back of one of them 



